Welcome to this week’s Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean. The bad news of the week is the return of Baby Doc Duvalier to Haiti
Mr. Duvalier’s return comes as Haiti tries to sort out its political future after disputed presidential elections in November ended in rioting, and widespread charges of fraud when electoral authorities declared that Jude Celestin, who has the backing of Mr. Préval, had placed second, behind former first lady Mirlande Manigat, and just ahead of crooner Michel Martelly.
Earthquake, cholera, violence, and now Baby Doc. Haiti is a benighted land.
LATIN AMERICA
Latin America’s economies
Waging the currency war
Strong economies, soaring currencies and rising inflation have brought a dilemma for policymakers. Some are reaching for unorthodox tools
The Original ‘Wikileaks’: The 1862 scheme to colonize Central America with freed black slaves
ARGENTINA
Argentina’s dry spell trims harvest
BOLIVIA
Bolivia’s Mayhem
BRAZIL
Brazil Steel, Oil in Rio Unaffected By Landslides
Rescuers struggle as Brazil flood deaths rise
Looking for Clues to Brazil’s New Foreign Policy
Mysterious Incident At MIA Sends Fire Rescue Scrambling
CHILE
Carta destacada de la semana: “Magallanes y el gas”
COLOMBIA
Colombia police nab go-between with Mexican cartel
Inundated
Torrential rain prompts tragedy, and a need for prevention
Venezuela anger at ‘mocking’ Colombia soap opera (h/t Vlad)
COSTA RICA
Organized Crime in Costa Rica and the Other Balloon Effect
CUBA
Obama Eases Cuba Rules Rick Moran writes at the Tatler
This is just a warm-up for what some Cuban Americans believe will be an effort by President Obama in a second term to lift the embargo and normalize relations with the Castro brothers. That would be just the kind of world-historical move that appeals to Obama’s outsized view of himself as both peacemaker and an agent of change.
Statements regarding Obama Administration’s gift to the Castro dictatorship (UPDATED)
ECUADOR
Ecuador’s Chevron Shakedown
HAITI
Trees in Haiti,
Extent of Corruption in Countries Around the World Tied to Earthquake Fatalities, h/t Ace
Rally planned to protest Duvalier’s return to Haiti as human rights groups speak out
HONDURAS
Someone, part 2
MEXICO
Homeland Security Cancels ‘Virtual Fence’ After $1 Billion Is Spent
El Chapo moves to take over Acapulco?
Kicking the hornets’ nest
An interactive map of drugs in Mexico
PANAMA
A Currency Crisis is coming
PERU
Bayly’s girlfriend:”I don’t mind if Jaime writes about committing suicide”. Speaking of Baily, he had some Argentinian psychics making some interesting predictions,
PUERTO RICO
Protection Sought For Newly Discovered Coral Reefs
VENEZUELA
Not even the soap operas are safe, Venezuela: Ordenan suspender telenovela colombiana
Chavez calls for conciliation between rivals
From The Depths of Ignorance of The Revolution: Legislating the Internet and Mozilla
Chavez copies the Pelosi-Reid playbook
The week’s posts and podcasts:
Something for nothing
Obama eases travel & money restrictions to Cuba
