US, Colombia near base access deal

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

US, Colombia near base access deal
By FRANK BAJAK, Associated Press Writer Frank Bajak, Associated Press Writer – 44 mins ago

BOGOTA – The United States and Colombia are nearing agreement on expanding the U.S. military's presence in this conflict-torn nation, potentially basing hundreds of Americans in a central valley to support Air Force drug interdiction missions.

Both sides say they hope a fifth round of talks slated for later this month in Bogota will seal a 10-year lease deal.

Opponents worry a broadened U.S. military role in the world's No. 1 cocaine-producing nation could antagonize Colombia's leftist neighbors and draw Washington deeper into Colombia's complicated, long-running conflict with leftist rebels and rightist paramilitaries.

At a public hearing Wednesday called after criticism of secrecy surrounding the talks, three Colombian ministers defended the pending accord as vital in the fight against drug trafficking and "terrorism."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090715/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_colombia_us_bases_3;_ylt=AhYrS61R_yJYVDnJDSz2Bcn8SpZ4

[Judi Lynn]

1. Big move, if it will "make Colombia a regional hub for Pentagon operations."

More from the article:

Most details of the negotiations are secret, but senior Colombian military and civilian officials familiar with negotiations told The Associated Press that the idea is to make Colombia a regional hub for Pentagon operations — though without exceeding a limit of 1,400 U.S. military personnel and contractors set by the U.S. Congress.

Padilla said the deal would initially involve three air bases, principally Palanquero on the Magdalena river 100 kilometers (60 miles) northwest of Bogota. The other two bases are Apiay on Colombia's eastern plains and Malambo on the Caribbean coast, he said.

The senior Colombian officials, who agreed to describe the negotiations only if their identities were not revealed, said the current draft accord also specifies more frequent "visits" by U.S. warships to two naval bases, at Malaga Bay on the Pacific and Cartagena on the Caribbean. Colombia could also get preferential treatment in arms and aircraft purchases.

The U.S. interdiction missions that the Palanquero air base would take on — identifying suspect vessels and planes so Coast Guard and Navy ships can intercept them and look for drugs — have been flown out of Manta, Ecuador, on the Pacific Ocean. About 220 Americans shared space at Manta's international airport but were allowed no more than eight planes at a time.

The E-3 AWACs and P-3 Orion surveillance planes based in Manta were credited with about 60 percent of drug interdiction in the eastern Pacific. But the U.S. mission there is shutting down this week because President Rafael Correa refused to renew its lease, calling their presence a violation of Ecuador's sovereignty.

Colombia's Palanquero base had been off-limits to U.S. military operations until April 2008 because of human rights issues: A Colombian military helicopter operating from there killed 17 civilians in a 1998 bombing of a northern town that was initially covered up.

[sarcasmo]

3. Watch your back Hugo, the distance from Columbia to Venezuela is?

[saigon68]

18. Propping up another Corrupt Right Wing Regime

SPLENDID

And the "Contractors" going there too

How Outstanding!!!!</SARCASM>

[Skink]

2. This could be a peacekeeping mission.

Which is one thing I'm not against deploying soldiers for. Now starting wars is a different matter.

[Flaneur]

6. Peacekeeping aimed at whom, precisely?

There is no international armed conflict in South or Central America. There isn't even any seriously brewing, despite the occasional bellicose statement coming from Chavez or Uribe or Correa.

The US is already involved up to its legal limits--600 troops, 800 contractors--in Colombia, which has the only real serious internal armed conflict going on. Peru's Shining Path is currently little more than a remote nuisance. The Southern Cone is quiet and democratic, and so is Brazil.

There are some rightist separatists in Bolivia and some wannabe golpistas in Venezuela, but somehow I don't think the US will be "defending democracy" by sending in the troops to keep Morales or Chavez in power. In fact, I feel silly even writing the words.

[Skink]

7. Hostilities exist between Columbia Ecuador and Venezuela.

They were kind of one country long ago.

[rabs]

12. Hostilities?

Except for Colombia's unprovoked attack on Ecuadoran territory on March 1, 2008, have not heard of any further clashes.

As for the "one country," that would have been "Gran Colombia" before it fell apart in the early 19th century.

In the immortal metaphor of an embittered Simon Bolivar, forming and maintaining a South American union was "like plowing in the ocean."

[rabs]

11. Peacekeeping?

Yep, the murderous Uribistas need five U.S. bases to fight Pablo Escobar's "narco-hippos." :rofl:


BTW, the Latin America forum broke the story of the U.S.-Colombia bases on July 2. Nice to see the AP catch up.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3950163&mesg_id=3950529

[IndianaGreen]

20. Just like Hitler sending his troops into Poland after Poland attacked a German radio station?

Peacekeeping my ass!

