Analysis: US relations with leftists leaders sour

AP via SFGate ^ | 9/12/8 | MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

The Bush administration is facing a new headache, this time in Latin America, as two leftist governments it can't ignore booted the U.S. ambassadors this week.

Simmering ideological tensions between President Bush and the populist presidents of Bolivia and Venezuela boiled over this week in twin diplomatic spats that threaten U.S. counternarcotics operations in the region and possibly American energy supplies.

The administration says it wants to get along with the growing number of leftist leaders in the Western Hemisphere, but Bolivian President Evo Morales and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez are having none of it, essentially responding with the time-honored insult: "Yankee, go home."

Having chafed under U.S. pressure for reform and criticism of their unabashed fondness for arch-U.S. foe Fidel Castro, Morales and Chavez unloaded a torrent of anti-Bush rhetoric and suggested they won't restore normal ties with Washington until a new administration takes over.

Perhaps encouraged by his mentor Chavez, who famously described Bush as the devil at the United Nations and has cultivated relations with U.S. antagonists in Cuba as well as Iran and more recently Russia, Morales on Wednesday expelled U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg.

Morales, the former head of Bolivia's coca growers union, accused Goldberg of conspiring to oust him with Bolivia's conservative opposition, which is spearheading protests against his plans to redo the constitution and redirect natural gas revenues to the indigenous peoples.

"Without fear of the empire, I declare the U.S. ambassador 'persona non grata,'" Morales said in a speech at the presidential palace.""We don't want separatists, divisionists."

Washington called the allegations "baseless" and warned Thursday that the expulsion was a "grave error" that would badly damage U.S.-Bolivian ties. The State Department then declared Bolivia's top envoy to the United States, Gustavo Guzman, "persona non grata."

[Red Badger]

OBABBLE will fix it..........

[onedoug]

By agreeing with them.

[econjack]

It's crap like this that makes me applaud McCain's statement that he would withdraw $700 billion in foreign aid and spend it here instead. Take about 20% of that savings and direct it to closing the borders and perhaps we won't need the help of these tin-horned dictators. If you want a really radical plan, let's take all the drug addicts in federal and state prisons, give them each $1000, and then secretly dump them in Venezuela and Bolivia. What the hell...they've been doing that to us for decades.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

[Free State Four]

While Congress punishes Columbia with no trade agreements. Morons.

[Bitsy]

While Congress punishes Columbia with no trade agreements. Morons.

Has their approval level reached single digits yet? Egomaniac Pelosi has some legacy to hand down. The congress of dunces don't want to do ANYTHING until after the elections.

[WellyP]

Does anyone really care what Chavez, Castro, Morales or Ortega think of the U.S. of A., except for a few far left A-holes?

We should have CRUSHED Castro years ago and there would never have been Chavez. With Chavez, there would not have been Morales or Ortega. Given the state of things in Cuba right now no one has the will to fight. It would be ever so easy to walk in and we would be greeted as liberating heroes by most of the population!

[Free State Four]

Has their approval level reached single digits yet?

I have seen polls where it reached 9%. That includes family members, friends and employees.

[Bitsy]

I have seen polls where it reached 9%. :) Is there a chance for 0%? That will mean even their families & friends turn against them. In the Dem world, I can see that happening!

[infowarrior]

Is there a chance for 0%?

Heh... *I'm* hoping for negative numbers, myself...

the infowarrior

[Bitsy]

Heh... *I’m* hoping for negative numbers, myself...

I’m with you!