Chimpy is interviewed by members of of the Latin American press (one question each!) prior to his trip down south.

No Buzzword Left Behind

My trip is an opportunity to remind the folks in our neighborhood that the United States has a robust policy toward empowering individuals to realize their full potential.

Changing Is An Area

The other area — another area of common ground is changing our energy uses.

The Vast Potential of Agricultural

It reminded me of — the progress Brazil has made has reminded me of the vast potential that agricultural can make on the energy front.

China Is Hurting Rich People

As China’s demand for oil continues, if there’s not a corresponding increase in international supply, what happens in China affects the ability of someone in Latin America to be able to keep more money — in other words, the gas prices go up.

Damn Spherical World

And we live in a global economy, in which global economics — I mean, live in a global world in which global economics affects the lives of a lot of people in our neighborhood.

The Dreaded I-Word

Q Recently, Uruguay and the United States signed a framework agreement on trade and investments. Now, how far do you think the United States and Uruguay can advance towards a free trade agreement? And taking into account that in the Uruguayan government there are differing opinions on this subject. And our President, a few days ago in a speech in reference to your trip, he said — he defined his government as anti-imperialist —

THE PRESIDENT: As anti-imperialist? Fine, that’s — I would hope he would define my government as pro-freedom.

There’s A Lot Of Collaboration Efforts

Fourthly, we have got Central American gangs in the United States, that as we find and arrest, we can share information we learn from them with the host government. So there’s a lot of collaboration efforts.

Imagine Having To Rent

Now the incentive is for people who want to do work that Americans aren’t doing is to pay money, to be stuffed in the back of an 18-wheeler, for example, and driven across and ducked out in the desert, where they hope somebody will come and rescue them and take them to a motel, or a house, where they have to rent, and then they finally work their way toward work.

That’s A Total

Since I have been the President, the line-item for traditional bilateral aid has doubled, from about $800 million a year to $1.6 billion for the region. And that’s a total, when you total all up the money that is spent, because of the generosity of our taxpayers, that’s $8.5 billion to programs that promote social justice — for example, promote education and health.

The Investment Climate Is Worthy of Investment

And a direct foreign investment — that means somebody believing that the investment climate is worthy of investment — helps that working person, that hardworking person find employment.

Revenge Of The Have-Gots

And one part of — main purpose of the trip is to tell people that we take the region and its problems very seriously, and have got a good record.

The United States vs. Congress

And I look forward to telling President Uribe that he can count on the United States defending that which we sent up to Congress. That’s what we believe is the right number, and we will vigorously defend the number.

Commander in Chief of the War Fighters!

Our military — people think of the United States military as war fighters, and they are when the Commander-in-Chief puts them in such a situation.

The Royal President

Now, obviously, to the extent that we could — and by the way, the President has been here working hard, been making phone calls.

Messaging the Masses

Part of my messaging in Central America will be that opening markets is the first step toward more prosperity.

Finish The Story!

Now, I’m going to go to a program — Labradores Mayas — that is a great example of what is possible for an indigenous farmer that was scratching out a living, ends up kind of establishing a co-op, goes and gets a loan — which, by the way, is an essential part of our program, and that is to provide micro-loans to people to be able to begin to realize dreams.

People Start Accessing Market

It took a while for people to realize how the inevitable adjustments that will come when people start accessing market.

Perhaps His Biggest Lie

And if you were to go down to the [Texas-Mexico] border today, you’d be stunned at the prosperity on both sides of the border because of trade.

Whatever

To answer your question, in the long run, what ends up happening is, again, I think the Mexican model is good to look at, because we’re constantly dealing with trade disputes. There will be the argument over the — whatever.

Whatever Strikes Again

Since I’ve been President, we’ve dealt with Mexico on a variety of fronts, like I think tomatoes or corn, whatever — avocados, exactly, por cierto. Cement.

So Much For Jeb’s Presidential Prospects

We believe it ought to be up to the people, the long-suffering people of that island to decide their fate, not the fate — not to be decided because somebody is somebody’s brother; the fate ought to be decided because that’s what the people want.

Love for Fidel

Vamos a ver, cuando — how long he stays on earth, that’s a decision that will be made by the Almighty. But once that happens, once — you know, Fidel Castro may live — I don’t know, I don’t know how long he’s going to live — but, nevertheless, I do believe that the system of government that he’s imposed upon the people ought not live if that’s what the people decide.