THE AMERICAS: "Latin American diplomacy: Friends of opportunity; China, rather than Russia, is the new partner that matters," The Economist, 29 November 2008.

A good reminder: Putin & Co may blow some smoke up America's rear-end now and then in the lower states, but the real emerging player in the southern Western hemisphere is Beijing--not Moscow. Medvedev peddles some arms--small business. China is peddling long-term contracts for raw materials.