Christina Chan
Churchill Junior High School
Rutgers Model Congress
Wisconsin – Republican
House Committee on Foreign Affairs:
US Relations with Latin America
Since the nineteenth century, relations between the United States and Latin
America have suffered drastic changes. In the past, the United States has been bold in
declaration and quick in intervention, as shown by the Monroe Doctrine and the
Roosevelt Corollary. Just seven years ago, during the 2000 Presidential elections,
relations with Latin America were a high priority. Recently, however, American attention
has spotlighted on the Middle East and the War on Terror. Consequently, US relations
with Latin America have a lower standing. In this time of American ignorance, Latin
American countries have become increasingly leftist. Despite this, it is important that
Latin America achieve democracy and economic stability.
With its attention elsewhere, the US gave power to new political leaders, such as
Hugo Chavez. When elected to Presidency, George W. Bush gave Latin America a high
priority, a high standing that began with the Monroe Doctrine in the 1800s. But after the
events of September 11, 2001, US attention was turned elsewhere: the Middle East. As
Bush and the United States struggled with the War on Terror, leftist governments
appeared in many countries of Latin America. In Nicaragua, a former leader, Daniel
Ortega, returned to a position of public leadership and may return to power in the next
election. The United States attempted to undermine the leftist Sandinista government
Ortega led during the Reagan presidency, but the Nicaraguans, themselves, overthrew the
Sandinistas during George Bush Senior’s presidency.1 Fidel Castro is a Communist who
has long reigned in Cuba, and has long been an enemy of the US.2 He has recently
teamed up with rising new political leader, Hugo Chavez. The Venezuelan President,
Chavez, is responsible for the “Bolivarian Revolution”, revolutionizing social and
political Venezuela. Chavez has already rewritten the constitution and has showed he
won’t hesitate to put anyone who disagrees with him in jail. Advised from the beginning
to form alliances with the United States’ enemies, Venezuela has teamed itself with
everyone from Saddam Hussein to Iran to Cuba and Castro.3 In Latin America, the US
and, especially, President Bush are cast in a dark light because of Bush’s many failed
policies and his seemingly all-important war in Iraq. Knowing this, Chavez initiated and
led an anti-American rally in Argentina as Bush visited neighboring Uruguay.4 These
sentiments can be found all over Latin America, proving how US relations with this area
need to be improved.
Both of the major political parties strive for a similar goal: democracy and
economic stability within Latin America. Wisconsin, as a state, has remained fairly
uninvolved with the United States’ international relations with Latin America. This state
is divided, slightly in favor of the Democratic Party. In 2004, Kerry won Wisconsin’s
votes by a mere one percent over President Bush (50%-49%).5 The Democratic platform
“Analysis: How the US “lost” Latin America,” British Broadcasting Corporation.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4861320.stm. (Accessed: April 6, 2007).
2
“Castro: Profile of the great survivor.” British Broadcasting Corporation.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/244974.stm. (Accessed: April 5, 2007).
3
Hurd, Dale. “Hugo Chavez vs. America.” Christian Broadcasting Network.
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/news/050531a.aspx. (Accessed: April 5, 2007).
4
“Hugo Chavez Leads Anti-Bush Rally in Argentina.” FOX News.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258035,00.html. (Accessed: April 6, 2007).
5
“U.S. PRESIDENT / WISCONSIN.” Cable News Network.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/WI/P/00/index.html. (Accessed: April 6, 2007).
1
of the 2004 election sought to reinforce domestic values and support economic
development. Also mentioned were further efforts toward ending drug trafficking.
Democrats supported peaceful relations, even in the downfall of the Castro regime. They
wished to “work with the international community to increase political and diplomatic
pressure on the Castro regime to release all political prisoners, support civil society,
promote the important work of Cuban dissidents, and begin a process of genuine political
reform.”6 Republicans also support the democracies of countries such as Chile and
Colombia, and claim that they will continue to strengthen them. They, too, wish to end
the Castro regime, to prevent Cuba from continuing on the path of Marxist-Leninist
dictatorship. Free trade agreements, though few in number, have been established
between the United States and some Latin American countries. Ultimately, the
Republicans hope to have the Free Trade Area of the Americas instated.7 In order to
achieve these dreams of democracy and such, reform is necessary.
