Congress needs to approve several free trade deals with
Panama,
Colombia, and
Peru or Hugo Chavez will score an important
public relations victory, said a senior Department of State official yesterday.
U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns tried to put the pressure on the Democrat-controlled legislature
with his comments:
"If we turn away (from approving the pacts), it's going to embolden someone like Hugo Chavez that he can make hay out of that crisis," said Burns. "We certainly don't want to see someone like Chavez gain a public relations benefit if it doesn't get through, that's surely what he'll try to do."
Burns' words is the latest pro-free trade rhetoric made this month from the Bush administration:
- “(The free trade deal with) Colombia should be voted on ... as soon as possible.” - Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez.
- “Peru, Colombia and Panama are among our best partners in the region. Their governments have put themselves on the line and made strategic commitments to us through these trade agreements.” - Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.
- “As Congress debates, people across the hemisphere are watching to see if America will uphold its commitment to free and fair trade.” – President George W. Bush.
Sources- Associated Press, Reuters, MSNBC, BBC News
Image- Gotham Gazette
2 comments:
Surely, an "Anti-Venezuelan" statement, using the same criteria you have used to call Chavez "Anti-American" (calling Bush,half-jokingly, "the devil").
See how anybody can play this game? What's doubtful is its usefulness.
Actually, the only times the term "anti-American" have appeared in this blog has been in quotes made by other people. (Search through the blog and you'll see what I mean).
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