Brazil, Europe, Africa, USA, and the Future

 Orpha, at the WFS conference over the weekend, a speaker from Brazil summed up neatly what you present here.  One, Brazil buys more from the USA each year than does all of Europe combined!  Two, after the USA, China, yes, China is the largest investor in Brazil!  Moreover, Brazil is now looking to expand into Africa!  How much  Chinese influence will extend into Africa under the name, cover of Brazil?  Brazil runs on ethanol from sugar cane, not oil, so it does not fight oil wars in the Middle East.  The USA mass media frets over the Middle East. Meanwhile, China is quietly "surrounding us" with its penetration of Latin America; its second place economic power position in Brazil is proof positive.  The USA must look South, not to Europe or the Middle East, or we are going to "cut our own throats."  This is why your humble servant here is passionate about going "South."  It is also a way to interact, now, with Africa too!   Going South is a winner for the USA.  It drops a dying Europe and blocks a growing China on our doorstep.  Plus it allows us to interact with Africa down the road in constructive ways through countries like Brazil.