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U.S. Bases in Colombia really just Colombian Bases
Posted by: Thurston Moore ()
Date: August 19, 2009 12:28AM

http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14179195


Both American and Colombian officials dismiss such arguments as absurd. They have been talking about the base agreement since February and expect to sign it later this month. Colombia is offering the Americans facilities at Palanquero, its main air-force base, and backup access to two others, to replace an American base at Manta in Ecuador whose lease was not renewed by Rafael Correa, Ecuador’s left-wing president. Manta was used by American AWACS for the surveillance of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific.

But the agreement will also formalise facilities for the American trainers and surveillance planes that help Colombian forces in anti-drug actions under Plan Colombia. This potentially involves giving the Americans the use of parts of four further bases, two of them naval ports (see map). Colombian officials this week stressed that whereas Manta was an American base, they are merely offering the Americans facilities at Colombian bases. The agreement would not involve increasing the number of American personnel in the country (capped by law at 800 troops and 600 civilian contractors, although only 250 are currently there). Americans will not be allowed to engage in combat or launch operations from Colombia against a third country, they insist. “It’s a co-operation agreement against drug trafficking, terrorism and other crimes,” Jaime Bermúdez, Colombia’s foreign minister, said.

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Re: U.S. Bases in Colombia really just Colombian Bases
Posted by: Registered Voter ()
Date: August 19, 2009 12:36AM

Much as no one likes to talk about it, Chavez is one of the major enablers of the cocaine drug trade in South America. On top of that, he provides a lot of funding to FARC in attempts to destabilize Colombia and make yet another little dictatorship to join their club.

Now with his deals with Russia, he is really not giving the US much in the way of options to try and improve relations with him.

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Re: U.S. Bases in Colombia really just Colombian Bases
Posted by: Vince(1) ()
Date: August 19, 2009 07:58AM

Registered Voter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Much as no one likes to talk about it, Chavez is
> one of the major enablers of the cocaine drug
> trade in South America. On top of that, he
> provides a lot of funding to FARC in attempts to
> destabilize Colombia and make yet another little
> dictatorship to join their club.
>
> Now with his deals with Russia, he is really not
> giving the US much in the way of options to try
> and improve relations with him.


The US demand for cocaine is the number 1 enabler of the cocaine drug trade.

Registered Voter...a Big talking coward..big man on FFXU...little man in life.

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