THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CASTRO DISTRICT:

Too Late for Pelosi? (JAIME DAREMBLUM, April 16, 2008, NY Sun)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may not grasp the importance of the U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement, but the prime minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, does.

"Colombia needs its democratic friends to lean forward and give them a chance at partnership and trade with North America," Mr. Harper said in a speech last fall. "I am very concerned that some in the United States seem unwilling to do that. What message does that send to those who want to share in freedom and prosperity?"

Then he delivered a stern warning: "If the U.S. turns its back on its friends in Colombia, this will set back our cause far more than any Latin American dictator could hope to achieve." [...]

We should note that support for the U.S.-Colombia FTA is strong all around Latin America. FTA backers include both right of center leaders, such as Felipe Calderón of Mexico, and left of center leaders, such as Michelle Bachelet of Chile. It is especially encouraging to see so many left of center regimes embracing free trade and foreign investment. This is a sign of Latin America's political and economic maturation.