US bucks can't buy Latin America

The US media have gone all-out in their analysis and comments on US President George W. Bush's ongoing five-nation visit in Latin America. Yesterday Bush arrived in Mexico City on the last leg of his trip, which has taken him to Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Guatemala.

In varied degrees, all admit that US influence in Latin America is on the wane, losing dominance in its backyard. Media have highlighted the fact that, because the United States has been focusing all its attention on anti-terrorism, it has not invested enough in Latin America. It has simply ignored it.

So Bush has designated this year as the year of fulfilling the US promise to Latin America.