Robert Gates does Colombia, Peru; calls for more bases, free trade

[Judi Lynn]

Robert Gates does Colombia, Peru; calls for more bases, free trade

Submitted by WW4 Report on Sun, 05/09/2010 - 23:50. The Obama administration sought to boost security ties with hemispheric allies last month as Defense Secretary Robert Gates traveled to Peru, Colombia, and Barbados. Before kicking off his tour in Lima, Gates and met with Brazil's Defense Minister Nelson Jobim at the Pentagon April 12, to sign the two countries' first bilateral defense pact since 1977. In Bogotá, Gates voiced support for the stalled US-Colombia FTA. "I would hope we would be in a position to make a renewed effort to get ratification of the free trade agreement," Gates said. "It is a good deal for Colombia; it is also a good deal for the United States."

Gates arrived in Colombia on April 14, where he met with President Álvaro Uribe and Defense Minister Gabriel Silva—and credited Colombia with being an "exporter of security" for supporting Mexican and Peruvian anti-narcotics efforts and sending troops to Afghanistan. Gates also pledged that, no matter who wins the country's May 30 presidential elections, Washington will continue to provide Colombia with aid. Uribe's former Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos currently polls as the frontrunner, but the Green Party's Antanas Mockus has had a recent surge of support.

Despite Gates' strong show of support in Bogotá, a wiretapping scandal linked to Colombia's DAS secret police agency sparked a US aid hiccup that same week. Washington responded to the charges by temporarily suspending aid to DAS, though the funds were to be transferred to other Colombian agencies, such as the National Police. The Colombian government issued a statement denying that it authorized the illegal wiretapping, and pledging plans to restructure the DAS. US Ambassador William Brownfield said funding would be reinstated for the new intelligence agency.

A deal signed last year between Washington and Bogotá gave the US military access to seven Colombian bases. Both Gates and his hosts stressed that the accord is aimed at helping Colombia's fight against drug-trafficking and armed groups, and is not an infringement of Colombian sovereignty. The accord must still pass muster with Colombia's Constitutional Court, because it was not approved by the country's congress.

Gates' Colombia stop was bookended by visits to Peru and Barbados. Arriving in Lima April 13, he met with President Alan García and Defense Minister Rafael Rey to discuss cooperation in Peru's fight against drug trafficking and terrorism. Gates described Peru as a "constructive influence" in South America and recommended that Peruvian military officials take advantage of human rights training provided by the US and Colombian militaries. (Sic)

http://www.ww4report.com/node/8592

[EFerrari]

1. Why is this BushCo fixer spreading destruction in Latin America?

I thought we had an election. :puke:

[protocol rv]

2. Destruction?

He's putting in place blocking moves to make sure terrorism doesn't spread out. Chavez and Castro have chosen confrontation with the USA, and it's evident they're now moving their chess pieces to block those two. And when the US steam roller rolls, it has a tendency to be very mindless and ruthless. And it has nothing to do with Obama - the US elites see their interests threatened, and they respond, democrats, republicans, whatever. This is really peanuts for the US, they can spend less than 1 % of their arms budget in Latin America, and that's enough to block Chavez et al. The problem, of course is the war is fought here, in Latin America. So we are the ones who pay.

[Bacchus39]

3. yeah, there is no reason to work with Chavez, Correa, or Morales

and of course the "new" Cuban leadership. frankly, those leaders don't mean much to the US in the grand scheme of things.

Obama seems to have simply decided to keep friendly relations with those countries that are friendly, better relations where he can like Argentina, Chile, and Brazil., and then simply ignore the irrational homophobic chicken hating cockroach eaters.

[bemildred]

4. "take advantage of human rights training provided by the US and Colombian militaries"

Yup, nothing quite like the military to teach you about human rights. History is real clear about that.

[protocol rv]

5. I've always wanted to shove "Colateral Damage" down a US general's throat

It's just my imagination, but I see a large styrofoam cut out with those words being slowly pushed down a US general's throat, one of those with the chest full of medals like General Clark, the one who ran for President. And I see myself like the Terminator, looking at the guy as he gags on it. Just a way to vent some steam, I'm not really violent, and I'm more known for my classic humor pieces. :-)