Farnsworth provides insight into the November 2009 visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Brazil. "Brazils growing influence on the global stage means that leaders with whom the president of Brazil chooses to meet gain greater credibility and indeed legitimacy through those meetings," says Farnsworth. "This is occurring just at the same time as much of the rest of the international community is attempting to work to isolate Iran based on that countrys nuclear ambitions as well as some of the activities that Iran has been engaged in the promotion of global terrorism including some activities in the Western Hemisphere itself." (less info)