The U.S. move to place missile defense systems in Poland and the Czech Republic is being viewed as antagonistic by Russia. Their answer is to sell military weaponry to U.S. neighbors.

Latin America and South American countries are being used as pawns in a new form of arms-race.

Venezuela and Bolivia, have expelled their U.S. ambassadors.

The geo-political map is changing and the U.S. is losing ground.

This is yet another foreign relations failure that can only be blamed on the Bush administration.

The next administration needs to do some old-fashioned diplomatic manuvering to prevent another Cuban missile crisis.

I hope they are up for it.

Bit of a laugh a week or two ago when the Russians were reported as sending one of their top boats for a visit to South America. Same rules apply to both sides, but in this case Bush was the antagonist with his missile bases (as you point out) and interference in Georgia.

I don't think they are being "used". Instead they are choosing to ignore the American Empire and create credible deterrence against American aggression. A decade of so call "Free Trade" policies and billions of dollars to fund right-wing military juntas and corrupt politicians has led the people of the region to give Washington the One-Finger-Salute.

Their buying weapons from Russia, France, China and whoever will sell them to them with no strings attached. Like it or not, that is the capitalist system at work. To be sure that the Russians like the leverage, but they don't want the Imperial burden, they can't afford it.

"Sauce for the goose...."

I am glad of this, Those people have led a diminished quality of life far too long. Someone should help them without fear of retribution. At what point do we realize we are on the wrong path with the way we treat our neighbors? You would thing they were liberals or something, not worthy of being treated fairly.