U.S. Interests in Latinia

The U.S. government currently seems to have a two-fold interest in Latinia - the effects on America of the legalization of coca and the development of Latinia's oil and gas resources. It is unclear at this point which interest is dominating U.S. policy.

In an exclusive interview with the Patriot, top members of the U.S. State Department emphasized that they will will not tolerate the legalization of coca in Latinia. When asked if the use of military force is an option, the response was the same - "legalization of coca will not be tolerated." Clearly legalization of coca would not be good for the U.S., but would we go to war to stop it? While a certain amount of cocaine in the U.S. comes from Latinia, larger suppliers exist without the threat of militarized action against them. Why?

A possible explanation can be seen in the recent free trade agreement between the U.S. and Amazonas. The two countries, along with Amazona's state energy company, Esmeralda, have been trying desperately to convince the Latinian government to forego nationalization of its energy resources and, instead, continue as orginally planned with the Porto Viejo project. If completed, the project would bring considerable financial and economic benefits for both the U.S. and Amazonas.

If Hector Sanchez and the rest of the Latinian government were more committed to Porto Viejo, would the U.S. take such a strong stance against the legalization of coca? Or is this rhetoric against the legalization of coca merely posturing in order to wrestle power from the government and install a Latinian government with American interest at heart?