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Originally Posted by Skybird
Chavez stands in the way of US interests in southern America, and US attempts to press through a total free trade zone (which again will come at the cost of the poor). That'S why he is portrayed as the bully of the block now. Unfortunately, or thank God (a question of whose perspective you take), he is not the only one resisting the US. Several countries in Southern America have started to become stubborn to US demands, including Brazil (often overseen, but it is one of the coming megapowers of the world like India, China, and the like).
Plus Brazil is independent from oil - a bonus that is hard to be overestimated.
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You have it all wrong.
The US never offered a total free trade zone, that would severely affect Americans in the benefit of South American poors, as happens with Germany and Romania for example. The original treaty favoured some American sectors and maintained protectionism.
"Several" countries are actually 4: Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador. Peru would join but after Chavez got involved with his candidate's campaign the Peruvians realized he would work for Chavez and not for the interests of Peru, and he dropped in the polls, Garcia might be elected instead, another demagogue, but not a Chavist.
Colombia, Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay prefer Washington over Chavez, except for Paraguay those already have bi-lateral agreements with the US. Brazil will most likely join this rank after the election in October.
Brazil is not independent from Oil, who lied this absurd to you?! Brazil reached what is called "self-sufficiency" of Oil, Brazil produces enough Oil to meet the internal demand. Another important point is that this self-sufficiency would not be possible if the Brazilian economy growed like that of India, China and the like, it is because of industrial and agricultural retractions or minor growth that it was possible to supply the demand, and also because the extraction is a state monopoly. But the only Oil self-sufficient nation that worked that I know of is Norway, all the others are dwelled in misery, corruption and tyranny.