AT RISK IN LATIN AMERICA

Reading local and national newspapers, I notice that there is very little
information about the countries south of our border. In light of our
generous foreign aid and the impact its migrants have on American industry
and budgets, it is curious we hear so little about the area.

Latin American countries are often in turmoil, and it's difficult to
believe what transpires in those countries, given our stable democracy. But
it is understandable why so many leave their homes and journey north to
uncertainty when the unknown is often less risky than the known.

Some examples of the turmoil: Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo has
started an investigation into the slaying of an opposition candidate. The
candidate was gunned down after calling for the ouster of Portillo. The
president and his vice president have been accused of embezzling millions
in public funds.

Guatemala is in the midst of a severe drought, as are El Salvador,
Nicaragua and Honduras. The World Food Program says it will take $4.9
million to feed 155,000 starving people. Right now, it is estimated that
6,000 children are at risk of starvation.

Colombia, the drug capital of the world, will soon hold national elections.
Colombia is second only to Afghanistan in terrorist activity, and
candidates always promise to get tough on the drug- dealing rebels.

Most candidates have been threatened or shot at by drug-dealing rebels who
have survived by bribing politicians and military leaders and by killing
nosy citizens. Colombian presidential frontrunner Alvaro Uribe was
kidnapped by the Medellin drug cartel in 1990. Uribe's father was killed by
terrorists in 1983.

Presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and her campaign chief were
kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia two months ago and
are still missing. Her mother is running a surrogate campaign.

Colombians are replacing former President Ernesto Samper. The United States
stripped Samper of his visa when it was discovered he took money from drug
traffickers.

Not only are politicians at risk, anyone who speaks against terrorism and
drugs is. Recently, prominent Catholic Archbishop Isais Duarte was gunned
down outside his Bogata church. He had been a vocal critic of the
government's inattention to the poor and shallow anti-terrorism platforms.

President Bush is asking Congress to send Colombia $133 million to protect
an oil pipeline that rebels regularly blow up. An additional $439 million
in long-term aid is expected for Colombia.

Argentina has been in a severe four-year recession. The World Bank and the
United States refuse to lend any more money to prop up the inevitable
financial system collapse.

Argentines cannot access their bank accounts and have resorted to suing the
banks. The banking system is losing about $1 billion a month. Right now
cash withdrawals are limited to $500 a month. Do they really expect the
courts to be more efficient than the banks?

Venezuela provides the United States with 14 percent of its oil supply.
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez reduced oil production and drew the ire of
the country's oil cartel and the United States. He was then ousted by the
military, who replaced him with the president of the oil cartel, who
immediately increased the oil supply north.

After severe international condemnation of the overthrow of a
democratically elected government, he was reinstated by the military.
Chavez says he now realizes the error of his ways, and oil production flows
smoothly north, again. Too bad the country's economy is still down the tubes.