[Optical.Catalyst]

4. This could be a drug importation mission

Funding for covert and clandestine operations needs funding. Just the kind of off the books funding provided by the CIA importing and selling drugs in the United States.

[corpseratemedia]

5. a drug interdiction cover war is needed

when a fighting-for-multi-national-corporations-against-workers'-rights war looks bad

[Grinchie]

8. Add one to my Cynicism count.

Obama count -5

[The abyss]

9. Despite this AP story

The US footprint on SA grows smaller and smaller every day.

They will resort more and more to the tactics of the late 60s and early 70s. Fewer & fewer in the north will believe them.

[AlphaCentauri]

10. Many Colombians must be feeling like a man with sexual dysfunction

after hearing suggestions over and over that they can't have peace and can't rule their own country and they need somebody else to do it for them.

[Judi Lynn]

13. U.S., Colombia work on deal for air bases

U.S., Colombia work on deal for air bases
The Pentagon has to find a new site for anti-drug flight operations after Ecuador declined to extend the lease at Manta.
By Chris Kraul
July 16, 2009

Reporting from Bogota, Colombia -- The United States and Colombia are poised to sign an agreement to transfer anti-drug flight operations from Ecuador to at least three Colombian air bases, a move that has drawn criticism here that it will leave the country even more dependent on Washington. Although the deal is not yet nailed down, Colombia's defense, interior and foreign ministers held a public forum in Bogota, the capital, on Wednesday to discuss details of the plan.

"We are deepening cooperation agreements that already exist in our common struggle against narco-trafficking and terrorism," said Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez, who framed the accord as a means of making the war on drugs more "efficient and stronger."


U.S. Embassy officials declined to comment, but a source who asked not to be named, citing the sensitivity of the issue, said the agreement could be ready by mid-August. Colombia annually receives more than $500 million in mostly military aid under Plan Colombia, the U.S. program to combat terrorism and illegal drugs.

The base plan has been derided by some analysts and opposition Colombian politicians, including presidential candidate Rafael Pardo, as a surrender of national sovereignty at a time when the country should be charting a more independent course.

"The Uribe government is too closely tied to the U.S.," said Bruce Bagley, a University of Miami professor and drug expert. "The bases, even if nominally under Colombian control, will deepen Colombian dependence on the U.S."

More:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-ecuador-airbase16-2009jul16,0,4518616.story?track=rss

[Judi Lynn]

14. Duplicate post. Sorry. n/t

U.S., Colombia work on deal for air bases
The Pentagon has to find a new site for anti-drug flight operations after Ecuador declined to extend the lease at Manta.
By Chris Kraul
July 16, 2009

Reporting from Bogota, Colombia -- The United States and Colombia are poised to sign an agreement to transfer anti-drug flight operations from Ecuador to at least three Colombian air bases, a move that has drawn criticism here that it will leave the country even more dependent on Washington. Although the deal is not yet nailed down, Colombia's defense, interior and foreign ministers held a public forum in Bogota, the capital, on Wednesday to discuss details of the plan.

"We are deepening cooperation agreements that already exist in our common struggle against narco-trafficking and terrorism," said Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez, who framed the accord as a means of making the war on drugs more "efficient and stronger."

MapU.S. Embassy officials declined to comment, but a source who asked not to be named, citing the sensitivity of the issue, said the agreement could be ready by mid-August. Colombia annually receives more than $500 million in mostly military aid under Plan Colombia, the U.S. program to combat terrorism and drugs.

The base plan has been derided by some analysts and opposition Colombian politicians, including presidential candidate Rafael Pardo, as a surrender of national sovereignty at a time when the country should be charting a more independent course.

More:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-ecuador-airbase16-2009jul16,0,4518616.story

[excess_3]

15. President o'Bush ... what a rascal

[Judi Lynn]

16. What are you gibbering about? Bush isn't mentioned in the article. Not even close.

Why not wait until you have something relating to the subject to say FIRST before commenting.

[excess_3]

17. President Obama, or o'Bush in my sarcasm, seems to be ...

continuing Bushes war on drugs.

very sad

[saigon68]

19. O'Bush-- haven't heard that before

Yikes

I didn't know he was Irish

[Alamuti Lotus]

21. He actually is, partly

One branch of his family tree can be placed to Moneygall, Ireland.

I prefer 'Bushama', personally.

[saigon68]

22. Yes, you are correct

Thx for the info-- I wonder if his BRANCH celebrates St Patrick's day OR the Battle of the Boyne?

THE MARCHING SEASON STARTED LAST WEEK.

[Javaman]

23. Take off point for Honduras. nt