Michael Shifter
Michael Shifter
Michael Shifter is President of the Inter-American Dialogue and an Adjunct Professor of Latin American Studies at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and writes for the Council's journal Foreign Affairs. He is also a member of the Latin American Studies Association, and a contributing editor to Current History...
challenge chavez economic model peru represents serious threat
The possibility we'll have another Chavez acolyte in Peru represents a serious challenge to the economic model and a threat to democracy.
central directing led produce reaction risk seen strong
There is a risk that such an idea will be seen as led by the U.S., or if the U.S. was seen as coordinating or directing it, ... That is problematic and could produce a strong reaction in Central America.
barely congress free future life revealed squeezed trade
You can say CAFTA went through, but what it revealed is that free trade is on life support, ... It barely squeezed through Congress and doesn't bode well for future deals.
face follow test
But now the test is, 'Can he follow through?' ... Ultimately, he will face real decisions.
bush worse
It could have been worse if Bush had been embarrassed, or humiliated.
chavez deal headed looks
It looks like we are headed for a collision. Chavez realizes that the U.S. doesn't have an idea of how to deal with him.
blocking opposition parties seen tries
If the opposition parties are seen as not being constructive and blocking everything Morales tries to do that would not be in their own interests.
brazil case chavez closing discipline finance fiscal labels left meaning milton ministers please present shows stress surprise
To be frank, it doesn't surprise me. Chavez is a case apart; but if you look at the finance ministers -- Chile, Uruguay, Brazil -- all of them would please Milton Friedman with their fiscal discipline and their closing down of debts. And even those on the left stress 'effectiveness' as the model. It shows that the old labels don't have a lot of meaning in the present context.
brazil fields gas military natural ordering otherwise partners risks seize
With this move, he risks alienating natural and otherwise sympathetic partners like Brazil and Spain. Ordering the military to seize the natural gas fields is unnecessarily confrontational and antagonistic.