The charming neighbour
Barack Obama offers a new partnership A hard man for Chávez to hate
AFTER Europe earlier this month, it was Latin America’s turn to enjoy Barack Obama’s charm offensive. In a brief visit to Mexico City, he assured President Felipe Calderón of his support against Mexico’s drug gangs. He went on to Trinidad for the Summit of the Americas, where he dispensed smiles, handshakes and backslaps, and called for a “new beginning” in the relationship between the two halves of the region. It seemed to work. The prime minister of St Lucia asked Mr Obama for an autograph. Even Hugo Chávez, Venezuela’s anti-American president, was disarmed. He repeatedly shook hands with the leader of the country he calls the “empire”, saying “I want to be your friend”. Seven months ago, he kicked out the American ambassador, a step he now wants to reverse.
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http://www.economist.com/world/americas/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13528091
