Short video report on US military build-up in Colombia.

[Judi Lynn]

I have no doubt whatsoever this is causing unnatural physical excitement within the small troll community here.

For the video, see this link:

US military to set up in Colombia
Hylton: Rest of South America has reason to be alarmed by future US military presence on Colombian bases


With the hemisphere fixated on the coup d'etat in Honduras, the Colombian military announced it would be opening up some of its military bases to be shared with the US military. This caused immediate condemnation from the leadership of Colombia's neighbors, Ecuador and Venezuela. Forrest Hylton, expert on Colombian affairs, believes that the two countries are justified in their reservations about the move, given the potential the base offers and the recent history of US surveillance activity in the region. On the other end, Hylton points out some discomforting activities in the Colombian military, an institution that is the fifth largest recipient of US military aid. With the US now seeking even deeper ties with that same military, Hylton concludes that "Colombia's increasing violations of human rights in its pursuit of counter-insurgency, doesn't seem to have any impact on the flow of US aid."

http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=4058

[IndianaGreen]

1. The only reason to put US troops in Colombia is to protect American hegemony

This has nothing to do with protecting the American people, or with counter-narcotics (if it did, we would have used the military on US soil a long time ago).

Perhaps Obama should do some reading on FDR's Good Neighbor Policy which, despite being a milder version of imperialism, is light years away from Reagan's Latin American policies which were continued under both Bushes, Clinton, and now Obama.

[Downwinder]

2. Better to talk to Gary Hart.

[subsuelo]

3. well, I'm not so sure about one thing

I'm not sure if "counter-narcotics" has anything to do with countering narcotics at all. Could be precisely the opposite.

[Downwinder]

4. Corporations call it price control.

[subsuelo]

5. Evil Hour in Colombia

anyone read that book?

[Judi Lynn]

6. Not yet, but have been planning to read it. Have you read it, yet? n/t

[subsuelo]

7. No I have not. It looks interesting on the Verso books page

Touted as "The most up-to-date book on Colombia: from the mid-19th century to today’s guerrilla narco-traffickers and paramilitaries."

http://www.versobooks.com/books/ghij/h-titles/hylton_colombia.shtml

[Judi Lynn]

8. Looks too good to miss. I've heard the author's name a lot, and the man who recommended it, too. n/t