Credit:White House photo by Eric Draper

He is unpopular in the region, yes, but anti-American feelings have little to do with the coalition effort.

Gabriela Perdomo - The tour was short and uneventful. United States president George W. Bush went back to Washington last week after a speedy "good will" trip to Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay, Guatemala and Mexico. If anything, the visit served to show on television the colourful and angry demonstrations that greeted the president in the region.

In Colombia, the first stop, the president's visit was mainly ceremonial. Critical issues affecting the country directly—such as the renewal of a multi-millionaire aid package known as Plan Colombia and the ratification of a free trade agreement—are now in the hands of the U.S. Congress, controlled by the Democratic Party. The same occurred in the countries that followed, where Bush talked about promoting "social justice" through American "generosity" and aid packages for the region. Still, no concrete plans were announced.

Perhaps the only news resulting from the quick tour was the joint announcement of Bush and Brazilian president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva about a partnership in the production of ethanol, considered a bio-fuel. In one of South America's strongest economies, ethanol fuels almost 40 per cent of the cars, and the U.S. is pledging to cut its dependence on oil to a fifth of what it is today within the next ten years. Yet, the specifics of such a program where not unveiled. Politically, it was the president's best opportunity to showcase his good relationship with a socialist-leaning president.

The visit had two clear purposes: fulfilling an obligation for a president who has been accused of neglecting Latin America ever since the war on terrorism began in 2001; and securing and uniting allies against a raising leftist power represented by Venezuelan head of state Hugo Chávez. Arguably, the trip served both cases well. A visit to the region was, in fact, long overdue, and physical presence accompanied of some money could have a positive effect against the rising popularity of Chávez.

But the "good will tour" was overshadowed by a more evident reality. Every single report on Bush's arrival to these countries included a mention to the president's failures in Iraq, and his culpability on America's increasingly bad reputation around the globe. They underlined, basically, what everybody knows. But in Latin America, the "gringo" hand has reached domestic affairs in most countries for decades. This trip was not really all about Bush and his misadventures in the Middle East. Sure, the quagmire in Iraq and the president's decreasing popularity at home do little to improve the U.S.'s global reputation. But the visit to Latin America was really no different than previous trips by other heads of state, whether Republican or Democrat, to the south.

It would be a mistake to believe people in Latin America resent Bush and only him; that all those anti-American feelings boiling in the region are all about him; that they are new. Although Iraq doesn't help, the truth is America has been loathed by millions for years, courtesy of a failed foreign policy towards Nicaragua that promoted a brutal civil war, the intrusion in Chile and other southern-cone countries by supporting military dictatorships, a confusing war-on-drugs policy in Colombia and, of course, the stubbornness in Cuba, just to mention some examples.

Latin America is a complex region where American foreign policy has always had its enemies. Every country in the region has its own struggles, and many would agree neither Iraq nor Chávez are at the top of their list. Reports on Bush's trip failed to acknowledge this very fact.

Even domestically, a feeling against an intrusive foreign policy seems to be growing in the U.S., with over two-thirds of respondents saying they would like the country to reduce its participation in world affairs in a recent Harris Interactive poll. At home, the war in Iraq has certainly fuelled this sentiment, but many citizens have opposed these practices for decades. This is not new, nor is it wholly the current president's responsibility.

The presidential hopefuls targeting the White House should pay attention to analysis on Bush's last trip to Latin America. The next administration—whether Democrat or Republican—will have to acknowledge Washington's historic meddling in domestic affairs in other countries and build a new, fresher relationship with the region based on honesty and open dialogue if they truly want to restore their nation's reputation in Latin America.

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