War on Terror was launched by the George Bush administration in respond to the attacks on September 11, 2001 on the US soil. The official term used by the US military, Global war on Terrorism refers to the various military, political, and legal action taken to curb the spread of terrorism. So, to what extend the new US ideological policy would influence its relationship with Latin America? To be more specific, why should the War against Terror influence its relationship and implicate the region to this process? War on Terrorism has changed the world according to Bush Administration; at least it has modified all its relationship, including Latin America. In what 9/11 has changed the relationship between Latin America and US?
Briefly, we should deem that the Latin America/US relationship was quite improving economically and politically in the 1990's. Free from the strategic and ideological rigidities of the Cold War, Latin America in the mid-1990's looked forward to a more realistic and constructive relationship with the US Improve their relations was one of the top priority of the American government.
US had hoped that Latin America turn toward democracy and free market economy and it would lead to closer and more cooperative ties. Indeed, for a time, the Americas seemed to be heading in the right direction. The Brady debt-relief proposal helped end Latin America's decade-long debt-induced recession. In 1995 a bold Washington-led rescue package helped prevent the collapse of Mexico's economy.
[...] ] they thrive in the same conditions, support each other and feed off of each other"[9] In other words, its seems that the 'War on Drugs' might be merged with the 'War on Terrorism'[10], leading to the a real danger that militaries will not use proportional force, and a new round of human rights abuses might occur based on military over-reaction, corruption and securitization Terrorism: an hold all concept Terrorist threat is not the only concern of Washington DC in the region. [...]
[...] Due to this structure, Washington keeps on maintaining its influence and its close ties to the military of the region. Thus they form a military consensus in doing what they call military-to-military or foreign military interaction (tactical and simulation exercises, training, formation, information exchange, weapons transfers . etc.). US has created an US leadership network of military cooperation and intelligence gathering with many Latin American states[8]. It has involved the training of a total of 13,000 Latin American officers, options for Forward Operating Locations, bases and hubs in the regions, as well as contracting private CIA-linked companies in engaging in training, military efficiency reviews, and surveillance of air flight. [...]
[...] Latin America was also on the way of democratization which favored talks between both parts. This new diplomacy for the first time presumed to treat all the region's nations (with the exception of Cuba) as equals. During the race on August presidential candidate George Bush asserted "Should I become president, I'll look south, not as an afterthought, but as a fundamental commitment". Only electoral promise? Not at all, he also warranted that he would be the "mejor amigo" of Latin America[1]. [...]
[...] and Latin America After 9-11 and (Silver City, NM & Washington, DC: Foreign Policy In Focus, June 2003) Patterns of Global Terrorism, US State Department, Released by the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, April Thomas O.Connel A different war on terror 6. HALUANI, Makram "Benign Neglect: Cooperation in the Western Hemisphere", Harvard International Review, Winter 2003, pp50- Johnson Stephen, Fact, Figures, Recommendations the Heritage foundation Johnson Stephen, U.S. Coalition Against Terrorism Should Include Latin America, October Paul Blustein, “Trade Accord Becomes a U.S. [...]
[...] The trend toward disengagement with the Latin American region has been exacerbated in the wake of the US invasion and occupation of Iraq[4]. Iraq has been designated by the US Government as a key front in the Global War on Terrorism. The US Government tried to involve the most democratic countries it could in its Iraq War. Bush's administration has made clear that it favors those few neighbors who joined the “coalition of the willing”. Latin American leaders opposed the U.S. [...]
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