Colombia's Defense Minister Gabriel Silva indicated that a pending U.S.-Colombian military deal could be signed this week. The pact allows U.S. military troops access to seven bases in Colombia and has drawn concern from some South American countries, particularly neighboring Venezuela.
U.S. Policy
Every ten years the Census attempts to provide a demographic snapshot, but some people are undoubtedly uncounted, miscounted, or overlooked, writes Carlos Yescas, author of Indigenous Routes: A Framework for Understanding Indigenous Migration.
More than two weeks after his surprise return, deposed leader Manuela Zelaya remains confined in the Brazilian Embassy. While the power dispute goes on in Honduras, a conflict over Washington's position on the crisis heats up in U.S. Congress.
This AS/COA Miami panel offers insights into how the economic crisis offers Mexico a chance to effect positive policy changes. Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Arturo Sarukhan was a keynote speaker.
"Washington may have blocked the most likely road to reconciliation in that Central American nation," writes COA's Eric Farnsworth in The Christian Science Monitor. The State Department said it would not support November elections if carried out by Honduras' de facto government.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited the Oval Office this week to talk security, trade, energy, and hockey. Ottawa's discomfort with "Buy American" provisions also caused Harper to make a rare trip to Capitol Hill, where he met with U.S. congressional leaders.
The State Department took new measures, including a cut of over $30 million in aid, to pressure the de facto government in Honduras toward resolving the political impasse stemming from the coup. The Central American country faces increasing economic isolation since the June overthrow of President Manuel Zelaya.