A continent awakes

A few interesting articles have started appearing on BBC News (and probably many other places) on how US influence in Latin America has been waning as Washington's post 9-11 foreign policy has had to focus on the "war on terror" which has shifted attention and resources away from meddling in the affairs of its southern neighbours. The American clichés of freedom, democracy and choice have lead many countries to freely and democratically elect left-wing governments now they really do have choice. Apart from Cuba, which has been a thorn in the US' side for a long time, Venezuela, Bolivia and Brazil have voted left (plus Argentina, Uruguay and even US Golden Boy Chile have been leftist for some time now). While not exactly Cuba (except maybe Chavez in Venezuela) these new governments now press for less foreign meddling and pursue social equality agendas. Now Peru looks like it will vote for an Anti-US leftist populist (though maybe not before falling into a free trade agreement), and Washington's once Public Enemy number 1, Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega (head of the Contra's) is a strong contender for the November '06 elections.

Analysis: How the US 'lost' Latin America
Viewpoints: US-Latin America relations
Chinese influence in Brazil worries US
Latin America's year of elections
Inside Latin America