U.S.-Colombia Military Deal Angers Activists

BBC:

Colombian opposition groups have reacted angrily after details of a controversial military deal with the US were made public.

Read the whole story: BBC

Comments

[zaknick]

CSN cordially invites you to follow the daily human rights practices (abuses) of the Colombian Army, as they are made public in the Colombian press.

http://colombiasupport.net/2009/colombian_army_csn_report_08_09.pdf

For anybody who wishes to know what is really going on in Colombia.

[duxguts]

Why is it that whenever we set up a new Imperial Base overseas, we always tack on the clause that our people are immune to local laws? Are we better or something?

[CigarGod]

I think it is appropriate to encourage reading: "Confessions of an Economic H!tman".
All part of the plan.

[Laws456]

Unemployment at near 20%...People are denied health care because of a lack of insurance, but yet, let's go and spend billions of dollars for another pointless military excursion. We can't contain the drug smugglers coming across the Mexican border, but we're gonna help the Colombians deal with their drug dealers. The military industrial complex is a vacuum that sucks money from the country for selfish reasons that don't make us any safer. But I guess this is their M.O., occupy a territory, create intense anti-American sentiment, wait for the indigenous people to strike and then cry because they need more resources to combat the problem. I guess from their side of things, that's a genius plan, but from our side, it takes resources, namely money from the domestic front. Good job guys!

[zaknick]

That's just one side of it, though. Remember, the good ole boys' drug market, the Congressional-military-industrial complex and big oil are all salivating here at the opportunities. These are the same people who targeted blacks to finance their little dirty wars (genocide, really) against starving peasants who wanted to be able to choose the policies of their government not the multinationals who run the CIA (well, not all of it).

[CigarGod]

Talk about poking a stick into a hornets nest...and other cultures we don't understand.
I guess it is what we have always done...used brute force to take the other guys stuff.

[Billy Hell]

Official US Air Force Document Reveals the True Intentions Behind the US-Colombia Military Agreement

An official document from the Department of the US Air Force reveals that the military base in Palanquero, Colombia will provide the Pentagon with “…an opportunity for conducting full spectrum operations throughout South America…” This information contradicts the explainations offered by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and the US State Department regarding the military agreement signed between the two nations this past October 30th. Both governments have publicly stated that the military agreement refers only to counternarcotics and counterterrorism operations within Colombian territory.

Per the US Air Force document, “Access to Colombia will further its strategic partnership with the United States. The strong security cooperation relationship also offers an opportunity for conducting full spectrum operations throughout South America

The document additionally confirms that the US military presence in Palanquero, Colombia, will improve the capacity of espionage and intelligence operations, and will allow the US armed forces to increase their warfare capabilities in the region. “Development of this CSL will further the strategic partnership forged between the US and Colombia and is in the interest of both nations…A presence will also increase our capability to conduct Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)

Eva Golinger: http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/4917

[zaknick]

Exactly.

This never was about the "war on drugs" (their own little black market which the "drug police" use as "revenue").

Fanned.

[CigarGod]

Have a cigar...if you can smoke it.

I'll have to wait until my nausea passes....a typical condition for an old Hawk turned Dove.

[duxguts]

Thank you for the change Mr. President.

[NICELYDONE]

just like here,, the left wing hates its own country

[cardineau]

The left wing doesn't hate this country ... it hates the criminals who represent the country.

[beatbox32]

So the left wing hates the current administration?

[zaknick]

well said... a brush with Nazi's brrrrr a chill goes up my spine!

[FloresdelaHoz]

Colombians are an impressive lot. Hard working, intellectually and emotially intelligent.

They are solid allies. They sent troops to help us in Korea. They have Chavez armed to the teeth on their eastern border and Correa (Ecuador) on their southern border. They need our help to keep the LatAm Left peaceful.

[winningticket]

Nothing against Colombians, but Uribe is nothing but a puppet. How can they stand him?

[tomorrowman58]

"Colombians are an impressive lot. Hard working, intellectually and emotially intelligent".

Sounds like another Colombia. Oh yeah....., the hardest working criminals and narcotraffickers everybody knows.

[zaknick]

You must not get out of the country much, eh? You lack of manners and savoir faire indicate the character and value of your soul. I have known many Colombians, people of the highest integrity, whose lives have been destroyed by the good ole boys' black market called the "war on drugs". That level of corruption is many magnitudes higher than anything Colombia is capable of generating and will go down in history as the longest genocide ever inflicted on the world by arrogant, evil and racist men.

http://www.letitbeknown.org/English/War_on_People.html

[holeybuybull]

Which repressive regime do you represent?

[NWBrunette]

I suspect this has way more to do with the US threatening Venezuela than it does with anything going on in Columbia.

[zaknick]

exactly, that's one of the reasons the "war on drugs" is not repealed even though it is the policy of our own government that generates all the massacres and insanities.

makes u wonder, eh?

