Fast Takes: Brazilian president’s lousy Beijing bet, Israel’s not the problem and more

Latin beat: Lula’s Lousy Beijing Bet “Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has intensified his confrontation with the US and his reliance on Communist China — a strategy that could seriously jeopardize Brazil’s economy, security, and sovereignty,” warns Arturo McFields at The Hill. The leftist leader’s embrace of “panda bonds” and “yuan as currency” will limit Brazil’s “financial freedom to sell to countries other than the communist power.” Joint space-related ventures will enable Beijing to “improve military capabilities” in a US sphere of influence. Lula’s China ploy is high- risk: Tying Brazil’s “telecommunications, space security, trade and now bonds”…