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The only speech of the president's three-nation tour of Central and
South America focused on the importance of safeguarding democratic ideals
in the region.
He said the people of Latin America have defied
dictators to win their liberty, and he warned there are some who want to
set back the clock
.
Mr. Bush said they must now choose between two competing visions. "One
offers a vision of hope that is founded on representative government,
integration into the world community, and a faith in the transformative
power of freedom in individual lives," said the president. "The other
seeks to roll back the democratic progress of the past two decades by
playing to fear, pitting neighbor against neighbor, and blaming others for
their own failures to provide for their people."
The president named no names. But the comments were apparently a
reference to either Cuba's Fidel Castro or Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez, a fiery critic of the Bush administration. "Some today suggest
that democracy has outlived its usefulness," said Mr. Bush. "They have
misread history."
In the address, Mr. Bush also praised Brazil's role in helping other
countries seeking freedom and social justice. And he promised to work with
President Lula to ease differences on trade.
Brazil was one of five nations at the just-ended Summit of the Americas
to oppose U.S. calls for negotiations on a hemispheric free-trade
agreement. Mr. Bush said he made his case once again when he met face to
face with the Brazilian leader.
"He has got to be convinced, just like the people of America must be
convinced, that a trade arrangement in our hemisphere is good for jobs, is
good for the quality of life," said President Bush.
President Lula is far to the left of President Bush on the political
spectrum. But as he stood with Mr. Bush on the grounds of Brazil's
presidential retreat, he said relations between their two countries are
far better than many expected when he took office in 2003.
"When I was elected president, there were those who foresaw the
deterioration of relations between Brazil," said Mr. Lula. "They were
roundly mistaken."
Earlier President Bush answered questions from a group described as
young leaders. One man, a university professor, asked Mr. Bush about the
tens of thousands of demonstrators who showed up Friday at the Summit of
the Americas in Mar Del Plata, Argentina.
Mr. Bush said they were exercising freedom of speech and expression -
one of the core elements of democracy. "I expect there to be dissent,"
said the president. "That is what freedom is all about. People should be
allowed to express themselves. And so what happened in Argentina happens
in America. That's positive."
There were also protests in Brasilia during the president's brief
visit, but they were small in comparison to those seen in Argentina. From
Brazil, Mr. Bush travels to Panama - the last stop on his three-nation
visit to Central and South America. | 
