[Black Agnes]

South America ping! How different are Argentina and Brazil? I don't know a lot about the politics of SA but I should read up on it I guess...

[cmsgop]

They already Hate us in Brazil.

[Dog Gone]

We could always give him the Salvador Allende treatment.

[be131]

The Bush Administration would be well-advised to correct course and take immediate action designed to prevent the unthinkable loss of Brazil to a Communist-aligned coalition government.

Not sure exactly what the article is suggesting here, but I hope the hotheads in the Bush administration behind the abortive anti-Chavez coup have had their butts spanked hard enough. We don't need another 1970s Chile or Vietnam.

[Red Jones]

bump

[marron]

I love Brazilians.

But a trip down the populist path will complete the destruction of their country. The biggest problem with populism is that, having destroyed your economy, it offers no way back. If your misery is forever someone else's fault, then there is no solution, only endless and increasing hostility.

That is what has happened in Venezuela. The country is wrecked, but they stand by Chavez because they accept his analysis that their problems are, still, caused by some cabal of rich folks. And the US.

Venezuela was, like Brazil, a country that once considered itself the equal of any country in the world. How far they have fallen, and from where they are, there is no way back.

It would be tragic to see Brazil follow them down that dead end.

[Tacis]

I don't believe the army would stand by and watch the commies take over. The army protected the country before and then turned it over to elected officials. In Argentina, the army disgraced itself in the Falkland Islands war and in the murders of so many Argentines. The Brazilian army has no such stains. Nor, do I believe that the majority of Brazilians would embrace the communism of Fidelito; they are simply too individualistic and independent. The commies would win in the favellahs but, in doing so, would anger the middle class and the military.

[HBAR223]

"The Reds" haven't been the same since Marge Schott left.

[CWRWinger]

50 years of a USA foreign policy which appeased the communists is taking its toll on this hemiphere. The chickens are coming home to roost.

[hosepipe]

COMMUNISM WITH THE MASK OFF - Joseph Goebbels - 1935 - http://www.FreeRepublic.com/forum/a3920fc291900.htm

[muawiyah]

Brazil would be the final death of communism.

[MattinNJ]

Otto Reich better get his act together now. I understand we're a little busy in the middle east right now but consider the following:

1) China controls the Panama Canal

2)China has the world's largest naval base in the Bahamas

3)The Chicoms are already pouring into Venezuela and plan to pump in 1,000,000 troops into Brazil

4)The Chicoms will then back up the FARC in Columbia and then work their way up through Mexico and will be on our border by 2010

5) Argentina is ripe for revolution

Chile, thanks to Pinochet, is in great shape but will soon be surrounded.

It's time to reinforce the Monroe doctrine before it's too late.

[nicollo]

Maybe Sao Paulo will try to secede again, or maybe the country will finally affirm Llosa's War of the End of the World.

Brazil is more likely to go supra-right than supra-left. Hell, it's already leftist, so the only way it could change would be to swing rightward. Lula is a career dissenter who, if elected, won't know which shoe to put on first. He will be squashed. The only way he could survive is to pretend not to be the commie that he is.

The author of this article is pissing hysteria. The danger of Lula is real, but it is not a danger of revolution. Not even Chavez can get away with that.

Now, if Brazil goes, it goes the way of Cuba, not Chile. Castro was much smarter than Allende, and more devious. Fidel played cute for a few years before pulling the trigger. I don't count Lula in either category.

Vigilence, nevertheless.

[Chavez has already driven up real estate prices in Miami. If Lula wins, it'll be even more of a seller's market... Careful, though: the NASDAQ is A-ball to a real FLA real estate game.]

[Pappy Smear]

"Brazil is the second largest and second most powerful country in the Western Hemisphere"

I imagine the Canadians might dispute that. If Brazil does go commie, things will be looking up for the economies of Iowa, Kansas, and the rest of the Midwest. Their centrally planned farms will reduce world grain supplies, propping up the prices for the good ol' Midwestern farmer.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Hugo Chavez - Venezuela

Fidel Castro - Cuba

[dennisw]

Brazil is an ungovernable shithole. With an exploding population. There is not much of a future there unless you live in a walled (guarded) district for the rich.

It is well suited to communism or a Robert Mugabab type taking over. All these capitalism uber alles types of the 1990s were mistaken when they dreamed that 3rd world nations could be elevated by capitalist reforms and "transparency". They can't be elevated by anything.