Chavez's influence hovers over Bush trip to Latin America

[Judi Lynn]

March 4, 2007, 12:11AM
Chavez's influence hovers over Bush trip to Latin America
U.S. is hoping Latin American tour tempers the leftist, shores up allies' support

By DUDLEY ALTHAUS, JOHN OTIS and PATTY REINERT
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

MEXICO CITY — Like many Americans at this time of year, President Bush is striking out for southern climes.

Packing strategies for fostering trade, fighting drug-traffickers and fending off the regionwide shift to the political left, Bush flies out Thursday to start a swing through the friendlier parts of Latin America.

He'll talk energy and free trade in Brazil and Uruguay. Those topics — as well as crime, punishment and border jumping — will dominate the conversations in Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico.

At every turn, Bush almost certainly will work to counter Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's leftist president. Chavez ranks among the world's more vocal and influential Bush-bashers, and his aura hovers over Bush's trip like a holiday-spoiling drizzle.

"It's a very calculated effort to become more proactive in confronting Chavez and shoring up U.S. allies in the region," said Cynthia Arnson, who heads the Latin America program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C.
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http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4600448.html

[roody]

1. Bush's malvenida will be a great sight.