http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6193496.stm
Correa 'wins Ecuador's election'
Mr Correa has already made policy announcements
Leftist Rafael Correa has won Ecuador's presidential run-off election, a top electoral official has said. With nearly all votes counted, Mr Correa had just over 57% of the vote while his conservative rival Alvaro Noboa polled 42.8%.
Washington has congratulated Mr Correa, who opposes a free trade deal with the US, on his apparent victory.
Mr Noboa, a billionaire banana tycoon, has not yet accepted defeat and said he may ask for a recount if necessary.
"Rafael Correa is the new president of Ecuador. The trend is not going to change," said Narciza Subia, one of seven Supreme Electoral Tribunal judges.
On Monday, the Organisation of American States recognised Mr Correa's "presumed triumph" and US Ambassador Linda Jewell made a congratulatory telephone call.
However, Mr Correa will not be officially named president-elect until all votes are counted. An official announcement is expected on Thursday.
Energy sector
The 43-year-old economist has moved quickly to make policy announcements and appoint ministers.
Profile: Rafael Correa
Mr Correa, who is close to Venezuela's anti-American President Hugo Chavez, said he will try to rejoin the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) which Ecuador left in 1992.
He also named leftist economists Ricardo Patino and Alberto Acosta as his economy and energy ministers.
While campaigning, Mr Correa said he wanted to renegotiate contracts with foreign oil companies, but it is thought unlikely that he will nationalise Ecuador's energy industry.
Both candidates had promised to create jobs and fight poverty and corruption. Both had also promised to double the monthly government payout poor Ecuadoreans receive.
Ecuador has seen much political turmoil in recent years with seven presidents in the last decade.
The last three elected presidents were overthrown and only three since 1979 have succeeded in serving full terms.
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Most of us on this forum agree that Bush's war in Iraq is lost. It remains a fact that his "coalition" has fallen apart and it was recently announced that Italy and Poland will leave Iraq with a strong possibility of Britain leaving as well. Tony Blair who had been Bush's principle ally is now virtually a political non entity as his government will soon leave office.
It is also a fact that much of Latin America has gone leftist with Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and others electing governments whose allegiances are certainly not with Washington, DC.
The governments of Syria and Iran have emerged stronger than before and are now being enlisted to assist in bringing about some measure of peace.
The USA dollar is losing value whereas the Euro is growing stronger.
The bottom line being that because of Bush, the USA influence in world politics is diminishing.
So the question is, what will the picture of world politics look like without an influential USA?
Will it be positive?
If not, how do you suggest that it be corrected or altered so as to insure a more positive direction?
NOTE: Try though I may, I couldn't make the print smaller. Apologies in advance.
Correa 'wins Ecuador's election'
Leftist Rafael Correa has won Ecuador's presidential run-off election, a top electoral official has said. With nearly all votes counted, Mr Correa had just over 57% of the vote while his conservative rival Alvaro Noboa polled 42.8%.
Washington has congratulated Mr Correa, who opposes a free trade deal with the US, on his apparent victory.
Mr Noboa, a billionaire banana tycoon, has not yet accepted defeat and said he may ask for a recount if necessary.
"Rafael Correa is the new president of Ecuador. The trend is not going to change," said Narciza Subia, one of seven Supreme Electoral Tribunal judges.
On Monday, the Organisation of American States recognised Mr Correa's "presumed triumph" and US Ambassador Linda Jewell made a congratulatory telephone call.
However, Mr Correa will not be officially named president-elect until all votes are counted. An official announcement is expected on Thursday.
Energy sector
The 43-year-old economist has moved quickly to make policy announcements and appoint ministers.
Profile: Rafael Correa
Mr Correa, who is close to Venezuela's anti-American President Hugo Chavez, said he will try to rejoin the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) which Ecuador left in 1992.
He also named leftist economists Ricardo Patino and Alberto Acosta as his economy and energy ministers.
While campaigning, Mr Correa said he wanted to renegotiate contracts with foreign oil companies, but it is thought unlikely that he will nationalise Ecuador's energy industry.
Both candidates had promised to create jobs and fight poverty and corruption. Both had also promised to double the monthly government payout poor Ecuadoreans receive.
Ecuador has seen much political turmoil in recent years with seven presidents in the last decade.
The last three elected presidents were overthrown and only three since 1979 have succeeded in serving full terms.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Most of us on this forum agree that Bush's war in Iraq is lost. It remains a fact that his "coalition" has fallen apart and it was recently announced that Italy and Poland will leave Iraq with a strong possibility of Britain leaving as well. Tony Blair who had been Bush's principle ally is now virtually a political non entity as his government will soon leave office.
It is also a fact that much of Latin America has gone leftist with Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and others electing governments whose allegiances are certainly not with Washington, DC.
The governments of Syria and Iran have emerged stronger than before and are now being enlisted to assist in bringing about some measure of peace.
The USA dollar is losing value whereas the Euro is growing stronger.
The bottom line being that because of Bush, the USA influence in world politics is diminishing.
So the question is, what will the picture of world politics look like without an influential USA?
Will it be positive?
If not, how do you suggest that it be corrected or altered so as to insure a more positive direction?
NOTE: Try though I may, I couldn't make the print smaller. Apologies in advance.