[per loin]

"This is a brighter era: an era of democracy, rule of law, the end of corruption, the encouragement of trade, the education of young people and the diversity of an economy that will allow Nicaragua to play an important role, its rightful role in central America and the Americas," he said.

I wonder if he was able to keep a straight face while saying that?

[TheOtherOne]

straight face, I think not.

WHAT THE US EMBASSY SAID: "Nicaragua crawls along as the second-poorest country in the hemisphere after Haiti, battered by storms of nature and their own making, with little hope of changing things in the future," . . . "Privileged Nicaraguans see the U.S. in a generally favorable light. They prefer to dress in Ralph Lauren shirts, drive large Ford SUVs, watch American movies and, when going out for a meal, brag that they go out to T.G.I. Friday's."

WHAT POWELL SAID: "This is a brighter era: an era of democracy, rule of law, the end of corruption, the encouragement of trade, the education of young people and the diversity of an economy that will allow Nicaragua to play an important role, its rightful role in central America and the Americas,"