(political) Are We Losing South/Central America as Allies?

[horizon200]

The latest sand kicked in our face
A troubled U.S. military presence on Ecuador's coast - International Herald Tribune

And with the loss of Ecuador does the potetnial fro increased involvement in the drug trade give the terrorists a foot hold close to our shores?

CNN.com - South America's 'tri-border' back on terrorism radar - Nov. 8, 2002

Seems over the past decade or so, we have lost a lot of influence in the Southern hemisphere. Panama, Venezuela, Bolivia, now Ecuador.

Your thoughts?

[roni]

Originally Posted by horizon200

The latest sand kicked in our face
A troubled U.S. military presence on Ecuador's coast - International Herald Tribune

And with the loss of Ecuador does the potetnial fro increased involvement in the drug trade give the terrorists a foot hold close to our shores?

CNN.com - South America's 'tri-border' back on terrorism radar - Nov. 8, 2002

Seems over the past decade or so, we have lost a lot of influence in the Southern hemisphere. Panama, Venezuela, Bolivia, now Ecuador.

Your thoughts?

The only time in recent history we have had any real credibility with the South/Central america was during the Kennedy Presidency.

[JEZ]

Hate to say but I think the USA has lost a lot of friends and credibility around the entire world over the past few years.

Is it fair or earnt ? There are too many opinions - IMHO - on this for anyone to reasonably judge, but as always history will show the actual picture...

[Andiline]

Originally Posted by JEZ

Hate to say but I think the USA has lost a lot of friends and credibility around the entire world over the past few years.

Yupp.

[horizon200]

Originally Posted by roni

The only time in recent history we have had any real credibility with the South/Central america was during the Kennedy Presidency.

I think we've been making big strides with drug interdiction....now one of our greatest assets(AWACS) on this war has lost a strategic operating location...No?

[Juanito]

Originally Posted by roni

The only time in recent history we have had any real credibility with the South/Central america was during the Kennedy Presidency.

The guy that gave us the Bay Of Pigs invasion?

-How many Latin American countries were democracies in 1963?

-How many Latin American countries were democracies in 1992?

[MWC]

Originally Posted by JEZ

Hate to say but I think the USA has lost a lot of friends and credibility around the entire world over the past few years.

Is it fair or earnt ? There are too many opinions - IMHO - on this for anyone to reasonably judge, but as always history will show the actual picture...

Our W obviously never read "How to Win Friends and Influence People".
What a disaster!

[roni]

Kennedy was loved in Brasil.

The Alliance for Progress was loved in Brasil.

Fifteen minutes after his death was announced the streets of Santos were filled with crying people.

I was there.

Originally Posted by Juanito

The guy that gave us the Bay Of Pigs invasion?

-How many Latin American countries were democracies in 1963?

-How many Latin American countries were democracies in 1992?

[PlayadelSoul]

Do we have fewer friends and allied in South and Central America? Short answer, no. Weren't that many to begin with. Latin American politics tend to run towards the Che left or the Pinochet right. Most of these countries are too tied up in their own corruption to pay much attention to others. In the event that financial aid might be added to the corruption mix, they may feign friendship.

[kirbyfan]

Originally Posted by MWC

Our W obviously never read "How to Win Friends and Influence People".
What a disaster!

[NiceTom]

Originally Posted by horizon200

I think we've been making big strides with drug interdiction....now one of our greatest assets(AWACS) on this war has lost a strategic operating location...No?

I can't tell-is this sarcasm?

[Just Lucky]

I agree it's not just Latin America. Someone posted a "good news" article on this forum recently that quoted from this Pew study which found amongst other things that while 19% percent of the people surveyed think the US is their greatest ally. 17% think we are the greatest threat to world peace.Pew Research Center: A Rising Tide Lifts Mood in the Developing World

Here is another study they did showing that anti-American feeling is deeper around the world than during there last study. It is listed by country.Pew Global Attitudes Project: Summary of Findings: Global Unease With Major World Powers

[horizon200]

Originally Posted by NiceTom

I can't tell-is this sarcasm?

No sarcasm...would you not agree that as far as interdiction goes, our efforts in the area have reduced the flow? Certainly not enough, but there is a discernable reduction no?

From Admiral Riutta's 1998 testimony before Congress
Article

During fiscal year 1997, FRONTIER SHIELD forces seized 23 vessels transporting 31,127 pounds of cocaine, arrested more than 100 suspects, and disrupted 17 additional deliveries of an estimated 37,400 pounds of cocaine. In sum, interdiction forces have cut smuggler success rates through the Eastern Caribbean in half during the last year and prevented more than 310 million doses of cocaine from crossing our maritime borders. The combined street value of FRONTIER SHIELD seizures and disruptions exceeds $2.4 billion.

By interagency estimates, FRONTIER SHIELD forces reduced direct flow of cocaine to Puerto Rico by 46 percent. Smugglers have abandoned these maritime routes in favor of new routes to the west. In 1997, Coast Guard interdiction rates and seizure rates were at record levels, roughly 3 times higher than levels in 1996. In addition, Coast Guard multimission assets interdicted 2,400 illegal migrants and turned away an additional 545 migrants.

Operation FRONTIER SHIELD demonstrates the tangible positive impacts of interdiction in Puerto Rico. In 1997, drug related crime was down 37 percent from the year before and the Governor no longer needed the Puerto Rico National Guard to maintain order in the housing areas. On the streets of San Juan cocaine purity went down and street prices rose nearly 36 `percent throughout 1997.

[JEZ]

Originally Posted by horizon200

No sarcasm...would you not agree that as far as interdiction goes, our efforts in the area have reduced the flow? Certainly not enough, but there is a discernable reduction no?

Hard to say, but didnt I read that the production of heroin in Afganistan is reaching record heights ( yes unbeliveable ). It would seem likely the USA -together with Europe - presumably are the lucky recipients ?

[roni]

Originally Posted by JEZ

Hard to say, but didnt I read that the production of heroin in Afganistan is reaching record heights ( yes unbeliveable ). It would seem likely the USA -together with Europe - presumably are the lucky recipients ?

You read it here first. Lucky does Afghani poppy products.