Bush tours Latin America
President Bush was touring Central and South America. At a news conference in Brazil he said,
My trip is to explain as clearly as I can that our nation is generous and compassionate.”
Hugo Chávez, president of Venezuela, was also on tour. Speaking to a crowd in Uruguay he said,
“The little imperial gentleman from the north must be across the river by now. Let’s send him a big shout: ‘Gringo go home!’”
On Friday, in Buenos Aires, Argentina — about 1,000 miles southwest of Sao Paulo — Chavez called Bush’s travels an attempt to divide and confuse Latin American nations.
Many analysts say the US president’s tour is an attempt to counter the growing influence of his leftist arch-rival.
Mr Bush is visiting Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico while Mr Chavez will move on from Argentina to Bolivia.
The Venezuelan president has a number of close allies in the region - most notably the leaders of Bolivia and Ecuador.
Others such as Argentine President Nestor Kirchner, our correspondent says, cannot afford not to be friends with Mr Chavez, who enjoys massive support across Latin America, especially among the millions of poor.
Bush promoted ethanol cooperation in Brazil aimed at boosting the export market for the biofuel and reducing dependence on oil in the region, which could counteract Chavez’s spreading of his own petrodollars.
Chavez said said Bush’s anti-poverty plans for the region were a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” and poked fun at the U.S. leader’s $75 million initiative to help Latin American youth learn English and study in the United States.
“We don’t need tips from the empire,” he told Argentina’s state-owned television Channel 7.
Argentina’s Kirchner steers clear of anti-Bush rhetoric but also questions Washington-backed free-market policies.
Some opposition leaders criticized the government for giving Chavez a platform.
“Either the government doesn’t know how to control Chavez when he is here, which shows a lack of power. Or the government thinks the same as Chavez and is scared to say so openly, which shows weakness,” center-left presidential candidate Roberto Lavagna said in a statement.
Venezuela has purchased billions of dollars in Argentine debt. Chavez has led two anti-Bush rallies in 2005 and 2006 in Argentina and some Argentines said enough is enough.
Carlos Tapia, a 45-year-old building superintendent, said he supported an anti-Bush demonstration — but not led by Chavez.
“Chavez wants all the attention,”
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