Here is an Otto statement that sums it up best:

"For anyone left reading, your helpful Otto strongly suggests you stop believing what your told in the English-speaking press, and I'm talking about left and right wing agendas promoted by whoever. Until you do, you'll never 'get' Latin America and the nuanced political way of the world down here. In fact, if you don't speak Spanish or Portuguese what makes you think you have an opinion about LatAm that is truly your own?"

To which I'd add, even if you *do* speak Spanish or Portuguese, what makes you think you have an opinion about Latin America that is truly your own?

Sure, that applies to me as well, but the point is still valid. I went back over Otto's posts, and while he does have good insight into some of what goes on down there, he by no means "gets it" in every instance. Not trying to trash the guy, just pointing out that too much confidence in one's knowledge about a region as vast and diverse as Latin America could lead to some fairly serious errors. It's a pretty tall order to capture every nuance and detail across such a wide spectrum. I can barely keep up with Ecuador alone, and although I don't live there I do speak the language, and I do have some experience in Latin American affairs. Just take it with a grain of salt is all, like you would everything else you hear (including my own comments on the subject).

ebear