Oppenheimer: Dem's want Secy of State to focus on Latin Am.

[legalatina]

This is why we need to make sure that neither Hillary nor Obama become our next President...they are already planning friendly relations with Socialist and Communist countries in Latin America....very, very bad for us.

HE OPPENHEIMER REPORT
The race is on -- for U.S. secretary of state
Posted on Sun, Apr. 13, 2008
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BY ANDRES OPPENHEIMER
aoppenheimer@MiamiHerald.com

While the world is watching the Obama vs. Clinton race for the Democratic nomination, other well-known Democrats are unofficially campaigning for secretary of state -- and offering big plans for Latin America.

In recent days, I -- and most likely zillions of other journalists -- have received invitations to attend ''major foreign policy'' speeches on Latin America by leading Democrats who, by coincidence, often happen to be mentioned in the blogosphere as potential secretaries of state if the Democrats win in November.

An e-mail from Sen. Chris Dodd's press office invited me to cover the Connecticut senator's April 10 speech at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, which would ``lay out a blueprint charting a new course for U.S.-Latin American relations in the XX1st century.''

A few days earlier, on April 1, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson delivered ''a major foreign policy speech'' on U.S.-Latin American relations at the 34-country Organization of American States in Washington, D.C.

Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, another would-be Democratic secretary of state, is scheduled to give ''a major foreign policy and national security speech'' on Tuesday at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Biden, a former presidential contender, is uncommitted.

Of course, spokesmen for the non-candidates focusing on Latin America deny that their bosses are trying to score a double-whammy: helping the Democrats win crucial Hispanic votes in November and positioning themselves as leading candidates to lead U.S. foreign policy. But they surely sound like candidates running for the job.

Richardson, a former Democratic hopeful who backs Barack Obama, reminded his OAS audience of his broad résumé -- he has served as secretary of energy and as ambassador to the United Nations -- and that he grew up in Mexico.

KNOWS THE REGION

''Having spent part of my childhood in Mexico and having traveled widely in the region, I understand the complicated dynamics of inter-American relations,'' Richardson said. ``My Mexican mother taught me to value and respect Latino culture, just as my American father made me proud to be a U.S. citizen.''

Richardson, a fluent Spanish speaker, called for ''a new partnership with Latin America,'' based on ``engagement, dialogue and cooperation.''

The next administration should match U.S. ideals of human rights to its conduct and close the U.S. Guantánamo base in Cuba, he said. It also should allow Cuban Americans to visit their relatives on the island without current restrictions and ``be prepared to reassess the trade embargo in exchange for Cuba releasing political prisoners and making moves toward democratic reforms.''

In addition, the United States should launch ''a New Alliance for Progress,'' modeled after President John F. Kennedy's 1961 program that sharply increased U.S. foreign aid flowing to Latin America, he said.

Dodd, another former Democratic presidential hopeful who supports Obama and also a Spanish speaker, started his speech by citing his 26-year-long membership of the Senate's subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs and recalling his work as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic as a young man.

''I will make the case that Latin America is of critical importance to the United States,'' Dodd said.

`NEW PARTNERSHIP'

He proposed ''a new strategic partnership of the Americas.'' Instead of focusing U.S. policy with the region on free trade, Dodd proposed basing it on a commitment to work together on three areas: public security and the rule of law, poverty reduction, and energy integration.

Interestingly, much like Richardson's speech, Dodd's mentioned Cuba policy ahead of most other issues.

''The strategic partnership of the Americas . . . can begin in one place, Cuba,'' Dodd said. ``We must dramatically alter our posture toward Cuba by ending the trade embargo, lifting travel restrictions and caps on remittances to the struggling Cuban people and by engaging in bilateral and multilateral talks on issues of mutual interest.''

My opinion: Regardless of what you think of their proposals -- I find Richardson's more realistic, especially on the Cuba embargo issue -- it's good news to see two prominent Democrats running their non-campaigns for secretary of state focusing on Latin America.

After two consecutive secretaries of state of African-American descent, what's wrong with one representing the largest U.S. minority group or one with a lifelong experience in Latin American issues?

And why not have a secretary of state who cares deeply about a region that is a more important source of oil than Saudi Arabia and whose growth could help boost U.S. exports and investments more than most other areas in the world?

I, for one, think it's time for the first U.S. top diplomat with a lifelong interest in Latin America.


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[crazybird]

Their job is to focus on AMERICA....period. Or while I was sleeping did they switch to WORLD leaders?

[NoBueno]

He proposed ''a new strategic partnership of the Americas.'' Instead of focusing U.S. policy with the region on free trade, Dodd proposed basing it on a commitment to work together on three areas: public security and the rule of law, poverty reduction, and energy integration

When we can wipe out poverty in America, increase free trade of American Goods throughtout the world, tighten security within and including our borders, then perhaps we can look to help out other countries.

Until then, I do not give a squat about Latin America!

[SOSADFORUS]

What they are saying is they want to let more latin Americans in so they can work, take Americans jobs, and achieve their American dream while citizens get left behind.

[legalatina]

Sosad: You are right...the idea is to advance the interests of Latin American and for the U.S. to be the employment and social service agency for citizens of those nations .....nothing to benefit our citizens.