LA Quick Hits: Calderon Still Talking Security, Hugo Isn't, But He Should, Hugo Skipping Mercosur, Chincilla Wants to Cash In & More

• Calderon acknowledges the need to open a new chapter in the battle to provide security for Mexico.
• There is a security problem in Venezuela and the opposition promises to make it an issue. The only city in LatAm that has suffered more? Ciudad Juarez.
• Momentum for Honduran recognition continues. Mex and Chile give a thumbs up to the Lobo government. Don't hold your breath for the Legion of Doom following suit.
• Hugo is not going to make it to the next Mercosur summit in Argentina. Cites the tensions with Colombia.
• Chinchilla met with Red Chinese FM Yang Jiechi. The Ticos are trying to cash in on their switch from ROC to PRC recognition - they asked for a donation to finish a four-lane expressway.
• The Santiago exchange soared to a historical high of 4,418.66

LA Quick Hits: Mex Drug Cartels Go South, Don Diego Lives!, Correa the Commie, Begging Bolivia & More

• Colombia is not backing down on its FARC accusations and tells Hugo where to stick his "Plan de Paz."
• Great piece in WaPost on Mex Drug Cartel Violence going to Central America. Did you know that homicides per capita in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras far outstrip Mexico's?
• Kidnappers of Don Diego release photo and letter. Depressing and awful.
• Correa starts to set the stage to nationalize petrol companies.
• Ortega talks up US Sec of Labor Solis, kind of nauseating actually. She is visiting the Nicas.
• Alvaro Vargas Llosa is cautiously optimistic about the release of political prisoners in Cuba. Even then, he is too optimistic. The Church got a role in all of this because Ortega is a tool and can be manipulated not because it brings anything to the table.
• US Charges d' Affaires in Bolivia whines and begs Evo to cooperate in fight against narcos. Seriously, why should he? So the US can help the way they help Mex? The way they helped sink Colombia to the brink of collapse? Why should they lift bring more killing, corruption and crime just to raise the price of cocaine by $1 a kilo? Evo should give him the middle finger and say - "We don't snort or smoke, you deal with it."
• Maradona is out - the vote was unanimous.
• Peru's State of the Union/4th of July is tomorrow - one legislator's plea..."Don't lie."