Bush to Meet With Latin American Allies

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) is tacking on visits with two Latin American allies to his trip to Chile for a gathering of Asia-Pacific leaders later this month.

On his way back to the United States from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (news - web sites) summit, Bush plans a quick stop in Cartagena, Colombia, on Nov. 22 to meet with President Alvaro Uribe, the White House announced Friday.

The night before, Bush was remaining overnight in Santiago after the conclusion of the two-day summit for an official visit with Chilean President Ricardo Lagos.

Uribe, a conservative, is close to the Bush administration, which has funded his war on leftist rebels. His critics, however, say he has shown leniency toward banned right-wing paramilitaries who have waged a dirty war against the rebels.

The United States has given Colombia about $2.5 billion in anti-drug aid over four years, mostly to buy, fly and maintain helicopters and spray planes. The helicopters are used on drug-fighting missions, such as protecting spray planes that fumigate fields of coca and opium.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&ncid=693&e=1&u=/ap/20041112/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_latin_america

[Liberal Veteran]

1. We still have allies?

Who'd have thought?

[Say_What]

5. Only the ones who we bought and paid for

:D

[one_true_leroy]

9. my first thought, exactly!

[aquart]

2. Colombia and Chile? NOT Brazil?

Oh, that's smart.

[Say_What]

3. Chileans are not happy about Bush coming

A longtime DU reader :hi: who lived in Santiago for many years sent this email:

---

Well, tonight there was a protest already in downtown Santiago by about 200 people and about 30 were arrested. Police used a water cannon truck against them.

I have learned that about 200 non-governmental organization from throughout South and Central America are planning a parallel conference to the APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Conference) that the twice-unelected (I love saying that) Chimp will be attending.

The Chilean government today (Wednesday) announced what amounts to a "free-speech zone" in Santiago, something totally unheard of in that country. Sounds like the Bushistas have been at work down there.

It would limit anti-Chimp protest to one block on the Alameda, the main boulevard in Santiago that goes past the La Moneda Palace where Bush will visit. (To many Chileans it is obscene that Chimp will be in the same palace where Allende gave his life to protect Chilean democracy in 1973, when the Chimp was in the Texas Air National Guard avoiding Vietnam.)

A meeting is set for today (Thursday) at the Interior Ministry with the representives of the 200 NGOs to allow a wider protest that had been agreed on before.

I think the outcome of the meeting is irrelevant, because the protest will go on no matter what happens.

Fyi we sent emails to a couple of friends in Santiago to keep us totally appraised of what will be happening.

They are so insulted that the MONO (Spanish for monkey) is going to be stepping on their soil. One of them is a young student who has applied to attend MIT. The young man is a genius, speaks about six languages and is a math guru ... and guess what, he detests el MONO.

[maddezmom]

4. * will probably be on a Navy ship in port

perhaps another photo op :shrug:

[Artemis Bunyon]

6. Who's that? The guys who sold him cocaine in the 70's?

?

[leesa]

7. Columbia has got to be the only one.

Our very own cocaine store.

[medeak]

8. Plotting to take over Venezuala?

most likely since Bush wasn't successful unseating president in election... they are largest oil producer after all

[Say_What]

12. Chavez and Uribe Discuss Oil Pipeline from Venezuela to the Pacific Ocean

Unless US LapDog Uribe is keeping Hugo off guard for Tio Sam, there many soon be an oil pipeline from Venezuela to the Pacific. Hugo took advantage of the summit to clarify that he in no way supported the Colombian guerrilla group, the FARC. “We reassure the Colombian peoeple that they should not believe the lie that they repeat in the North…”

<clips>

Chavez and Uribe Discuss Oil Pipeline from Venezuela to the Pacific Ocean

Caracas, November 10, 2004 - Yesterday night Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez met with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in Cartagena de las Indias to strengthen relations between the countries and discuss the possibility of constructing an oil pipeline through Colombia via el Río Meta.

The pipeline would stretch over 1,000 kilometers, (625 miles), connecting the Venezuelan city of Maracaibo with the Colombian Pacific province of Chocó.

Venezuela, the world’s fifth largest producer of oil, is looking to diversify its markets. The International Energy Agency has projected a 15% increase in Chinese demand for oil. It has also been forcasted that Japanese consumption will rise. Ivan Orellana, Venezuela’s governor to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, commented that the projected increase in demand justifies higher shipping costs to the Asiatic countries.

As it stands, 60% of the Venezuelan crude oil is sold to the US via the Panama Canal. According to Julio César Vera, a Colombian Mines Ministry Oficial, the proposed agreement with Colombia would not only allow Venezuela to export to a greater number of countries but it would also create a route capable of accomodating even the largest of oil tankers.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1415

[medeak]

13. lots of dynamics going on n/t

[Minstrel Boy]

10. Interesting: Putin will be meeting with Lula in Brazil at the same time.

Nov 21-23.

Editorial in an Indian paper speculating on Putin cobbling together a bloc of Russia, China, India and Brazil to counter US hegemony:

http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/11-10-04.asp

[medeak]

11. very interesting!

thanks for that

[bemildred]

14. Chinese bigshot wandering around Latin America too.

What a coinkydink.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

15. interesting. I guess Putin wants it both ways then.

Putin is scum!