The hot day in August Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean

Welcome to the Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The really big news this week: Mexico to Consider Free-Trade Agreement With Brazil. This would have huge implications for the entire hemisphere. Daniel glances at the possibilities.

LATIN AMERICA
Bill Ayers and Hugo Chavez: Blood Brothers in Terror

Where are the leaders?

Latin American geopolitics
The dragon in the backyard
Latin America is tilting towards China, Iran and the global “south”—and away from the United States

ANTIGUA
The curious case of Chavez giving Antigua US$ 50 million in aid

ARGENTINA
Argentina demands Honduran ambassador stop supporting coup

Football and politics in Argentina
Hand of gold
Another government bail-out

BRAZIL
Latin America’s new alliances: Whose side is Brazil on?
Time for Lula to stand up for democracy rather than embrace autocrats

George Soros Cut Petrobras Stake in Second Quarter

Brazil’s foreign policy
Lula and his squabbling friends
A bold Brazilian attempt to integrate South America has run into difficulty. Critics at home say Brazil should put national interest over leftist ideology

COLOMBIA
Colombia’s Uribe Seeks Diplomatic End to U.S. Base Dispute

CUBA
Nelson Curbelo Rodríguez, Cuban Political Prisoner of the Week, 8/16/09

Willy Chirino on Juanes

Antihero

4 Cuban athletes ‘missing’ on Spanish isle

ECUADOR
Ecuador to get political neighborhood watches like Cuba

HONDURAS
Honduran Media Bias Caught On Tape

Zelaya supporters battle with police

Honduras Takes on the World

MEXICO
U.S. Firms Probed in Mexico Oil Scam

Speaking in Mexico, Obama Calls American Opponents of Immigration Amnesty ‘Demagogues’

Mexican Army takes over customs on US border

PARAGUAY
Paraguay: Fundación Libertad dice que Presidente puede ir a juicio

PERU
Peru: Best Performing Stock Market in 2009

PUERTO RICO
Tropical Depression Ana soaks Puerto Rico

VENEZUELA
Chavez Forces Attack Opposition Protests As Venezuela Passes Socialist Education Law

Reflecting on Bolivarian and Cuban Organized Crime

Ceci N’est Pas Une Innondation

Report: Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez aggressively seizing control of media
An unclassified report lists examples of Venezuelan government efforts to crack down on or seize control of media outlets to stifle criticism.

Gas Shortage of a Different Kind Hits Venezuela

Hugo Chavez’s Imperial Chess Game

This week’s posts and podcasts
Today’s podcast at 11AM: Venezuelans Protest Journalist Beatings
Firebombs thrown at Honduran newspaper office
Golf: Chávez’s latest target
Oscar Arias gets the flu, and other headlines from Latin America

At Real Clear World:
Venezuelans Protest Journalist Beatings