Latin America is experiencing a positive revolution of sorts. Petty military dictators and East-West ideological struggle are things of the past. Political inclusion has expanded massively through overwhelmingly democratic processes, and millions of South and Central Americans have new expectations of their governments. Like anywhere, democracy in the region is sometimes messy, and mistakes are sometimes made. But the change is good.

The time has come to recognize that Latin America is not our backyard; it's our neighborhood, and we have an obligation to help make it better for everyone. The United States and Latin America are confronting challenges that affect us all -- from national security to narcotics trafficking to illegal migration.