The axis of "Good"???

[Flabbergasted]

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_opinion?id=138926120
The Axis of Good

Mary King


Monday, February 27th 2006

For example he has signed with Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia and Argentina, PetroSur, a joint venture to execute oil projects in the countries, agreed to supply Uruguay with one million barrels of fuel per month, similar to PetroCaribe, in which 75 per cent is to be paid in 90 days and the rest over 15 years. Some payment can be made in cattle and other food products.

Also, Chavez has bought out US$1.6 billion in Argentina's government bonds such that that country could entirely repay the IMF, purchased US$25 million in defaulted Ecuadorian bonds and appears to be supporting the idea of the 'Bank of the South' that would make loans in competition with the IMF without the Washington conditions.

What Mr Mottley did not address are the implications for the FTAA given the creation of the Axis for Good in the region. For example on his arrival in Argentina on November 4, 2005 to participate in the Fourth Summit of the Americas, Chavez said that the FTAA is dead. This attempt to resurrect the FTAA talks (stalled now for the last two years) failed to resolve the key differences over how to create a hemisphere-wide free trade zone, amid violent anti-US protests.

[Flabbergasted]

1. After axis of evil, Latin left hails "axis of good"

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/2/16/worldupdates/2006-02-16T020605Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_-236843-1&sec=worldupdates

By Bernd Debusmann, Special Correspondent
LA PAZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - The anti-U.S. campaign rhetoric is fading out of public statements by the new Bolivian government but its long-term ambition is alive and well: a new leftist movement known as "Evism" as part of an "axis of good" -- Bolivia, Venezuela, and Cuba.

"Evism" comes from Evo Morales, the first name of the Aymara Indian who won Bolivia's presidency after a campaign in which he described himself as a nightmare for the U.S. Evism joins "Fidelism" (after Cuba's Fidel Castro) and "Chavism" (after Venezuela's Hugo Chavez) on the list of Latin American "isms."

The phrase "axis of good" emerged from a meeting between the left-wing troika before Morales was sworn into office. It was meant to make a counter-point to U.S. President George W. Bush's characterization, four years ago of Iraq , Iran and North Korea as an axis of evil.

The new term swiftly entered the vocabulary of university students and the rank-and-file of Morales's Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party. The three leaders were equally swift in strengthening the rhetorical axis with agreements ranging from energy to education.