Obama tries to recover bad image left by Bush
19/03/2011In just two days, The American delegation was able to build an agenda for President Barack Obama in Brazil loaded with symbolism. The exchange of dour São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro; speaking to the "Brazilian people" and welcomed the new president of the country: messages that punctuate the desire for a strategic and friendly relationship with the most representative of Latin America, apontam especialistas brasileiros e americanos ouvidos pelo R7.
Tasso Marcelo / 15.03.2011 / State Agency
The political scientist and professor of International Relations at ESPM, Rodrigo Cintra, It states that the purpose of the trip is rather symbolic than practical. For him, Obama will try to improve the bad image left by the Brazilian predecessor George W. Bush, but do not expect major agreements and concrete partnerships.
– The choice of Rio de Janeiro is fairly representative. The city does not translate business, like São Paulo, but the Brazilian people. It will be a public presentation of the President and opportunity to show how their country is in line with Brazil.
New chapter with Dilma
The relationship with Dilma Rousseff will also be a highlight of the visit. Figure more practical and less ideological than former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, Obama must build a relationship with Dilma more "functional", afirma Shannon O'Neil, expert studies on Latin America at the Council on Foreign Relations, Washington.
– Identification is already natural to be two pioneers presidents [Dilma the first woman president of Brazil, and Obama the first black in the American Presidency]. Since Rousseff was elected, both gave signals will be compared functional, objective and reflective.
Points that created controversy between the two countries, as Brazil's support for Iran's nuclear program and the anti-US leaders (Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro), lost strength with Lula's exit and will move away from the dinners and meetings between the presidents, in the opinion of Julia Sweig, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
– Rousseff left his message by saying human rights defender in the term beginning. This does not mean that the US and Brazil will not have their disagreements, but I feel a move to overcome these points and keep the partnership.
Stalls are now Brazilians
The great popular speeches abroad began when Obama was still candidate in Victory Column, in Berlin, He had his big moment at Cairo University, to reconcile with the Muslim world. Agora o Theatro Municipal, in Rio's center, It will be his younger stage to strengthen the "American values", He points out Professor Rodrigo Cintra.
– Obama chose to reinforce the universal values of equality and democracy for all Brazilian people. It will be a great advertisement in the positive direction. Bush left negative message, and Obama wants to regain leadership 'well' American.
In Peter Hakim analysis, President of the institute Inter-American Dialogue, the event also delimit the importance of Brazil for Latin America.
– I have just returned from Colombia and I heard there was that the most important event in Latin America in recent years is the rise of Brazil [not flat international]. So, what he will say to Brazil will be reflected throughout the region.
The White House said that Obama's speech in Rio de Janeiro will be "Brazilians" and the speech in Santiago, Chile, where the president will not then, It will be returned to Latin America as a whole.
Source: http://noticias.r7.com/internacional/noticias/obama-tenta-recuperar-imagem-ruim-deixada-por-bush-20110318.html
alternative source: http://www.folhavitoria.com.br/politica/noticia/2011/03/obama-tenta-recuperar-imagem-ruim-deixada-por-bush.html