by the El Reportero’s news services
Felipe Calderón
Less than a week after President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa addressed a joint session of the US congress, the US administration leaked the information that it was about to send 1,200 troops to the Mexican border.
Almost certainly, the U.S. had tipped Mexico off about the deployment because the foreign ministry immediately issued a statement, on May 25, portraying the move as part of an effort by the US administration to bear down on the flow of guns from the US to gangs in Mexico. In the US, the deployment was spun, initially at least, as a move to improve border security and restrict the flow of people and drugs north.
Colombia prepares for presidential election
On Sunday May 30 Colombians will go to the polls to choose a successor to President Alvaro Uribe Vélez, who has been in office since 2002. While the final opinion polls all threw up slightly different results, all agreed on two main points.
First, Juan Manuel Santos of the ruling Partido de la U (PU) and Antanas Mockus of the Partido Verde (PV) are the main contenders; and second, neither candidate will obtain the 50% plus one margin required to win on Sunday. A second round runoff (June 20) will therefore be necessary to determine who will lead the nation after August 7.
Obama Administration Has Not Changed US Latin American Policy
A joint report released by three organizations has issued a report condemning the US policy towards Latin America under President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, claiming Washington has failed to deliver any substantial change. Does this indicate that the occupant of the White House has little or no control over the way US policy is delivered?
The joint publication Waiting for Change: Trends in US Security Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean, was released today and was drawn up by The Center for International Policy, the Latin America Working Group Education Fund and the Washington Office on Latin America. Its claims reveal information which would point toward the President of the United States of America being little more than a puppet, unless substantial change is delivered, where actions speak louder than words.
The report indicates that the Obama Administration’s policies in Latin America continue to rely heavily on military operations and do not pay sufficient attention to human rights issues. It goes on to claim that during 2009, many countries in Latin America accused Washington of arrogance, inattention to human rights and failure to deliver on democracy, especially after its secret agreement to set up military bases in Columbia.
Chavez: New opportunity for ties with Colombia
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez suggested that with the Sunday elections in Colombia, new doors could be opened for the resumption of relations with that country.
During the inauguration last night of the socialist campaign command Bolivar 200, Chavez said he hopes the new Colombian president is a person open to dialogue and reach minimum agreements of mutual respect.
I am looking forward to Sunday, and if there is a first-round win, I would be the first to make a phone call and greet the new Colombian president,” he said.
