Russia and communism haven't been threats for 25 years (though Russia is trying to make a comeback). > American ties to Europe were never entirely altruistic b

Russia and communism haven't been threats for 25 years (though Russia is trying to make a comeback). > American ties to Europe were never entirely altruistic but about maintaining it against Russian influence and control. You're omitting the very strongly shared interests in liberty and democracy, as well as in free trade. There really is little reason for countries that believe in those things not to cooperate - they naturally have each other's best interests in mind. > the US presence in South America has always been about anti-communism at any cost, ... If the US wants to get started there it should see about bringing peace to Mexico and work downwards. Again, that was a long time ago. Since the Cold War, almost the entire Western Hemisphere has become peaceful (internationally), democratic, and far more prosperous, lifting hundreds of millions out of extreme poverty. I don't meant to downplay the drug war, which I agree is awful and highly damaging to people in those nations.