the recent Summit of the Americas.

"it made clear that President Obama's policy toward Latin America is in tatters."

The writer acknowledges the misbehavior of the secret service overwhelmed what happened but offers this...

"Instead, its primary accomplishment was to reveal, and to exacerbate, the very rifts between the United States and our southern neighbors that the Obama administration has opened up over the past three years."

On the drug cartels, Obama went in and the conference ended up not talking about ENDING the drugs, but

"Rather, it was to legalize drug consumption, a policy that the president himself opposes. That legalization received a serious hearing at the gathering is an undeniable setback at a moment when the reach of cartels and their horrific violence is at a peak."

In the area of trade all criticisms were of Obama and the US because we are considered a poor trade partner.

"Appeasing his political base in the labor unions, President Obama procrastinated for three years before submitting the Colombia Free Trade Agreement for approval last fall. "

what our friends in the region recognize is the fact that the Obama administration has not only failed to pursue new trade agreements with other Latin American countries, but he has dragged its feet on a whole host of other measures to expand commerce.This inertia has had the alarming consequence of benefiting China, which has been actively building strong trade and investment relationships throughout the region."

On the subject of Human Rights it got worse...after years of progress our President is allowing Chavez and Cuba to make strong inroads.

"The summit epitomized the damage that has been done over the past three years: instead of fostering greater democracy, the major topic of conversation was whether to invite Cuba to the next summit. This is what the lack of American leadership has wrought."

And then a warning for Romney after he is elected...

"If our next president fails to recognize the need to change direction in Latin America, the United States will suffer a strategic setback in our own backyard. Our home hemisphere is critical for trade and security, and it should not be ignored by the United States to the benefit of authoritarian dictators.

This truth makes clear the importance of Mitt Romney's candidacy for the presidency. He understands Latin America. He has spent decades working in business, including business directly connected to Latin America."

RealClearWorld - Obama's Latin American Disconnect