The respected columnist Andres Oppenheimer  of the Miami Herald has gotten hold of a pretty seamy secret document showing an emerging alliance between South America and the Arab League. The 28—page draft document for a May 10—11 summit in Brazil will endorse Arab terrorism and condemn Israel. It would also 'study' the 'root causes' of terrorism, and 'distinguish' the kinds of terrorism they justify and the kinds they can condemn without consequence. We all well know what that means.

Oppenheimer writes:

My conclusion: South American countries are playing with fire by extending the focus of the summit to Middle Eastern politics. That is bound to grab headlines, add tension to U.S.—South American ties and, what may be worse, introduce the Middle East's tensions into a hemisphere where Jews and Arabs have lived in harmony for centuries. That's the last thing South America needs.

A.M. Mora y Leon   1 06 04