Global Watchdog, Part II

As if the United States didn't have enough on its plate, with the Iraq war, Afghanistan, the EU constitution vote in France and the Netherlands, and Paris Hilton getting engaged to a Greek dude also called Paris, another matter came up last week which required immediate American intervention: a Mideast-South American summit. I know that geography is not President Bush's strong point but I bet that even he knows that his country is in neither of these areas. Nevertheless, his administration insisted on sending a representative to the summit which was designed to encourage trade and empower developing countries. God forbid that countries try to take peaceful, non-aggressive steps to improve themselves without the approval and oversight of the U.S. Fortunately, Brazil, the summit's host, refused this request. I'm sure that won't earn them any points with the U.S. for their bid for a permanent seat on the UN's Security Council, but I bet it felt great to tell Bush's henchmen where to stick it.