(Military Times) Op-Ed: Missing the Story Again

[unhappycamper]

Missing the Story Again
(convicted felon) Oliver North | December 18, 2008

This week the so-called mainstream media fixated on a Baghdad shoe-throwing contest, more government bailout bucks and the delightful prospect of having Caroline Kennedy appointed to Hillary Clinton’s vacant seat in the U.S. Senate. The potentates of the press gave short shrift - or simply ignored - two far more important news stories: the first-ever assembly of Latin American leaders gathered to stick it to the United States, and the passing of a great conservative leader who helped Ronald Reagan become one of America’s greatest presidents.

Both stories deserved more attention than they received. That, however, would require journalists, news directors and editors to have some knowledge of history and current events beyond what they can collect from a quick Google search – and an attention span greater than a fruit fly.

First, the Latin Leader Finger-In-The-Eye Stunt. They called it the "Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development." It brought all but one of the Latin American and Caribbean heads of state to Salvador de Bahia, a Brazilian resort city, for a two day – "Blame America First" confab on December 16 and 17. Only Colombia’s Alvaro Uribe did not attend because of disastrous floods last weekend that made nearly a quarter million of his countrymen homeless. The talk wasn’t as pretty as the scenery – and we weren’t even invited.

Ostensibly, Brazilian president Lula de Silva called the summit as an effort to help resolve a number of simmering trade, economic and security disputes among countries of the region. But the real purpose was tipped by excluding any U.S. representatives and inviting Cuban dictator Raul Castro. On his first foreign trip abroad as "president," Fidel’s little brother was welcomed at the gathering as though he was the returning prodigal son.

Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez, confirmed that the principal purpose of the gathering was to send an unequivocal message to the incoming Obama administration. On Tuesday, Mr. Chavez told reporters, "There is no doubt that a new historic era is beginning." Just to make sure everyone got the message, he added, "The presence of Cuba is a very strong signal that America is no longer the boss in Latin America."


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,181441,00.html?wh=news