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Chavez is getting big support in Latin America and it is a thorn in the side for the United States. The cooperation between Castro and Chavez is very compelling and Chavez might be called upon to keep Cuban leaders "in check" after Castro passes away.

So the States is more heavily weighing in on Cuba just counting the moments for Castro to pass away.

But the counter against Chavez has been in full efffect. Condi took a tour of the region trying to convince other neighboring nations to Venezuela to isolate the nation, but the other nations didn't respond favorably to the policy. That didn't succeed much. They have also been funding an opposing party in Venezuela, but that hasn't been making much influence either.

So, since those efforts didn't have the appeal they had hoped, they are gonig to wait for Cuba to lose their leader to drive a wedge into the left movement in the Latino nations. I'm sure Castro will permit, through government influence, Chavez some guidance and oversight into Cuba after Castro passes away. I'm sure the States already have a couple 'moles' within the infrastructure of Cuban government to sway from the left.

This will ultimately leave the fate of Cuba with the with people. The States will offer Cuba a trade treaty to the post-Castro leaders of Cuba to diplomatically weaken the left agenda. Who will the people side with? There is lots of U.N. support for Cuba to have the American embargo lifted unconditionally. Castro has also doubled wages about 6 months ago and there has been improved economical conditions thanks to the symbiotic relationship with Venezuela.

The other Latino nations are taking more of a unified stand, leaving Mexico out in the wind pondering what direction to go. Unfortunately, they are trapped in the grasp of NAFTA and have no option to take psuedo-cooperation with the U.S.

Most of the cooperation from the Latino nations was mostly based on a policy of "no way out" if they weakened diplomatic relations with the U.S., but now China is providing that out (pros and cons within that as well). But Chinese political persuasion in the Latino nations can be curved by Chavez' stubborness to follow his own tune and not adopt Chinese policy in the region.

So I'm not really worried about South America in regards to American influence, but I'm sure that America already has a plan set to execute for post-Castro Cuba though.