The "honeymoon" seems to be ending

Two depressing news items about U.S.-Bolivian relations, as the two sides seem committed to making inflammatory statements. So we have USAID making a statement of Bush administration policy:

``Evo Morales and his Movement Toward Socialism Party have continued to waver on economic policy, democracy and counternarcotics.

''The new Bolivian government has, on several occasions, demonstrated inclinations to consolidate executive power and promote potentially antidemocratic reforms through the Constituent Assembly and other means,'' Franco said, referring to a July 2 vote that will elect representatives to rewrite Bolivia's constitution.

But then absurdly, the State Department says:

''We made it clear to the Bolivians that we are intent on having a positive and productive relationship,'' said Jan Edmonson, a spokeswoman for the State Department's Western Hemisphere bureau. ``The tone and content of that relationship depends on Bolivia.''

Then we have Evo Morales claiming once again that the U.S. is going to invade:

U.S. soldiers disguised as students and tourists are entering the country

And

Speaking to coca growers Sunday, Morales used a phrase in the native Quechua language that he said may have irritated the U.S. ambassador.

"I shouted, 'Qausachun coca (Long live coca!), wanuchun yanquis (die Yankees!),'" Morales said Tuesday. "If he complains, I, too, have the right to complain."