Obama endures criticism while seeking Latin American economic cooperation
Santiago, Chile (AHN) – President Obama’s trip to Latin America this week is prompting long-time critics of the United States to renew their complaints about their northern neighbor.
Bolivian President Evo Morales used the visit to say Obama should be forced to give up his Nobel Prize for Peace. Cuba’s Fidel Castro said Obama should ask the forgiveness of the Chilean people for the 1973 coup against former Chilean President Salvador Allende that was aided by the U.S. government. It was followed by a military crackdown. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Obama will not be able to gain control of Venezuelan oil with a strategy he claims the United States is pursuing with military attacks in the past week against Libya.
Meanwhile, Obama continues to say in speeches that his only intention is to seek greater economic cooperation with Latin American allies. He is visiting Brazil, Chile and El Salvador on a five-day tour as part of his goal of boosting the U.S. economy through greater international trade.
During a press conference with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera in Santiago, Obama described his economic proposals for broader trade agreements, joint development of clean energy and cooperation in fighting drug cartels.
“In our interconnected world, the security and prosperity of people’s are intertwined like never before, and no region is more closely linked than the U.S. and Latin America,” Obama said.
He also made veiled references to the allied effort to get rid of Libya’s Moammar Gaddafi through military intervention.
“The lessons of Latin America… can be a guide, a guide for people around the world who are beginning their own journeys toward democracy,” Obama explained. He was referring to pro-democracy movements in Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain and Libya that led to the populist revolution to unseat Gaddafi.
At the same time, Obama acknowledged there is room for improvement in U.S. relations with Latin American countries.
“It’s very important for all of us to know our history and obviously the history of relations between the U.S. and Latin America have at times been extremely rocky and have at times been difficult,” he said.
Obama’s critics among Latin American leaders seized on the occasional rocky relations to revive their criticisms.
Bolivian President Evo Morales, a Marxist, said the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize should be taken away from Obama for having led an “invasion” of Libya.
“Two years ago, we heard that President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize, but at this point is he defending peace in the world or is he rather encouraging violence,” Morales said.
“It is not possible for a Nobel Peace Prize winner to head groups of gangs that attack and invade,” Morales added. “That is no longer part of the defense of human rights.”
Venezuelan President Chavez said during his weekly radio address that “The Yankee Empire made the decision to remove (Libyan leader Moammar) Gaddafi taking advantage of the popular insurgency… what matters most to them is oil, they go for oil, as they came here.”
Cuba’s ailing former leader Fidel Castro said he doubted the United States sought the “partnership” with Latin America mentioned by Obama.
Instead, he said Obama wanted to disrupt “the increasing coordination and integration and ongoing economic policy in the region.”
He also suggested that Obama apologize to the Chilean people, “Taking into account that one of his illustrious predecessors, Richard Nixon, promoted the coup and the heroic death of Salvador Allende, torture and murder of thousands of people.”
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