New NGO report analyzes why Latin America doesn't like the US

Writing in InterPress News, Jim Lobe discusses a new report put out by the Latin America Working Group Educational Fund which shows that there are in fact many other reasons why Latin Americans don't like Uncle Sam so much, besides our pushing Structural Adjustments and destructive trade policies on their governments. One other major reasons is actually our blatant disregard for international law and human rights.

You see, we have actually passed a law that bans certain types of economic aid to countries that "refuse to sign a treaty pledging that they would not turn over U.S. citizens to the International Criminal Court at The Hague."

Disaffection with Bush's human rights policies has been made particularly stark by the controversy surrounding the ICC, according to the report, which notes that Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela have preferred to forgo millions of dollars in aid rather than bow to U.S. demands that they sign "Article 98" agreements exempting U.S. citizens from ICC jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, Washington's international economic stance has also harmed its image in Latin America, according to the study, which notes that its "unreflective, unbudging support" for neo-liberal policies and U.S.-style trade agreements that "have failed to deliver equitable development" has fueled the success of left-wing and populist candidates.

The administration's aid policies have also harmed Washington's image, the study argued, noting that while military assistance to the region has risen steadily since Bush took office in 2001, economic aid has stagnated.

Moreover, political considerations in aid decisions appear to have become more important. Not only has aid to countries that refuse to sign Article 98 agreements declined, but the two countries Washington considers most important to its war on terror -- Colombia, because of its internal war against leftist insurgents; and El Salvador, which has provided a steady supply of soldiers to the war in Iraq -- have been given the most military aid.

This is so pathetic and disgusting it boggles my mind. There are desperately poor Latin American countries that are being forced to turn down economic aid because of the outrageous strings that Washington has attached. With many of these countries' recent experiences with US-backed dictatorships, replete with death squads and disappearances, it's not really surprising that human rights is something these governments take seriously.

If you are a poor country and want to get aid from the leader of the free world, you better be ready to support an illegal and immoral war, agree to destructive trade policies and economic "reform" programs that help multinational corporations at the expense of your poor and most importantly you better be ready to give the US a free pass against any war crimes they commit by refusing to turn them in to the ICC.