Three Dimensions of “Montezuma’s Revenge”: Hugo Chávez’s Bolivarian Vision, “War on Drugs,” and “Illegal” Immigration

Abstract

With the post-September 11, 2001, geostrategic focus primarily on Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and North Korea, and given the fact that the Soviet Union/Russia finally withdrew its support from Fidel Castro’s Cuba, the United States has largely tended to overlook, if not totally neglect, major transformations taking place within its own backyard in Latin America in addition to ignoring the issue of “illegal” immigration within its own borders. It was seven years into his presidency that George W. Bush finally deigned to visit the region, provoking significant protest somewhat reminiscent of Richard Nixon’s tumultuous tour in 1958 or that of Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1969.