Michael Shifter Quotes

Brazil is an absolutely critical player in the hemisphere. There is a limit to how much progress the U. S. can make on any issue, free trade included, without Brazil's support and cooperation.

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If Morales fully carries out his proposed agenda, the consequences would be likely to be quite problematic. His supporters may be happy, but Bolivia's economy would not be viable.

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I haven't seen any indication of a willingness to tolerate Morales' positions, and you have to remember that eradicating coca is a core element of U.S. drug policy. This is where the passions are greatest, especially in Congress.

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It looks like we are headed for a collision. Chavez realizes that the U.S. doesn't have an idea of how to deal with him.

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There is a risk that such an idea will be seen as led by the U.S., or if the U.S. was seen as coordinating or directing it, ... That is problematic and could produce a strong reaction in Central America.

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good theater and even better politics. He has been waging this battle in Latin America, in an effort to extend his political influence and build a counterweight to the United States, and now, in a display of great audacity, he is appealing directly to the considerable underclass in the United States.

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It could have been worse if Bush had been embarrassed, or humiliated.

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With this move, he risks alienating natural and otherwise sympathetic partners like Brazil and Spain. Ordering the military to seize the natural gas fields is unnecessarily confrontational and antagonistic.

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There is powerful symbolism in what's happening in Costa Rica. Here is a country with enormous affinity with the United States, where there is a tremendous convergence of shared values ... and even they are not convinced that unquestioned support of the United States is in their best interests.

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He's got lots of money and clearly has grandiose schemes, seeing himself as an important global player. There is a reality to it. Oil is at record prices, and he's willing to spend both in Venezuela and in the region. But the question is, how much influence is he gaining

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The question is, when it comes time to confront those policy decisions, whether that could create more violence or unrest.

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They felt that if prosecution was allowed, it would be very difficult to build peace and go beyond the conflict. On the other hand, it does support impunity, which is not helpful.

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Palacio thought he could pursue a different course, have a greater emphasis on a social agenda. But I think he's encountered real obstacles, not just within Ecuador but in the international community. I think he's wanted to have it both ways, but that's proven to be extremely difficult.

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Close observers of Latin American affairs both in Washington and in the region say Rice's finesse made possible a turnaround in U.S.-Latin relations. She saw the problem, acted well and wisely, and cleaned up the mess, ... It repairs relations with key countries like Brazil and puts the United States in a much better position to play a leadership role going forward.

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The possibility we'll have another Chavez acolyte in Peru represents a serious challenge to the economic model and a threat to democracy.

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More than any other leader, he is shaping the agenda and setting the terms of debate in the region. Chavez has the initiative, he's on the offensive, and everyone else is reacting to what he says and does.

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You can say CAFTA went through, but what it revealed is that free trade is on life support, ... It barely squeezed through Congress and doesn't bode well for future deals.

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To be frank, it doesn't surprise me. Chavez is a case apart but if you look at the finance ministers -- Chile, Uruguay, Brazil -- all of them would please Milton Friedman with their fiscal discipline and their closing down of debts. And even those on the left stress 'effectiveness' as the model. It shows that the old labels don't have a lot of meaning in the present context.

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There has been a sense that Latin America can take care of itself, but Washington needs to start repairing the tattered relations.

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Washington is a specialist in doing things that benefit Chavez.

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There are very sharp ethnic divisions. The indigenous population is a majority, unlike other Latin American countries. There are very deep-seated divisions. It takes a long time to agree.

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If the opposition parties are seen as not being constructive and blocking everything Morales tries to do that would not be in their own interests.

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She saw the problem, acted well and wisely, and cleaned up the mess. It repairs relations with key countries like Brazil and puts the United States in a much better position to play a leadership role going forward.

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Perhaps you need someone with a profile like (Morales') to reconcile this very fractured country. Everybody wants him to succeed, even the elites.

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The Rumsfeld comment is further proof that the administration doesn't have a coherent policy. There are very conflicting signals.

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