Palm Beach Post - McCain Looks to Americas
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Palm Beach Post - McCain Looks to Americas
By Brian E. Crowley
Sen. John McCain said Wednesday that the United States has missed opportunities to build stronger relations with Central and South America, putting the nation's security and economy at risk.
Calling the region "increasingly vital to the fortunes of the United States," McCain told the Florida Association of Broadcasters that "anti-Americanism is on the rise in much of the region."
The Republican presidential candidate, whose home state of Arizona borders Mexico, is acutely aware of the need for good relations with Central and South America.
During his nearly 25-minute speech, McCain lashed out at Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
McCain called the Chavez government a "one-party dictatorship" that has propped up the economy of Cuba, allied itself with Iran and "supported populist, anti-American forces throughout the hemisphere."
McCain also noted that China "has launched a diplomatic and economic offensive in the region, with uncertain intentions and outcomes."
Vowing to keep the U.S. embargo against Cuba, McCain said as president he would push harder to oust the Castro regime and bring democracy to the island nation.
Expressing concern about what he called the "undergoverned tri-border region" of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, McCain described the area as a haven for "smuggler and radical groups," including Hamas and Hezbollah.
People in Central and South America are "losing faith in democracy," said McCain, who promised to bolster trade and outreach programs with the region.
But he said the Southern Hemisphere must be treated with respect.
"For decades, in Republican and Democratic administrations alike, the United States has treated Latin America as a junior partner rather than as a neighbor, like a little brother rather than as an equal," McCain said. "Latin America is not our back yard. Central and South America are not 'beneath' the United States."
McCain later said "it's been very tough" raising money for his campaign during the three-month period that ends June 30. McCain said he "won't be happy" if he raises less money than his two top rivals for the GOP nomination - Rudolph Giuliani and Mitt Romney - but "we weren't going to win the campaign on just money anyway."
After speaking at the Four Seasons resort, McCain traveled to Orlando.
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