Why is Bush's Sec. of War, Gates, mucking around in US/Colombia trade bidness?

[Judi Lynn]

Def. Sec'y Gates makes Colombia trade pitch as part of bid to strengthen Latin American ties

ANNE FLAHERTY

Associated Press Writer

3:14 p.m. EDT, April 15, 2010
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BOGOTA (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday pushed for a stronger trade relationship with Colombia as part of his efforts to solidify support for the United States in a region where rival countries, both friends and foes, are attempting to expand their influence.

Iran is trying to expand its influence in the region, and Russia and China are making commercial inroads.

Gates said he hopes to see a "renewed effort" to finalize a free trade agreement with Colombia, which he hailed as a "linchpin of security and prosperity in South America."

"It's a good deal for Colombia. It's also a good deal for the United States," Gates said.

Gates' remarks followed meetings with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Defense Minister Gabriel Silva, where he said the issue was raised.

President Barack Obama has pushed to advance free trade with Colombia, even discussing the matter last year with Uribe at the White House. More broadly, Obama has outlined a plan that he says would double trade in the next five years and also support 2 million American jobs.

But the issue has been tricky politically, where lawmakers are skeptical that free trade agreements won't cost American jobs.

A free trade agreement with Colombia in particular, already negotiated under President George Bush, has stalled in Congress. Backed by union supporters, congressional Democrats say allegations of violence against labor leaders must be addressed first, as well as more guarantees that such an agreement won't hurt the U.S. economy.

More:
http://www.courant.com/business/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-lt-gates-colombia-trade,0,843182.story

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The sober ones among us ALL notice the corporate news whores ALWAYS try to bury any mention of the Colombian government's FILTHY human rights history up unto the very minute we communicate.

[rabs]

1. You ask why -- Because Gates has a new "great hero"

Amb. Billy Brownfield and Bobby Gates in Bogota last week.



Uribe is a great hero: Gates

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe is a "great hero," said U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday after landing in Bogota for an official visit to Colombia.

“Uribe, in my view, is a great hero and has been an enormously successful president of Colombia,” Gates told reporters who were traveling with him.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/9163-uribe-is-a-great-hero-gates.html

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Seems like Gates is not only acting as secretary of defense, but also secretary of commerce and secretary of state (wonder why Hillary thinks of Gates going around, as you say, "mucking around" on her turf :rofl:

Gates just might have a surprise handed to him by the Colombian Constitutional Court in the next few weeks/months over the legality of U.S. military troops and mercenaries on Colombian territory.

Btw, noted the story is bylined by a reporter who travels around with Gates and she probably knows less than squat about Colombia. And if the lapdog journalists did know something about Colombia, they probably would not dare to challenge Gates on Uribe's murderous record.

Oh well ...