Anti-Americanism - right in our backyard

Its a little ironic that Bush and the entire administration war-machine has been focusing on the middle-east given that we now have anti-american governments right here is Latin and South America.

Exemplified by the radically left leaning, populist (and madcap) leader of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, various South American leaders have found new found popularity in their policy of America-bashing. Hugo Chavez and Cuba's Fidel Castro are known America-haters. He is joined by the more moderate Ignacio Lula da Silva of Brazil. And now, we have Evo Morales - likely victor of the Bolivian elections - who is openly supportive of Hugo Chavez and Coca plantations - the plants that are used to make Cocaine.

This just means that there is more trouble brewing in America's own backyard. This cannot be good for America as it faces increasing hostility from Asia and Africa. Latin America has been US' fortress... a safe haven market for US products. With the rise of China and India, the US bottomline is already being severely damaged. Loss of Latin American partners can only hurt them.

While overall, I would consider myself more favorable then averse to the Bush administration (primarily out of my support to his Iraq, Afghanistan and terror wars), I think this administration has proven itself completely inept at diplomacy required to win hearts of the insignificant over. While Hu Jintao of China visits countries whose GDP is less than that of Shanghai and tries his best to bestow importance on them, show them that China cares for them and thinks of them as important, US is proving itself to be arrogant. The US makes these small countries believe that it does not think of them as anything more than a source of illegal immigrants, fruits and oil.

In the words of Dr. Manmohan Singh - Prime Minister of India - "All that some of the smaller, poorer countries crave for, is some recognition, some importance that their existence in this world makes a difference to someone." Only thing that America needs to do is do acknowledge this and all these countries would come running after the US. After all, who better to win the acknowledgement from then the biggest, richest and most powerful country in the world. Case in the point - Mongolia. The love shown by them for Bush was astounding... wasn't it?