...and so it begins

AFP

Leftist trio seals Americas pact

From BBC America

Socialist presidents of Latin America unite

The left-wing leaders of Bolivia, Cuba, and Venezuela have signed a three-way trade agreement aimed at countering US influence in Latin America.

The pact was signed in Cuba by Bolivian President Evo Morales, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, and their host Fidel Castro.

The initiative, the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, was drawn up by Cuba and Venezuela.

Mr Morales, an ally of both Mr Castro and Mr Chavez, decided to join it after his election last December.

The initiative - known by its Spanish acronym Alba - is being promoted as a socialist alternative to the Washington-backed Free Trade Area of the Americas. MORE

Mexico tests a Neo-Libertarian drug policy

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Owning marijuana, cocaine and even heroin will no longer be a crime in Mexico if the drugs are carried in small amounts for personal use, under legislation passed by the Congress.

Police will not penalize people for possessing up to 5 grams of marijuana, 5 grams of opium, 25 milligrams of heroin or 500 milligrams of cocaine, under a bill passed by senators late on Thursday and earlier approved by the lower house.

People caught with larger quantities of drugs will be treated as narcotics dealers and face increased jail terms under the plan.

The government says the measure allows police to focus on major drug dealers, and President Fox is expected to sign it into law.

Read more here

Bush Apologizes to Communist after Free Speech Outbreak

WASHINGTON (AFP) -
President George W. Bush apologized to Chinese President Hu Jintao after he was screamed at by a Falungong protester during an official ceremony at the White House. (more)

It is rude to disrupt a ceremony of any kind, but should it be illegal?

Every day in this country, speakers and MC's alike must deal with that most bothersome of sort, the heckler. I had to deal it myself recently when, during a question and answer session with a panel of Patriot Act experts, a woman got up and began accusing one of the panelists of genocide. At no point did it occur to me to call the feds.

I learned today that Wenyi Wang, the reporter who was arrested yesterday for interrupting the leader of Communist China as he made nice with George Bush, is now facing 6 months in prison and $5000 in fines for the crimes of annoying a curmudgeon and pointing out the obvious.

To further show the communists how this free speech thing works, after six federal officers dragged Wang away, George Bush passionately defended political and religious freedom here and abroad by apologizing to the Chinese president!

I wonder if it occurred to Bush for even a moment that instead of apologizing, he should have defended Wang, defended freedom of religion and told President Hu that Wang was right and America is strong because of our freedom not in spite of them. That if China ever expects to be as strong as she aspires to be, then her people must be free or China will ultimately join the Soviet Union's brand of communism in "history's dust bin of discarded and failed ideologies."

Probably not.