President Bush must be brushing up on his Spanish. It’s been a while since he has had to use it. Luckily, he has Carlos Gutierrez as secretary of commerce -- the most fluent in Spanish of his close aides -- to give him some language tips. He’s going to need them during his trip to Latin America.
Bush visits the region from March 8 through March 14, in the most extensive trip to Latin America of his presidency. Most Latin Americans still remember how he vowed to make the region a priority back when he was elected. However, our neighbors to the south have been virtually ignored by the Bush administration, with the excuse that the war against terror has consumed most -- if not all -- of the country’s time, attention and resources.
The White House is describing Bush’s tour as a “trip that will underscore the commitment of the United States to the Western Hemisphere and will highlight our common agenda to advance freedom, prosperity, and social justice and deliver the benefits of democracy in the areas of health, education, and economic opportunity.” Sounds like a noble cause. But the trip is seen by many as an effort to counter the influence that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has established in the region. For that, Bush might be arriving too late.
While Bush was fighting the war on terror in the Middle East, a few things changed in Latin America. Among others, there are at least seven countries led by leftist or left-leaning presidents, many of them friends and allies of Chavez, who is rapidly turning his country into a socialist state.
In Brazil, Bush is expected to discuss with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a range of topics, from the use of ethanol as a source of energy to global warming. It is believed that Bush chose Brazil to begin his Latin American trip because although Lula is part of the new Latin American left, he is considered one of the more moderate leftists and maintains a good relationship with the United States.
In Uruguay, Bush is also likely to find somewhat friendly territory. President Tabare Vasquez paid Bush a visit in May 2006 and has expressed interest in negotiating a free-trade agreement with the U.S., although his partners at MERCOSUR -- the South American trade bloc -- are opposed to it.
Bush’s third stop will be Colombia, where ultraconservative President Alvaro Uribe is hoping Bush will dish out some support for Plan Colombia: a strategy aimed at eradicating drugs that later expanded to include the fight against terrorism. Uribe is the U.S.’s closest ally in South America, but his government has been marred by political scandals -- most recently, the arrest of several legislators close to his government for alleged ties to right-wing paramilitary groups.
The trip to Guatemala is designed to let Bush experience the “rich cultural diversity of the Central American nation,” according to the White House. But it’s likely to be more than just a cultural experience. The two countries have enjoyed a good relationship, but there is resentment among many Guatemalans after the U.S. helped finance the civil war that left hundreds of thousands dead. Immigration is a point of contention, as is the proliferation of gangs, or “Maras.”
Just last week, Bush promised his Salvadoran counterpart, Tony Saca, that he would aid in the investigation of the murders of four Guatemalan police officers suspected of killing three Salvadoran legislators and their driver.
Violence and security issues will also be at the top of the agenda in Mexico, Bush’s last stop in his Latin American tour. In less than two days, the president is expected to discuss with Mexico’s new head of state, Felipe Calderon, everything from immigration, the border wall, investments and job creation to the war against drugs.
Bush’s challenge on this trip is not only to strengthen ties with these countries and hope that good will spills over to other bordering countries, but to prevent the Venezuelan leader from stealing the spotlight. Chavez, who accuses Bush of trying to “divide” the region, predicts that his trip will be a failure. Let’s hope it’s not too late for Bush to prove him wrong.

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(Maria Elena Salinas is the author of “I AM MY FATHER’S DAUGHTER: LIVING A LIFE WITHOUT SECRETS.” Reach her at www
.mariaesalinas.com)
© 2007 by Maria Elena Salinas
Distributed by King Features Syndicate