John Kerry in South America where nations are upset about US espionage

John Kerry, Official Portrait

The US Secretary of State is in South America trying to smooth over relationships:

August 13, 2013

STATE DEPARTMENT — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is spending the start of his week in Colombia and Brazil, as part of the Obama administration’s efforts to boost ties with Latin America. But those relationships have been clouded recently by South American concerns about U.S. surveillance programs reported to have targeted communications across the region.

Secretary Kerry began his first visit to South America as the United States’ top diplomat in Colombia…

But reports that the U.S. government surveillance programs leaked by former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden included monitoring of emails and telephone calls in Latin America have complicated those relationships

Last week, Brazil’s Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota and his counterparts from Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay and Venezuela went to the United Nations to voice their “indignation” about the spy program to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Venezuela’s foreign minister Elias Jaua spoke for the group.

He said the South American countries expressed their concern over what he called the “grave implications that the illegal procedures” carried out by the U.S. government have on the “political stability of the countries and on mutual trust necessary in the international community.”

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said he is seeking clarification from the U.S. about its intelligence gathering, while Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff said her country does not agree at all with such interference.

Carl Meacham, director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Brazilians’ concerns date back to the Cold War era, when the U.S supported authoritarian regimes in Latin America.

“The involvement of the United States in support of some of these governments that used questionable methods, that used torture, is sort of present in the minds of many Brazilians, and what they attach this whole issue of surveillance to is the United States acting as a big brother,” stated Meacham. “And they would say, ‘On the one hand, you have the president of the United States that wants to reach out and be nice and develop a closer relationship,’ but on the other hand, they would say that, ‘If you’re trying to develop a closer relationship with us, why are you spying on us?’”…

Meacham said the real issue is that the U.S. got caught, not that it is doing anything different in terms of surveillance than other countries, including Brazil. “Compared to a lot of the countries that are being highlighted – Chinese, the Russians, countries where Mr. Snowden has taken asylum, these are countries that have far worse records with democracy and human rights than the United States,” he said.

And he said the current resentment is likely to pass. “I don’t think it’s going to have a long-lasting damaging effect. I think that the United States continues to be the biggest market, and the United States continues to be a country that is promoting democracy and human rights, and I would put the United States against any of these countries with regards to their records on human rights and democracy,” Meacham stated. “But I do think in the short term, it will make for some tense meetings, particularly in Brazil.”

Kerry visits Brazil Tuesday, where he is likely to address the international surveillance concerns. http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-in-colombia-brazil-where-surveillance-concerns-loom/1728630.html

Pretty much nothing that Secretary Kerry will say or do will truly smooth over relationships in South America over this. It has long been the view of many in South America that the USA is arrogant, bossy, untrustworthy, and much more concerned about its own affairs than those of the people in that continent. The espionage disclosures are a more public demonstration to various ones there that the distrust of the USA remains valid. The some of the governments of South America also protested the espionage last month as well (South America protests USA spying)–and they have longer memories there than some analysts tend to think.

Perhaps it should be pointed out that the “indignant” Argentinians which have protested the Snowden matter have also long been upset about the USA’s support of the UK’s position on the Falkland Islands. Thus, this espionage matter gives the Argentinians something else to be upset with the USA about. Argentina is the second largest country in South America, and the upset Brazilians represent the largest country on that continent.

As I have written for years, eventually, all or nearly all of South America will align with the rising power in Europe. The Snowden revelations will be one more small factor pushing South America in that direction.

Some items of related interest may include:

Mexico, Central America, South America, Brazil, and the Caribbean in Prophecy [Español: México, América central, Suramérica, Brasil y el Caribe en la profecía] [Português: México, América Central, Ámérica do Sul, e Brasil na profecia] What will happen to those of Latin America? Will they have prosperity? Will they cooperate with Europe? Will they suffer in the future? What role might the various Caribbean nations/territories play?
Will USA Spying Help the Beast Power? Various allegations have surfaced about the United States government spying on its own citizens as well as its supposed allies in the European Union. Whether or not all the espionage allegations are true, and the main ones have not been publicly denied by the government of the USA, the reality is that this does have prophetic ramifications and will help the Beast of Revelation. This video provides quotes from the Bible showing how this is so. The USA is placing itself in a position to be taken over and its response to the allegations will make it easier for the Europeans to do so.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves?
Will the UK Lose Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands? Spain wants Gibraltar and Argentina wants the Falklands (also known as the Malvinas). Does the Bible give clues as to what will happen with these ‘sea gates’? A related video would be Will the UK Lose Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
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