PETER HAKIM

In the past decade, nearly a dozen elected Latin American presidents have been forced from office.

Most Latin Americans were dumbfounded by U.S. actions at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay. The U.S. government has long scolded Latin American countries for their violations of human rights and their shabby judicial procedures, but it suddenly seemed to be playing by a different set of rules when its own security was at stake.

Most Latin Americans were dumbfounded by U.S. actions at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay. The U.S. government has long scolded Latin American countries for their violations of human rights and their shabby judicial procedures, but it suddenly seemed to be playing by a different set of rules when its own security was at stake.

In the past decade, nearly a dozen elected Latin American presidents have been forced from office.