When America's Diplomatic Bluntness Backfires

Tellingly, the U.S. diplomatic language in the Americas is reminiscent of the Cold War era, when the definition of friends and allies was characterised by unconditional loyalty. The situation in the Americas has changed considerably and the idea of independent foreign policy and integration initiatives which differ from those of the U.S. is deeply entrenched in many parts of the continent; a fact that goes beyond the "anti-imperialism" rhetoric of the traditional Left, as the choices are infinitely more diverse than being pro or anti American, and friends indeed have differences of opinion. Arguably, there are no better friends than the U.S. and Canada, two countries so inextricably linked that one could hardly enumerate all the evidence of our close ties. To express disagreement is quintessential in any relationship. Choosing appropriately how and when to express it is another issue. Determining to what extent those disagreements jeopardize the relationship is as much a matter of commitment to it as is differentiating them from gratuitous aggression. The U.S. should really take care of its friends if it has any hope of diffusing the all-too-real destabilising and anti-American threats. But when the closest partners --like Canada-- are chastised for their criticisms, or a wall is to be built along the border --as with Mexico-- we are not the ones jeopardising the friendship. Vladimir Torres is an Ottawa-based Latin American affairs analyst. editor@embassymag.ca http://www.embassymag.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=/2005/december/21/vlad/

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