Up next for Obama, the Summit of the Americas

[babylonsister]

No rest for the weary.

Up next for Obama, the Summit of the Americas
By Lesley Clark, Jacqueline Charles and Frances Robles | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON -- Blood is being shed on the streets of northern Mexico.

Venezuela's Hugo Chávez is ratcheting up his anti-Washington rhetoric.

And pressure is mounting on the United States to make serious changes in its relationship with Cuba -- changes beyond the imminent loosening of restrictions on travel to the island and on Cuban Americans sending money to their relatives back home.

Against that backdrop, President Barack Obama will make his official entrance into Latin America next week when he attends the fifth Summit of the Americas. He will be one of 34 heads of government assembled in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, for what experts say will be a major step in reconciling a bruised and neglected relationship.

It will be the first hemispheric summit in which every head of government was democratically elected. Cuba, which isn't a member of the Organization of American States, was not invited to participate, much to Chávez's irritation.

It will be Obama's first summit in the hemisphere, and the first for several of the presidents who will be jockeying for face time with the man who is arguably the world's most popular leader.

`CRUCIAL MOMENT'

''This is an important summit,'' Thomas Shannon, assistant secretary of state for hemispheric affairs, told experts and diplomats assembled at the Inter-American Dialogue think tank last month. ``The summit of Mar del Plata {in 2005} in many ways was evidence of the growing pains that are taking place in the region. I think what we're facing in Trinidad and Tobago is a crucial moment in the history of summitry and in the broader relationships within the Americas.''

Officially, six topics are on the summit agenda: prosperity, energy, the environment, security, democratic governance and the summit process itself.

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http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/65530.html

[firedupdem]

1. No rest for the weary is correct! This one should be interesting

as well.

[Zen Democrat]

2. Chavez is starting to ratchet down the anti-US rhetoric.

On Friday, Chavez said publicly that he sees the upcoming Summit of Americas in Trinidad and Tobago as "the ideal opportunity to renew ties" with the US. Adding, “I hope that the summit would be a fitting stage to reset relations of all kinds between the US and Venezuela.I am inclined to push the reset key.”

I think President Lula of Brazil is playing a role in softening up Chavez's mindset.

[babylonsister]

3. I think President Obama is really popular at the moment.

It wouldn't do Chavez any good to go in there and act like he wants to fight about everything. I'm glad everyone will be at least attempting to get along. And no one accused Chavez of being dumb.

I'm hoping for the best with their ambitious agenda.

[Renew Deal]

5. Great minds think alike!

I also noticed how out of place Chavez would have been at the G20. His rantings, style, and general erratic nature would have been very out of place.

[Renew Deal]

4. I still think Chavez is smart enough to try not to embarrass Obama.

Obama is too popular right now, and Chavez will look like a jerk if he goes after Obama.

[mecherosegarden]

7. With all due respect...

"Smart" and "Chavez" don't go together.

:shrug:

[Adelante]

6. I am so looking forward to this summit nt