There does seem to be something like that in the works. For example, Venezuela and China inked a gold-mine deal last month, and Bolivia recently nationalized a Canadian mine, while in other sectors-- like hydropower-- it has pursued closer ties with China. But I realize these are just some scattered examples, and to be honest I haven't been following the issue that closely. If I do write something up, or at least read more on the matter, I'll send it your way.
And just to follow up on your comments regarding the Defense Department materials, I should add, and probably should have mentioned more in my article, that my analysis of Panetta's remarks is based largely on what's going on right now in Latin America, particularly in Honduras. Things there have really gone south since the 2009 coup, which the US supported. Campesinos, activists, and members of the LGBT community are indeed being gunned down-- two human rights lawyers were killed recently, quite possibly by the death squads that have emerged-- in an increasingly repressive climate; the violence isn't random, in other words. And it has reached the point where Honduras was named the world's murder capital recently-- drawing far less attention, it's worth noting, than violence in Venezuela, which the U.S. press always seems eager to cover in-depth, linking it directly to Chavez, even when the necessary evidence isn't there. There's one other country worth bearing in mind-- namely Colombia, with which Obama signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). That country is one of, perhaps the, most dangerous places in the world to work as a union organizer. It really is a life-or-death matter for those who decide to go that route. And the killings have continued since the FTA was signed, even though U.S. officials made the usual promises about increasing oversight of businesses, or ensuring that human rights conditions would be met before the agreement was implemented fully. So these current examples, plus the historical context, are what led me to my conclusions, not to mention the fact that-- among other points-- Panetta emphasized the ongoing role the School of the Americas (currently WHINSEC) would play. And that place has an atrocious record (http://soaw.org).
Anyway, I realize I went on at length here, but I think this stuff is important. I'm also trying to ignore this pile of essays I need to grade.
But thanks for the welcome, and if I do look more into Latin America as a battleground for North American vs. European vs. Asian companies, I'll let you know what I've found.
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