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The Southern Threat*** U.S. Treasury secretary Paul O'Neill recently drew attention to the economic risks inherent in Brazil's more than $250 billion dollar international debt and caused great concern in the financial community when he said that "throwing the U.S. taxpayer's money at a political uncertainty in Brazil doesn't seem brilliant to me. . . . The situation there is driven by politics, . . . not . . . by economic conditions." A da Silva presidency would likely mean Brazil's default on its debts, which, combined with the crisis in Argentina, could cause immense economic problems in all of Latin America. But worse than the economic downturn would be the effect on the Brazilian people of a radical regime moving toward dictatorship and the risk of destabilization in the region from a Castro-da Silva-Chavez axis.

A da Silva regime in Brazil could soon be followed by the success of the Communist guerrillas in Colombia and the establishment of anti-American regimes in Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador (where in January 2000 radicals toppled the government in a few days, with help from military officers recruited by Chavez, though their success was short-lived). Thus, by the end of 2003, the United States might be faced with anti-American regimes in most of South America.

If those regimes recruited only one tenth of one percent of military-aged males for terrorist attacks on the United States, this could mean 30,000 terrorists coming from the south. In addition, many Middle Eastern terrorist organizations, including the PLO, have long collaborated with Castro against the United States and its allies; they and the Iranian-backed terrorists of Hezbollah have hidden among the sizable Middle Eastern communities in Brazil and Venezuela.***

Financially shaky Brazil could drag Latin America down - "Axis of Latin Evil"*** Even so, conservatives in Washington fear the once rabidly socialist da Silva could be the third leg of an ''axis of Latin evil'' with Cuba's Fidel Castro and Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez………..Brazilians, as others in Latin America, have been feeling neglected by the Bush administration. George W. Bush came into office proclaiming the start of a ''Century of the Americas'' but has been preoccupied with the war on terror. In the meantime, bankruptcy has claimed Argentina; social unrest has gripped Venezuela and Peru; Colombia's civil war is spiraling toward a new level of violence; and Mexico's economy has faltered along with that of the USA.

To many here, the IMF rescue was welcome not so much for the money as a sign Washington was paying attention. ''It was a relief to see that we matter. Our massive geographic and economic weight has been an asset -- it's made us too big to fail,'' says de Souza, the AmCham president. ''The reason is obvious. If Brazil collapses, then South America will collapse. Then it will spread to all Latin America, including Mexico. Then it will be on your doorstep.''***

For the good of Brazil, and of mankind, one hopes Lula will follow his fellow demagogue William Jennings Bryan into perpetual defeat.

Seems every election year brings on the Lula scare. Generally, conservative forces in Brazil muster last-second salvation through money, media and all the other little ways that Brazil is run...

The old joke is of Lula greeting an audience. A little boy screaming support for him draws his attention, and he directs film crews and reporters to the boy.

"Tell me, my son, why you support me," says Lula smugly.

"Becuase," smiles the boy, "my Dad says that if you're elected President we get to move to Miami!"

Tonight, UNSPUN with AnnaZ and Mercuria!
6pm pdt/9pm edt

THE CULTURE WAR: WHAT ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO DO TO WIN IT?

with special guest, reluctant culture warrior,
Master Sergeant Giddens, USAF

Plus...

BONEHEADED LIE-BERAL QUOTES
COMMIE RAT BA$TARD OF THE WEEK

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