US-POLITICS Summary

Reuters Friday, April 17, 2009; 11:04 PM
Obama reaches out to Cuba in new pitch to Americas
PORT OF SPAIN (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama pledged on Friday to seek a "new beginning" in ties with communist-ruled Cuba as part of a new era of U.S. partnership and engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean. Before addressing his counterparts in the hemisphere at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad, Obama also initiated a handshake with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, one of Washington's most virulent critics in the region.

Clinton says U.S. welcomes Cuba's "overtures"
SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday that Washington welcomed "overtures" from Cuban President Raul Castro, hours after he said his country was open for talks with the United States about "everything." "We have seen Raul Castro's comments and we welcome his overtures," Clinton told reporters in the Dominican Republic.

Obama stands next to Mexico in war on drugs
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - President Barack Obama stood alongside Mexico's Felipe Calderon on Thursday and promised to help his "courageous" fight against ruthless drug cartels waging turf wars along the joint border. In his first trip to Latin America as U.S. president and fresh from his first big foray onto the global stage in Europe last month, Obama said Mexico and the United States both needed to strengthen and coordinate their drug war efforts.
From washingtonpost.com