Diplomat: U.S. faces competition in Latin America

The State Department's top diplomat for Latin America said Tuesday that Washington is interested in avoiding conflict with the region and instead favors partnership and patience to strengthen relations. ''We do not need to be walking through the Americas looking for additional confrontation, and we're not,'' Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. said in a speech in Coral Gables. Shannon repeatedly stressed the profound political and economic changes that have occurred in Latin America as he outlined the Bush administration's recent initiatives. ''This is a very, very competitive environment,'' Shannon told a well-attended meeting organized by the University of Miami's Center for Hemispheric Policy. As new democracies, many Latin America nations have redefined their national interests and established ties with Europe, Asia and other parts of the world, he said. ''We are no longer the only option for these countries,'' said Shannon.