The Americas Archive

While the United States debates the benefits of weaning itself from foreign oil, one Western hemisphere neighbor has already moved boldly to achieve energy independence: Brazil. With record levels of ethanol production and the recent discovery of a monster underwater oil field, South America’s largest country is on its way to becoming energy self-sufficient. Brazil’s favorable energy position is due to a combination of foresight and good fortune: the government’s decision years ago to mandate ethanol production to reduce oil dependency and the find of the massive offshore Tupi oil fields. The discovery, in November last year, of the Tupi […]

The daring rescue this week of hostages held by Colombian rebels marks a milestone in Colombia’s transformation, a transformation the Colombian people had already recognized. Now, the rest of the world should acknowledge Colombia’s imperfect, but no less miraculous, turnaround. With the release of Ingrid Betancourt, along with three American contractors and a group of Colombians, some in the United States may pause for a moment to ponder the horrific crime of kidnapping. Growing up in Colombia, we pondered it a lot, picturing not only ourselves in captivity, but also, knowing what a kidnapping does to a family, our relatives. […]

BOGOTÁ, Colombia — The stunning rescue by Colombian soldiers of 15 guerrilla hostages, including three American contractors and a one-time presidential candidate, brings the government closer to victory in its long civil war. This latest success could also pave the way for an unprecedented third term for President Álvaro Uribe, a prospect that worries some analysts. In the meticulously planned operation, the Colombian military infiltrated the communications network of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and convinced units holding prominent hostages that a guerrilla leader wanted the hostages transported to another region. In a jungle clearing in southern […]

I don’t know how much coverage it’s gotten in the States, but because she’s a dual citizen of France, Ingrid Betancourt has been a cause célèbre here for the past six years. And today she’s free. I’ve found myself particularly moved by the personal tragedy of her story over the years, but also of the national tragedy it incarnates, and never more so than watching her ten-minute address on the tarmac following her liberation. The courage of her political struggle grew out of her love for her country, and she and her family suffered terribly for it. Yet the sentiments […]

WASHINGTON — Eleven U.S. states have adopted legislation to divest public pension funds from companies with financial ties to Iran’s petroleum, defense, and nuclear sectors in an attempt to persuade Iran to give up its uranium enrichment program and alleged sponsorship of terrorism. Almost 20 more states are considering similar legislation to supplement existing federal and international sanctions. This is the first time that state investments have been leveraged for nonproliferation goals. During the 1980s, anti-apartheid activists urged state and local authorities and some universities to divest holdings from companies invested in or doing business with South Africa. During the […]

Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga is accused of committing some truly awful crimes. Forcibly conscripting children as young as 10 into the brutal, tribal combat of eastern Congo tops the list, which is why he was turned over to the International Criminal Court at The Hague in 2006. Lubanga’s trial was supposed to be the ICC’s first case and its first test. But with the trial now indefinitely delayed due to prosecutorial misconduct, the ICC has failed the test. No one should be surprised by this. The problems with the ICC’s ability to try the Lubanga case stem from the prosecution’s […]

The Canadian foreign minister recently resigned for leaving classified documents at a girlfriend’s house, and in France this week, the army chief of staff swiftly resigned after live rounds were fired into the public during a training exercise. Rapid, kneejerk resignations are a common tool in global politics, a way to admit fault or to take the heat for the leader or party after a particularly embarrassing incident. As the George W. Bush administration wanes, it is interesting to note that while there have been many resignations, few have been of this nature, and almost none at high levels. Since […]