Colombia's Santos seeks US clarification on spying

[Judi Lynn]

Colombia's Santos seeks US clarification on spying
By VIVIAN SEQUERA Associated Press
Posted: 08/08/2013 04:01:55 PM PDT
Updated: 08/08/2013 05:10:32 PM PDT

BOGOTA, Colombia—President Juan Manuel Santos said Thursday that he is seeking clarification from Washington on whether its intelligence-gathering in Colombia has overstepped the countries' joint operations against drug traffickers and illegal armed groups.

Santos said in an interview with The Associated Press that U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called him about the issue following revelations by former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden that massive U.S digital snooping has targeted allies as well as foes.

He said Biden offered a series of technical explanations. Asked if he was satisfied with them, Santos replied curtly, "We are in that process."

Colombia has long been Washington's closest ally in South America with Washington supplying it with eavesdropping equipment, technicians and aerial surveillance.

More:
http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_23824505/colombias-santos-seeks-us-clarification-spying#ixzz2bQcKW0Ps

On edit:

Interesting fact offered later in the article:

Before his 2010 election, Santos was defense minister for three years and was among Colombian officials who sought and welcomed U.S. technical support in electronic eavesdropping.

[ocpagu]

1. Yep. Very interesting fact.

Seeking explanations or orders? Er, advices?

I just hope somehow this means they at least won't be trying to boycott any regional attempts to take the issue to UN.

[Judi Lynn]

2. That would be unexpected, wouldn't it? If they don't do what their master wants,

we'd be seeing headlines howling that Colombia is "defying" the United States! They've been the US puppet for so many decades by now. They'd have to be ready to handle all kinds of heavy pressure immediately. Don't know if that's possible without deep change.