CUTTING OFF THEIR NOSES TO SPITE THEIR FACES

So, the Summit of the Americas ended in "disarray." I'm not so sure this is anything to be upset about. In fact it means we won't have to deal with Hugo "The Thug" Chavez being a pain in the ass during all the negotiations. The socialist government of Brazil and the castroite dictatorship in Venezuela are cutting off their noses to spite their faces. They've managed to bring only one other significant nation with them, Argentina. Paraguay and Uruguay are also tagging along on this economic protest ride, but having the guay's on your team is like having France as a war ally; of no consequence.

The 28 nations who will be participating in the Free Trade Area of the Americas (including Canada, Central America, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and the United States) have economies that add up to about $14.5 trillion. The Brazil-Venezuela co-prosperity sphere nations have combined economies that add up to about $2.2 trillion. That's only about 16% of the FTAA nations before the FTAA even starts. Imagine how quickly the holdouts are going to be left in the dust.

The FTAA can rest easy; it has no competition.