Countering Cartels and Communists in the Americas

RealClear Politics ^ | 21 Oct, 2025 | Daniel McCarthy

[MtnClimber]

President Donald Trump is in a fight for the destiny of the Americas.

Will Central and South America be free and aligned with the United States -- or will half the Western Hemisphere be forever plagued by cartels, communists and Chinese influence?

The Cold War in Europe ended more than 30 years ago, but it never really ended in our own backyard.

Cuba remains communist, and a little more than a decade after the Soviet Union collapsed, Venezuela joined the ranks of socialist dictatorships under Hugo Chavez and then Nicolas Maduro.

Whenever left-wing leaders come to power in the region, the United States and capitalism are their favorite targets.

Yet in those countries that, unlike Cuba and Venezuela, have a measure of democracy, the consequences of socialism eventually bring about regime change at the ballot box.

Bolivia is a case in point: After 20 years of misrule by the Movement for Socialism, Bolivians rejected the party long led by Evo Morales so completely its candidate didn't even make the final round of the presidential election on Sunday.

Instead, voters chose between a strong conservative, Jorge Tuto Quiroga, and the centrist Rodrigo Paz -- whose running mate, Edmand Lara, was a former police captain with law-and-order appeal.

Both candidates wanted better relations with Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted.

Paz won and has wasted no time in saying diplomatic relations with the United States, severed by Morales in 2008, would be restored.

[MtnClimber]

Why fear communists when you have democRATs running around?

[equaviator]

Trump plays hardball where and when it’s needed but will that be enough?

[fruser1]

You’ll know they’ve come around when Henry Kissinger is on the Peso.

[No name given]

General Pinochet would know what to do with the commie freaks.