6 days left until the big day. After two years of constant media coverage and intense scrutiny of the candidates, the campaign has basically eaten up 25% of Bush's eight years. Not necessarily a bad thing, I suppose. Meanwhile, U.S.-Latin American relations are at a crossroads. Is enough attention being paid to goings-on here in our own backyard? Will the foreign policy focus shift away from Central Asia/the Middle East anytime soon? In any case, the show must go on:
- Maradona is the new coach of Argentina’s national team. The world is stunned, and not everyone in Argentina is happy about it.
- Rafael Correa with a touch of schadenfreude in regards to those who lost their shirts in the financial crisis
- The Ibero-American summit is being held in El Salvador. Chavez said he was skipping it, but apparently will go after all. No matter, the important thing is that Shakira will be there...
- Venezuela launches the Simon Bolivar satellite from southeastern China, which will be used for TeleSUR, other Venezuelan state-run media outlets as well as China’s CCTV. Official government line says this puts Venezuela “at the vanguard of telecommunications within Latin America.”
- Another hostage escapes in Colombia, this time after 8 years in activity. Meanwhile, the Post laments a long-fought and largely forgotten war.
- The UN steps up again to challenge the U.S. embargo on Cuba. Again, if Obama is President, will he lift it as he advocated in 2004? Or will he maintain it as "an important inducement for change" like he said in 2007?
- Daniel at VZ News and views curses the Venezuelan state takeover of CANTV (telecom company) as he laments his slow internet service. It could be worse dude; you could be forced to get Comcast like I am…