The Inter-American Dialogue is a U.S. based think tank for policy analysis, exchange, and communication on issues in Western Hemisphere affairs.

"We heard all of the criticism and comments of the past year," said William Brownfield, the deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.

"President Uribe is an exceptional leader," said Roger F. Noriega, the assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.

Many "are grappling with persistent political, economic, social and, in some cases, ethnic problems," said Roger Noriega, the assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.

The last assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, Otto J. Reich, was reassigned in November after his temporary appointment expired.

Roger Noriega, the former assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, repeatedly made the point during his tenure, echoing background briefings by Pentagon officials.

Mr. Bolton employed that same language in addressing the issue, as has Roger F. Noriega, assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.

Yet, in his speech after the swearing in, he also welcomed Thomas Shannon, the assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, who was at the inauguration.

"If we responded to every insult, that is all we would do," said Thomas A. Shannon Jr., assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.

Mark Smith, the director of Western Hemisphere affairs at the organization, said Cafta was "a strong, high-value and comprehensive agreement."