Latin American leaders, on first-name basis, unite against critics

[ProSense]

Latin American leaders, on first-name basis, unite against critics

By Juan Forero

<...>

It’s a closeness shaped by a singular worldview — that over the past decade, with a string of leftist leaders elected to office from Central America to Tierra del Fuego — the region has at last freed itself from Washington’s tentacles. That makes for dramatic speeches and rousing regional summits — often with the United States playing the role of foil.

<...>

But Jose Miguel Vivanco, a Chilean who heads the Americas division of Human Rights Watch, spoke of a dark side to all the back-slapping.

Presidents accused of violating norms — as in Ecuador, where Correa is corralling the media, or in Venezuela, where the April presidential election was marked by irregularities — know their fellow leaders will side with them against human rights groups.

“They don’t question each other,” Vivanco said. “I think they act with the conviction that at least no one from the club is going to cross the line and publicly question their internal affairs.”

- more -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/united-against-world-in-latin-america/2013/07/04/dc38c59e-e4f4-11e2-bffd-37a36ddab820_story.html

[BumRushDaShow]

1. There's a new generation of leaders coming into place there

and the ones who have been most vocal are the ones with little or no trade with the U.S.

[morningfog]

2. I applaud their efforts to empower themselves and the people of their continent!

[ProSense]

3. Kick! n/t

[JI7]

4. and if they actually meet Obama they are going to say

"i want to be your friend"