Murder of Beauty Queen Highlights Violence in Venezuela
Over the holiday, beauty queen Monica Spears and her husband were gunned down while visiting her home country of Venezuela. The couple was traveling with… Read More
Brazil’s Internet: A Showdown of Ends and Means
Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff wants to free Brazil’s Internet access from U.S. domination. Rousseff and the Brazilian government seek to accomplish this “cyber sovereignty” by… Read More
Argentinian President’s Life-Threatening Surgery Could Mean End for Party Majority
Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez’s Victory Front coalition party suffered a tremendous loss in Sunday’s elections. Fernandez had hoped her party would win to a two-thirds… Read More
Remembering the Liberation of Grenada, 30 Years Later
On this day 30 years ago, the Reagan Administration launched the successful liberation of the tiny Caribbean island of Grenada. The military action was prompted… Read More
Venezuela Tries to Smuggle Cuban Agents into the U.S.
Venezuela’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, recently attempted to smuggle a dozen Cuban agents into the United States. Traveling with Maduro to the 68th Session of the… Read More
U.S.-Brazil Relations: Where Do We Go from Here?
In an unusual move, Dilma Rousseff, president of Brazil, canceled a state visit to the U.S., citing her discontent with the Obama Administration’s response in… Read More
News
The Impending U.S. Signature of the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty
The United States could be free to sign the United Nations’ Arms Trade Treaty as soon as Thursday. When the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) opened… Read More
EU Finally Begins to Take Hezbollah Threat Seriously
Yesterday, the European Union finally reached the necessary consensus among its 28 member states to list Hezbollah’s “military wing” as a terrorist organization. The decision… Read More
The Growing Presence of Iran in Latin America
The Oversight and Management Efficiency Subcommittee recently held a hearing about Iran’s influence and presence in Latin America. Contrary to a prior report released by… Read More
Iran in Latin America: State Department Ignores Allies
The State Department recently released a report to Congress assessing the threat posed by Iran in the Western Hemisphere. Regrettably, it seems that the State… Read More
Human Rights: A Quiet Victory in the Americas
In early June, the Organization of American States (OAS) elected three new members to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), an OAS body, whose… Read More
Heritage Libertad Podcast: Post-Chavez Venezuela and Jay Z and Beyonce’s Visit to Cuba
What are we to make of Jay-Z and Beyonce’s trip to Cuba? And can we really expect a better U.S.–Venezuela relationship now that Hugo Chavez… Read More
Venezuela Tries to Weaken Human Rights Watchdog
A group of populist Latin American states—led by Bolivia, Ecuador, and Venezuela—hopes to reduce the role of an international human rights commission and watchdog. These… Read More
Pope Francis I and Latin America
Yesterday, in Rome, the world watched as white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel and the new pope was named. Many watched this most recent… Read More
Who Killed Hugo Chávez? Why Not Ask Raul Castro and Michael Moore?
Today, Venezuela will hold the official state funeral for Hugo Chávez. Already, ceremonies in honor of El Comandante are well underway. On Wednesday, a caravan… Read More
Morning Bell: Why the Death of Hugo Chavez Matters
Tears streamed down the face of Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro yesterday as he announced that longtime Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez was dead. The news… Read More
Latin America: If You Want to Lower Inflation, Avoid Price Controls!
The recently reelected president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, wants people to know he is determined to fight inflation through combating “speculation.” A noble goal, to… Read More
Cuba: Raul Castro Is Out-Punching the U.S.
A gaggle of democratic states gathered in Santiago, Chile, in late January handed over leadership of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean Nations to… Read More
Ecuador’s Correa Contends for Anti-Liberty Leadership in Latin America
If cancer revokes President Hugo Chavez’s mandate for indefinite rule in Venezuela, it will leave leadership of the radical-left, anti-liberty Bolivarian Alliance (ALBA) in Latin… Read More
Corruption Victimizes the Poor in the Americas
The recently launched “Americas Barometer,” by Vanderbilt University’s Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP), includes important insights about day-to-day corruption burdening citizens in every country… Read More
U.S. and EU Should Take a Firm Stand for Rule of Law in Latin America
In 2011, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez organized the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in 2011 specifically to serve as a regional body… Read More
Dictator Castro Now In Charge of Latin American Pro-Democracy Group
In Santiago, Chile, on January 28, the new regional body, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), passed its rotating presidency to Cuba’s… Read More
Chile’s Strong Economy: A Case of Positive Policy and Freedom
Chile continues to lead Latin America in 2013 in both economic growth and economic freedom. These positive outcomes reflect well on the solid policy choices… Read More
Kerry in Spotlight; Hot Issues Remain for Next Secretary of State
Last week, embattled U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice took herself out of the running for Secretary of State as Hillary Clinton’s successor. It did not take… Read More
Obama Administration Prepares to Resume Nuclear Talks with Iran as Congress Ratchets Up Sanctions
The long-stalled talks on Iran’s nuclear program will soon resume. Earlier this week, European Union diplomat Helga Schmid contacted Iran’s deputy nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri,… Read More
Time to Boost Free Trade Closer to Home
America’s free trade agreements in Latin America are a major opportunity. But even though the new U.S.–Panama free trade agreement went into effect on October… Read More
Fast and Furious, Marijuana Legalization Still Worry Our Southern Neighbors
Since November 6, President Obama has had little time to savor his electoral victory. The White House is in the throes of dealing with, among… Read More
News
Obama Should Be Guided by His Own Words on Latin America
In his generally disappointing September 25 address to the United Nations General Assembly, President Obama trotted out a number of fundamental American principles. He called… Read More
Iran: A Strategy for the Threat Closer to Home
The House of Representatives will soon take floor action on a piece of legislation know as the Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act, aimed… Read More
Congress Wants to Know Why an American Is Hostage to Bolivian Injustice
On May 12, the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights will focus a spotlight on the case of Jacob Ostreicher,… Read More
