The United States Continues to Lose Points with Latin America

Washington has yet to see the setbacks that will come as a result of Edward Snowden. They will go beyond the revelations that have put its security system in the pillory.

It was clear that Europe would pose no problem to the United States, even though it seemed angry when they found out they had been spied on. Europe will act obediently, despite some of its countries noting that North America’s persecution of Snowden has almost gotten to the point of being disrespectful and putting the life of President Evo Morales at stake.

In the days and weeks to come, elements will emerge that will allow us to understand the attitude that left some European politicians standing still. According to what was just revealed, it appears that even some European leaders, such as the Lady of Ice, Angela Merkel, were aware of U.S. intelligence gathering.

Nevertheless, the obsession with passing the blame onto the ex-CIA agent has drowned out the issue of damaged ties with the EU.

Most recently, the White House has turned to Russia, insisting that Snowden be returned to the United States. The spokesman for the presidential headquarters in Washington, Jay Carney, said indirectly to Medvedev’s executive that they should throw the ex-CIA agent out of Shememetyevo’s airport, stating in a press conference that this event “is not something that should negatively affect our relationship with Russia.”

With this statement, Carney is saying exactly the opposite. There will be problems if Snowden is not captured. Russian media reported that Obama’s scheduled visit in September to Moscow could be canceled.

Carney’s “alert” was not just against Russia; it was an almost desperate cry to catch Snowden before he got away. At the moment when Carney said this, press and television media were reporting that the young former CIA agent could receive humanitarian asylum in Venezuela or Nicaragua. And if asked, other Latin American countries were willing to consider granting him asylum as well.

Clearly the crude way that the United States is handling the case with Snowden is largely affecting the already deteriorating relations between Washington and Latin America.

Many ask themselves to what extent the secrets released by the ex-CIA agent will damage the White House’s relationship with Latin America, which was supposed to be restored with the election of Obama. The efforts of the president and Vice President Joe Biden to have “closer ties” with the region through offers of business and investment, made during recent trips, appear to have been of little substance.

First, there was the attack on the honor and physical integrity of Evo Morales, then the almost unanimous condemnation of the United States’ actions that came Tuesday at the OAS (Organization of the American States), after being expressed by ALBA, Mercosur, UNASUR and CELAC. Everyone knows that the voice of the United States was behind the European Action.

But the worst thing is the way officials in Washington threaten Latin American politicians; Congress is asking for sanctions against any country that provides asylum to Snowden. The United States is returning to its role as an abuser.

Republican and Democratic leaders have both pushed for punishment. Among them is the head of the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Relations, Democrat Roberto Menendez, who said that the implications would affect both politics and trade.

“Clearly any such acceptance of Snowden to any country, any of these three or any other, is going to put them directly against the United States,” Menendez said, alluding to Nicaragua, Bolivia and Venezuela.

But neither these countries nor many other countries in this region are feeling pressured. For the first time they lack ties to the U.S.; their dignity has already been attacked in the show of force against Bolivia.

Washington is breaking its unity with the rest of the world, converting one-time allies into enemies.