Oh Please

So according to Juan Forero in today's New York Times, U.S. Considers Toughening Stance Toward Venezuela. I'm sure Hugo Chávez is thrilled to read that and I'm sure this mentality will continue to rally support for him in Venezuela and throughout Latin America.

The image of the U.S. in Latin America is probably at its lowest point since Reagan was cozying up to Videla, Rios Montt and virtually every other anti-communist dictator in the hemisphere. The White House continues to view Latin America through the prism of the Cold War, having dredged up such Reagan-era figures as Elliott Abrams, Otto Reich and John Negroponte to serve yet again. Thank God Jeane Kirkpatrick was otherwise engaged.  Do they think that the rest of the hemisphere is unaware of this?

Marcela Sánchez, in her column last week got to the heart of the matter:

Slipping into a Cold War left-right trap, though, plays to Chavez's strengths by fanning the flames of anti-American sentiment that the Venezuelan uses to enhance regional divisions. This narrow vision also handicaps South American nations that might want to try a transformational diplomacy of their own by engaging with Chavez instead of seeking to isolate him.

There are now solidly leftist presidents in almost all of MercoSur, most of the Andean nations, and next year, assuming Manuel Lopez Obrador gets to run for president, in Mexico. In other words three of the four most populous countries in Latin America (Brazil, Argentina and possibly Mexico) will be led by democratically elected leftist leaders. The WEhite House would be well-advised to take Sánchez's advice:

In South America, Washington's lofty goals to spread freedom and democracy will depend on its ability to differentiate between two lefts. The success of one will ensure the defeat of the other. In other words, the surest route to undermine what Chavez represents is cooperation with a modern left struggling to play by the rules of democracy and capitalism while satisfying the high expectations of the people who voted these leftist leaders into power.

Don't hold your breath in the expectation that they will learn this lesson.

Comments

[Kevin Hayden]

While kissing up to a Saudi tyrant with one of the world's most repressive governments, and assuring Americans he's doing everything he can to lower the cost of oil/gas, Bush continues to marginalize another oil producer who - despite his serious flaws - provides hope to the working class.

Is this a Cold War mentality or something much older.... like class warfare?

[eRobin]

The Cold War was a class war. Class wars are all we ever fight.

[Brian Greene]

Randy,

I hope they have learned their lesson too - but, don't you think that U.S. policy towards the Mercosur has shown that the Bush administration has come at least some way in differentiating between the "new" and the "old" left? I think we have been cooperating with Brazil and Chile in particular.

For practical reasons, I think its probably not the best move to fan the flames and take a hard-lined approach to Venezuela.... But I don't know. Chavez just strikes me as dangerous. The 100,000 rifles from Russia, alleged support of guerrillas in Columbia. I just think this is a guy whose ultimate dream is to export the Cuban revolution throughout South America. I think Chavez will always do anything he can to undermine U.S. interests and attack neo-liberal policies (see his antagonism towards Chile).

[Randy Paul]

Brian,

Chávez is perverse. First he talks about wanting to "swim on a Bolivian beach", but supports Insulza for OAS chief.

As for MercoSur, hey all opposed the Iraq War and Bush punished Chile by delaying the free trade agreement. brazil has won two victories in the WTO on sugar and cotton subsidies. The FTAA is on life support. Argentina got it's way on the bond matter. I'm sure that the White House is silently fuming about all of these events.