Mr. Ferguson's article ignores the reality that "historic control" of Latin America was an aggressive policy that caused untold suffering to millions of our neighbors and a constant headache for the U.S. Irresponsible maneuvers in Latin America included the Iran-Contra affair and support for atrocities which cost the lives of millions from Guatemala to Chile. America has done little to promote the health and wellbeing of our closest neighbors which would provide real protection from the roots of extremism. If we want to prioritize the Americas, we should invest in the broad prosperity that democratically elected presidents like Brazil's Lula da Silva and Chile's Bachelet are trying to bring to the hemisphere. Barbaric encroachments of the past can only bring more suffering, both at home and abroad.