'Size Is Not Destiny, Regionalism Is'

Summary

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In the U.S., we frequently hear that all politics are local. The bombshell terrorist plot exploded in timely fashion to be a convenient diversion from the doldrums into which the current Bush administration has sunk itself. That same week of alleged Caribbean terrorism, the U.S. media was having a field day with the minority AG Alberto Gonzales's catastrophic dismissal of three minority judges. Then came allegations "of the U.S. decision to fund Sunni insurgents in Iraq. It is rather curious though, how quickly the analysts were able to prepare their media speeches on 'Caribbean terrorism' and make the link to Islamic fundamentalism. The message is clear. Whether in the Middle East or in our tropical paradise in America's backyard, the issue of the day is 'American Insecurity'.

In a post-Cold War era, it seems that America's worst fears are justified. The capitalist superpower has failed to castrate [Fidel Castro] for 46 years and is now ironically forced to confront an unenviable leftist political milieu in the absence of a Soviet Union, and in its own backyard. A neo-Monroe Doctrine targeting the socialist ideology, rather than European powers, is not only timely but an imperative for the U.S. Cuba's Fidel Castro, Venezuela's [Hugo Chavez], Bolivia's Evo Morales, Brazil's Luis lnacio LuIa da Silva, Argentina's Nestor Kirchner, Ecuador's Rafael Correa, Uruguay's Tabaré Vasquez , Chile's Michelle Bachelet and Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega, all veer toward the left.

The astute [Jagdeo] must have long realised that despite the myriad of issues on the Caribbean agenda at the Conference, the only real concern of the U.S with regards to the region is the formidable strengthening of the leftist "Castro-led Axis in Latin America" by other Caribbean countries. After all, Jamaica's Michael Manley (1976-1980), Grenada's Maurice Bishop (1979-1983) and Jagdeo's predecessor, Cheddi Jagan (1957-1964, 1992-1998), have all flirted outrageously with socialism in the past.

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'Size Is Not Destiny, Regionalism Is'

WAS IT sheer coincidence that an alleged plot to blow up a fuel supply to JFK airport by some geriatric Caribbean terrorists' had dramatically unfolded before our incredulous eyes just over a week before seventeen Caribbean leaders flocked to Washington D.C. in a combustive burst of tropical exuberance to participate ...

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