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any combat troops in Columbia? I recall some talk about sending forces to help in military operations against FARC.
by Fortschreitend on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 11:45:47 AM PDT
[ Parent ]
have US "advisors" and contractors with the DEA. I understand the Blackwater wanted to enter the anti-Farc campaign. And this may have been behind their purchase of Brazlian made Embraer Super Tucano aircraft, that can be turned into a small fighter bomber.
http://www.economicpopulist.org
by ManfromMiddletown on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 11:58:40 AM PDT
Hereis some dated info (2004) from The Nation.
"The United States has plowed $3.3 billion in mostly military aid into Colombia since "Plan Colombia" was passed in 2000--making it the third-greatest recipient of Washington's largesse after Israel and Egypt. Since 9/11 the focus of Plan Colombia has quietly shifted from a counternarcotics campaign to a crusade against "terrorism." And now the number of US forces on the ground is set to double. On October 10 Congress voted to raise the cap on US military advisers in Colombia to 800, and raise that on the number of US civilian contract agents--pilots, intelligence analysts, security personnel--from 400 to 600."
"The United States has plowed $3.3 billion in mostly military aid into Colombia since "Plan Colombia" was passed in 2000--making it the third-greatest recipient of Washington's largesse after Israel and Egypt. Since 9/11 the focus of Plan Colombia has quietly shifted from a counternarcotics campaign to a crusade against "terrorism." And now the number of US forces on the ground is set to double.
On October 10 Congress voted to raise the cap on US military advisers in Colombia to 800, and raise that on the number of US civilian contract agents--pilots, intelligence analysts, security personnel--from 400 to 600."
I'll try to find some more current info.
"I was so easy to defeat, I was so easy to control, I didn't even know there was a war." -9.75, -8.41
by RonV on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 12:08:09 PM PDT
by Fortschreitend on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 12:18:24 PM PDT
been doing a lot of anti-coca spraying in the country.
FARC is a terrorist organization, but Uribe arguably has connections with the paramilitaries.
And paramilitaries have alledgedly been selling coke at cut rate in Caracas in order to generate gang warfare.
by ManfromMiddletown on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 12:18:48 PM PDT
here... From TomPaine.com
PlanColumbia has all the usual hallmarks of US Imperialist meddling in Latin America. Including extra-judicial murder, corruption, and, of course, backing up US commercial interests, In this case, oil. Does Harken Energy ring a bell?
From the link above (November, 2004):
"Harken Energy is the latest oil company to benefit from the United States’ escalating involvement in Colombia. On November 4, the Texas-based company announced the signing of a new oil exploration and production contract in Colombia. The company is closely linked to President George W. Bush who served on its board of directors from 1986 until 1990. In addition to providing half a billion dollars a year in Plan Colombia aid during his first term, President Bush has given Colombia almost $100 million in counterterrorism aid and deployed U.S. Army Special Forces troops to protect a major oil pipeline. The escalating U.S. military intervention in Colombia, along with International Monetary Fund (IMF)-imposed economic reforms, has created favorable conditions for foreign companies such as Harken seeking to exploit Colombia’s oil reserves. U.S. military aid is providing a secure environment in which U.S. oil companies can operate in Colombia. In conjunction with military aid, IMF structural adjustment programs are creating an economic environment favorable to foreign companies."
"Harken Energy is the latest oil company to benefit from the United States’ escalating involvement in Colombia. On November 4, the Texas-based company announced the signing of a new oil exploration and production contract in Colombia. The company is closely linked to President George W. Bush who served on its board of directors from 1986 until 1990. In addition to providing half a billion dollars a year in Plan Colombia aid during his first term, President Bush has given Colombia almost $100 million in counterterrorism aid and deployed U.S. Army Special Forces troops to protect a major oil pipeline. The escalating U.S. military intervention in Colombia, along with International Monetary Fund (IMF)-imposed economic reforms, has created favorable conditions for foreign companies such as Harken seeking to exploit Colombia’s oil reserves.
U.S. military aid is providing a secure environment in which U.S. oil companies can operate in Colombia. In conjunction with military aid, IMF structural adjustment programs are creating an economic environment favorable to foreign companies."
by RonV on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 12:23:06 PM PDT
Special Forces being sent to guard an oil pipeline. Wouldn't we have needed them more in Afghanistan and Iraq than to guard a pipeline? A pretty safe bet that they found more to do.
by Fortschreitend on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 12:29:29 PM PDT
In Colombia the rebels have been fighting against the oil companies stealing their resources. This includes attacking oil platforms and pipelines as well as capturing workers at times.
While many think that Hugo C of Venezuela is nothing but evil, I have a hard time condemning him when our government fully supports the Major oil companies at the detriment of the citizens of a nation. Chavez very well may go to war over the situation because he is not welcoming of US continued raping of it's southern neighbors.
We need to learn to treat our neighbors on a fair basis and make our dealings in a way that benefits the citizens and then there would be no angry rebels trying to defend their own rights to share in the resources of their nation.
Peace :)
June 3rd 2008 America is at last started on the road to long awaited recovery
by eaglecries on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 02:08:58 PM PDT
wide narrow
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