You are questioning the legality or illegality of the beginning of this Latin American union and concluding that it is a ‘military organisation’– but the issue here is sovereignty and this is where my analogy comes in. In the beginning, Great Britain did not join the EU, refusing on the grounds of national sovereignty, but did join at a later date (with France expressing misgivings in Great Britain’s close ties with the United States). We see the EU being a strong force now in the world of politics and economics.

So when bloggers express doubts here about remaining sovereign, you must look at the bigger picture, you must have some foresight and see what great advantages you may have by uniting.

Here is an article that may be of interest: http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/nation/14793910.htm?source=rss&channel=cctimes_nation

Presidents of Bolivia, Venezuela toast Castro as they pledge to form a regional, socialist mini-bloc to oppose Bush:

In the 1990s, Latin American countries began subscribing to the so-called Washington Consensus promoting free-market reforms. Most of the region’s leaders treated Castro coolly, and his anti-capitalist tirades often fell on deaf ears.

Recently, from Argentina to Venezuela, opinion polls showed disenchantment rising as U.S.-backed economic reforms failed to live up to expectations, especially for the poor. In the past few years, voters throughout the region have turned to candidates who pledged a larger role for the state in fighting poverty and unemployment.

“The neo-liberal economic program didn’t work, so they (Latin Americans) rejected it and are moving away from us,” Smith said.

How this regional mood shift and Castro’s revival might affect ordinary Cubans remains to be seen. So far, any benefits have come almost entirely from Castro’s relationship with Chavez.

Venezuela sells Cuba 90,000 barrels of oil a day on favorable terms that include Cuba sending doctors, teachers and agricultural products to Venezuela. The deal allows Castro to pay for social and transportation services that Cuba otherwise might not be able to afford.

“Countries with oil have become much more aggressive toward the United States,” he said. “Cuba doesn’t have that power directly, but it comes from Venezuela.”

Venezuela has taken the initiative to unite the nations of South America in a defense pact against western countries who consider those nations with natural resources as “national interests.”

Each nation will remain sovereign, as nations in the European Union remain sovereign within a united Europe. So will the nations of South America remain sovereign, united in a pact to protect their people against greedy corporate western aggressors.

Look at the forest, not only the trees.