US policies towards Latin America have failed in the past. New policies, and a
new attitude, must be implemented. First and foremost, the two regions need to share a
mutual respect for each other. Neither do. Latin America is often referred to as America’s
“backyard”, showing an obvious lack of respect and an assumed power difference. Latin
America, with the influence of Hugo Chavez and other factors, show the United States no
respect. An anti-American rally was held in Argentina, across the river from where
American President George W. Bush was visiting. It has been said, “Bush should act as if
he were entering the front yard of his neighbors home, not the back yard of his own
“Strong at Home, Respected in the World: The Democratic Platform for America.”
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/docs/platforms/D2004platform.pdf. (Accessed: April 6, 2007).
7
“2004 Republican Party Platform: A Safer World and a More Helpful America.”
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/docs/platforms/R2004platform.pdf. (Accessed: April 6, 2007).
6
house.”8 Bush attempted to establish this new attitude with his Latin American tour. He
tried to dispel the notion of America not caring about the region, and not paying attention
to it. He spoke of unnoticed US programs in Latin America to show they had not been
forgotten, to show that Iraq was not the only thing Bush cares about. Bush even
announced that a Navy ship, The Comforter, would make port calls to treat patients and
perform surgeries. 2007, the Bush administration says, is the “year of engagement”, the
year they plan to pick up the Latin American ropes dropped in 2001.9 The US
government needs to follow through with this “year of engagement”. The reestablishment
of good feelings is necessary, as is a peaceful way to bring down Hugo Chavez’s growing
regime. America must intervene with Latin American economy. Much of this region is in
poverty and is considered “third world”. The establishment of new programs and
organizations to aid this region would be beneficial. Furthermore, the 350 articles of the
new Venezuelan Constitution by Hugo Chavez are “based on the premise that the state
has inexhaustible resources," which the country simply does not have. 10 Even Chavez’s
oil is not at an unlimited supply. Through political pressure, he must be overthrown. The
relations between the United States and Latin America must be repaired, beginning with
their political leaders.
The United States and Latin America have been strained in recent years. In the
US, the importance of its relations with Latin America has been overshadowed by the
War on Terror. Governments and political leaders of this region have become
“Looking South: Bush in Latin America.” Foreign Policy Association.
http://www.fpa.org/topics_info2414/topics_info_show.htm?doc_id=468502. (Accessed: April 4, 2007).
9
“Bush to show soft side on Latin American trip.” Cable News Network.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/08/bush.trip.ap/index.html. (Accessed: April 5, 2007).
10
Deroy Murdock. “The Hun Also Rises: Today’s Venezuelan Vote Could Create a Modern Caudillo.”
Cato. http://www.cato.org/dailys/12-15-99.html. (Accessed: April 6, 2007).
8
increasingly leftist and encourage the mounting anti-American sentiment. Steps to repair
the relationship between these two regions must be taken immediately. The Democrats
and Republicans alike strive for the democracy and economic stability of Latin American
countries. America must make the effort to achieve this, America must overthrow Hugo
Chavez, and America must establish good relations with Latin America.
Works Cited
“2004 Republican Party Platform: A Safer World and a More Helpful America.”
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/docs/platforms/R2004platform.pdf. (Accessed:
April 6, 2007).
“Analysis: How the US “lost” Latin America,” British Broadcasting Corporation.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4861320.stm. (Accessed: April 6, 2007).
“Bush to show soft side on Latin American trip.” Cable News Network.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/08/bush.trip.ap/index.html. (Accessed:
April 5, 2007).
“Castro: Profile of the great survivor.” British Broadcasting Corporation.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/244974.stm. (Accessed: April 5, 2007).
Deroy Murdock. “The Hun Also Rises: Today’s Venezuelan Vote Could Create a
Modern Caudillo.” Cato. http://www.cato.org/dailys/12-15-99.html. (Accessed:
April 6, 2007).
“Hugo Chavez Leads Anti-Bush Rally in Argentina.” FOX News.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258035,00.html. (Accessed: April 6,
2007).
Hurd, Dale. “Hugo Chavez vs. America.” Christian Broadcasting Network.
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/news/050531a.aspx. (Accessed: April 5, 2007).
“Looking South: Bush in Latin America.” Foreign Policy Association.
http://www.fpa.org/topics_info2414/topics_info_show.htm?doc_id=468502.
(Accessed: April 4, 2007).
“Strong at Home, Respected in the World: The Democratic Platform for America.”
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/docs/platforms/D2004platform.pdf. (Accessed:
April 6, 2007).
“U.S. PRESIDENT / WISCONSIN.” Cable News Network.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/WI/P/00/index.html.
(Accessed: April 6, 2007).