[oregonrain]

Sure as hell makes me wonder.

[CigarGod]

Have a cigar.

[lippylaroux]

Instead of bothering with stopping Communists in South America we should worry about it in our highest offices here.

[NWBrunette]

Oh, you mean the w*ng n*ts constantly trying to suck money from the middle class to give to the rich elites.

[lippylaroux]

No I am talking about Obama and his self proclaimed communist czars.

[Alligator Breath]

Is this part of Obamacare?

[LatinAmericano]

As if we didn't have our hands full w/ the military involvement in Iraq + Afghanistan. What Colombians need is NOT more WAR approved by our Nobel Prize Pres. They need a Marshal Plan that helps them build their country to foster social development. It's a weird picture: Obama supporting right-wing, armed-militia headman, Col. President Uribe. This WILL backfire in the SouthAmerican region.

[Alligator Breath]

What did you expect from Bushlite?

[holeybuybull]

Why do you think he appointed Holder as AG?

[BradSmith]

End the war on drugs and leave other nations alone. It's none of our business what they do or who governs them.

[zaknick]

simple isn't it?

its the thought that counts though, thanks

[Ira7]

The best opposition that Chavez's money can buy!

But hey--Colombia is a democracy, so if the people don't like it, they can vote the party out.

And sorry to say to the leftists, fat chance of that happening.

[zaknick]

why because your war on drugs has brutalized and terrorized the country into submission to the "strong man from the right"? brutalized the population's psyche and created such chaos that anybody with backing of billions in American military support who would have done a good job in securing the cities and highways would be supported no matter what? And we all know what all "that" is, with Uribe's colorful past.

We'll see who laughs last pal but Colombia is not your country for you to be opining whether the left is corrupt or treasonous or not; respect other people's democracy. That man who is opposing the government had his father killed by the Colombian government supported CIA created paramilitaries. I bet you hate the left here too or maybe when it comes to your own kind you're more willing to give other people's rights a chance? that's xenophobia my friend.

You people will not write the history of Colombia.

[CigarGod]

Fanned.
Have a cigar.

[billhodges]

If this irritates Hugo Chavez then it must be something we need to be doing.

We need to do all we can to assist Columbia fight off the Drug Cartels and the left wing Socialists trying to follow in Chavez's foot steps.

A surprising act from one of Chavez's friends, Obama.

[Nuyorican21]

Somewhat true. But please don't invade Venezuela, I don't care what Chavez does in his own little crazy corner of South America. Glad the Columbian government functions as well as it does, considering the horrid situation it has been in for 25 years. They do what they can.

[winningticket]

The Colombian governms quite well by siding with right wing paramilitaries, violently intimidating union leaders, etc. The US has no business in Colombia. None!

[winningticket]

The Colombian government functions quite well by siding with right wing paramilitaries, violently intimidating union leaders, etc. The US has no business in Colombia. None! (Corrected for typos)

[Nuyorican21]

More specifically Uribe's government, not the Columbian governments of the past 35 years. That was a little confusing I admit. He's actually defied the U.S. on certain things, most glaringly providing amnesty and job training to those right-wing paramilitary fighters in exchange for dearmament. The Bush administration vehemently argued against that.

[winningticket]

Then why don't you go down to Colombia and show us the way, keyboard warrior!

[zaknick]

If this irritates Hugo Chavez then it must be something we need to be doing.

Why is that? Why can't you leave other people's lives and countries alone?
Look what the neo-cons pulled in Venezuela under Bush II (first 5 min boring but then extremely worth it):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHPPpL9z9GE

We need to do all we can to assist Columbia fight off the Drug Cartels and the left wing Socialists trying to follow in Chavez's foot steps.

The drug cartels the good ole boys in Congress's black market and the CIA created you mean? Who the hell are you to try to intervene in Colombia politics? The Gestapo? That's exactly what you sound like. Are you in the armed forces of the US? What is your name, rank and unit?

A surprising act from one of Chavez's friends, Obama.

You mean the Obama that is allowing you to continue with your type of activities in Colombia? The International Criminal Court is coming for people like you and I don't care what agreement you forced, blackmailed, the drug trafficker Uribe (see National Security Archives FOIA material classifying Uribe as the 82nd most powerful mobster in Colombia in the nineties)to get him to sign agreeing to immunity from ICC jurisdiction for American personnel. That will be changed, you can take that to the bank. We shall see.

[twistedknickers]

Fanned!

[CigarGod]

Absolutely the best real life drama on Chavez I have ever seen.
Viva Chavez!

[holeybuybull]

The current Colombian regime is a mixture of the drug cartels and the CIA. Latin America didn't get to vote on the Monroe Doctrine. Thankfully, the majority of Latin American countries have thrown off the yoke of American hegemony, aided and abetted by the IMF and the World Bank.

[dogisgreat]

More imperialist military adventurism from the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

[zaknick]

exactly