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| U.S. Considers Helping Colombia |
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Posted by FoM on February 22, 2002 at 08:28:33 PT By George Gedda, Associated Press Writer Source: Associated Press 
The Bush administration, eager to help the Colombian military's escalating war with leftist rebels, is contemplating increased intelligence sharing and a speedup in the delivery of spare parts for U.S. helicopters. Senior officials said, however, that no combat role is envisioned for U.S. forces in Colombia, and they noted that Congress has imposed sharp limits on U.S. involvement in the country's long-running civil war. The State Department said late Thursday it ``understands and supports'' Colombia's decision to suspend 3-year-old peace talks with the country's largest rebel group and to undertake military operations. Without giving details, department spokesman Richard Boucher said the administration is ``looking at specific ways to continue to support Colombia during this difficult period.'' White House spokesman Sean McCormack, in Beijing with President Bush, was asked if U.S. military action is possible. He replied: ``We are mindful of the legal constraints on our assistance, which we will respect.'' Otto Reich, the State Department's top official for Latin America, said Thursday night a combat role for U.S. troops is out of the question. ``The Colombian government has not asked for them. In our opinion they are not necessary,'' he said in an interview with Telemundo, a U.S.-based Spanish-language television network. Reich said he was unaware of any consultation between the United States and Colombian governments before Thursday's events. The administration has been contemplating a more assertive role in the South American nation for several months, sensing that Colombian democracy was in trouble. Virtually all U.S. military aid for the past several years _ machine guns, combat helicopters and hundreds of military and civilian advisers--has been earmarked for Colombian counternarcotics efforts. The administration disclosed in early February that it wants $98 million to train and equip Colombian soldiers to protect an oil pipeline that has been repeatedly blown up by Colombian rebels. That would amount to an expansion of U.S. involvement. One official said the Colombian troops, once ready for action, could be used to protect other potential targets beyond the pipeline. The administration assistance request for Colombia this year is $537 million, mostly for fighting the illegal drug trade. The Bush administration, while questioning President Andres Pastrana's tactics, sympathizes with the challenge he faces as he deals with three armed insurgencies, two leftist groups known by their Spanish initials, FARC and ELN; and a rightist paramilitary group, the AUC. All are on the State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations. The main U.S. worry is the FARC, with which Pastrana had been trying to negotiate peace before calling off the effort Thursday. Boucher accused the FARC of increasing terrorist attacks since it negotiated on Jan. 20 a timetable with the government for peace talks. The U.S. military has a strong presence in Colombia. The Defense Department has about 250 armed forces personnel, 50 civilian employees and 100 civilian contractors in the country, according to Steve Lucas, spokesman for the U.S. Southern Command, based in South Florida. A senior official said no consideration is being given to allowing U.S. troops to accompany Colombian troops in the field. The official added that the law forbids use of any of the dozens of U.S. helicopters for activities other than counternarcotics. The administration may permit increased U.S.-Colombian aerial spraying of narcotics fields, which the Colombians have been seeking. This could impair the three guerrilla groups because all make money from the drug trade. Angered by perceived FARC intransigence, Pastrana launched air strikes and ordered 13,000 troops into territory that had been ceded to the guerrillas in 1998 to try to create an environment conducive to peace talks. Administration officials and human rights groups have been worried that that AUC paramilitary units will fill the void left by departing FARC forces in the zone and carry out attacks on the civilian population for supposed leftist sympathies. Colombian officials have told the administration they will make every effort to keep the AUC units out of the zone. On the Net: U.S. Southern Command: http://www.southcom.mil/home/ Source: Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site: Colombia Drug War News DEA Chief Says Colombian Crackdown Could Help More U.S. Aid To Colombia Urged as Peace Fails US Seeks To Help Colombia Defend Pipeline Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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Comment #6 posted by MANDI on June 03, 2002 at 10:32:42 PT:
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| I think some of our presidents viewsare wrong but we all need to be united if we are to beat terrorisim. WE WILL PROVIAL!!!!!! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by xxdr_zombiexx on February 24, 2002 at 04:52:57 PT |
| Check this story on Jane's... http://www.janes.com/regional_news/americas/news/fr/fr010329_1_n.shtml We are already actively fighting FARC in Columbia. Any decision to "help" is really a decision to BUILD UP FURTHER. Good Morrrrrrrning Viet Nam [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #4 posted by Jose Melendez on February 22, 2002 at 13:01:10 PT:
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"Our societal choice of the use of law, especially criminal law, as a major means of addressing drug use can have significant consequences. The approach has virtually saturated our criminal justice system with drug users and, perhaps, it may also have precluded the consideration of other policy alternatives to address the needs of drug users. We believe that insight can be gained from a more detailed and comprehensive analysis of what states are doing legislatively to address the drug problem."
From:llicit Drug Policies: Selected Laws from the 50 States ishttp://www.andrews.edu/BHSC/impacteen-illicitdrugteam/index.php[ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by DdC on February 22, 2002 at 12:36:30 PT |
| I am seriously doubting if America can end this exploitation and killing throughout the world by itself. Not many junkies can kick alone. Not the WoD or Prohibition or Colombia can end when the powers that be keep feeding it. Without outside intervention the status weird will remain. Either Crats or GOPers, neither acting as Americans. Enough evidence of the destruction the US has done in South America or to uncooperative citizens at home. The end of America is at hand. Whenever a country exist by cannabilising its citizenry its destruction is assured. 2 million behind bars and millions more homeless and hungry and millions earning below average wages can lead to only our end. No one listens to the reality over the sound of the coins dropping in their pockets. Escalate and profit on the bombs they drop in the name of protecting kids with Monsanto poisons and incarceration. Sick bastards they are. Die Unkle Scam, Die! Peace, Love and Liberty DdC Good Terrorists, Bad Terrorists: How Washington Decides Who's Who The Real Reason for US Aid to Colombia Stop the WoD on Colombians Digging and Warring for Fossil Fuels while Hempcar Tours America! Salient Facts: Biodegradable Cars Copter Stoppers Sikorsky Helisculpters Spraying Misery We're Being Shot At! WoD on the Environment U.S. Presence Grows in Andes Rights Group List Abuses by Guerrillas in Colombia Legalizing Abuses in Colombia Colombia: Drug 'Taxes' Fund Arsenals STOP THIS KILLING FOR DOLLARS Witness in Colombia OIL RIGGED: There’s something slippery about the U.S. drug war in Colombia. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #2 posted by Jose Melendez on February 22, 2002 at 08:41:47 PT:
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| from: :http://www.olywa.net/when/part06.html To further explore the direct damage caused from drugs, look at the deathrates per 100,000 drug users. The Figure 8 chart(A) on page 10, Deaths from Drug Use per 100,000 Drug Users, shows illegal drugs are statistically much safer than tobacco and alcohol. Of every 100,000 tobacco users, 600 die from it. For every 100,000 heroin users,(B) only about 80 die. Of every 100,000 alcohol users, about 150 die. For 100,000 cocaine users,(C) about 4 die. (D) Marijuana use spans centuries without a known death.
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Comment #1 posted by Jose Melendez on February 22, 2002 at 08:34:09 PT:
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| from: http://www.olywa.net/when/bib11.html
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