Kerry trip to Brazil, Colombia could be chilly

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's attempts to build warmer relations with two U.S. allies in Latin America may be hindered by resentment after reports about an American spy program that widely targeted data in emails and telephone calls across the region.

Kerry is visiting Brazil and Colombia this week, his first trip to South America as the Obama administration's chief diplomat. It comes at a time that disclosures by National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden could chill talks on several fronts.

Those include trade and energy, and even discussions about the Oct. 23 state dinner that President Barack Obama is hosting for Brazil's president, Dilma Rousseff.

_____________

During Kerry's visit, the U.S. wants to show its support for the peace talks between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which are taking place in Cuba.

Colombia is one of the United States' closest allies in the region, but the reports about the spying program have rankled Colombian officials.

Brazil's O Globo newspaper reported last month that citizens of Colombia, Mexico, Brazil and other countries were among the targets of a massive NSA operation to secretly gather information about phone calls and Internet communications worldwide. The reports were based on information provided by Snowden.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20130812/LT--Kerry/

You have to wonder what sort of stupid things Kerry will say this time to set back US foreign relations while in South America.

[JohnR! 5,495]

We can only hope he knows he knows the difference between chilly and Chile, for that could be embarrassing.

Edited August 12, 2013 by Gegel

[Karee 4,191]

Hopefully he stays out of certain bars in Colombia.

[Jacque67 7,328]

Wasn't that where the secret service had problems with a certain prozzy last year?