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| House Approves Resolution Calling For More US Aid |
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Posted by FoM on March 07, 2002 at 11:45:47 PT By Jim Burns, CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer Source: CNSNews.com 
The House has approved a resolution calling on President Bush to expand U.S. involvement in Colombia, which is bogged down in civil war. Recently, peace talks between the Colombian government and the Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (known as FARC) collapsed and the fighting intensified. Many in Congress see cooperation with Colombian President Andres Pastrana as the key to ending the war. But Pastrana is expected to lose Colombia's May presidential election. Colombia is one of the biggest recipients of U.S. aid, but under current law, that aid can be used only to fight drug trafficking. Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-N.Y.), former chairman of the House International Relations Committee, believes a change in U.S. policy is needed because the Colombian civil war is threatening American national interests. "Bogota, the capital of Colombia, is only three hours from Miami," said Gilman. "The FARC has attacked cities, towns, police stations, bridges, dams and power lines all across Colombia since the peace talks ended last month. Let there be no mistake, the FARC are terrorists, financed with illicit drug money," he said. Gilman thinks America needs to restore "clarity" to its foreign policy towards Columbia. "We must provide the anti-kidnapping, Colombian police units with helicopters to rescue victims, including Americans, in the often hard-to-reach terrain, and U.S. aid to the Colombian military should be anti-terrorist assistance," he said. But Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.) disagrees. He was the only House member to speak out against the resolution on the grounds that Colombia could turn into another Vietnam. "Let us not hide behind euphemisms. A so-called war on terrorism in Colombia is simply a set of codes words for the U.S. to become even more deeply engaged in a counterinsurgency war that has been going on for nearly 40 years," McGovern said. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer, speaking on Wednesday, said the Bush administration remains engaged in talks with members of Congress about Colombia. "There are many members of Congress who have some thoughts about whether that law should be changed. The administration will talk to those members. I can't indicate to you the administration has reached any conclusions yet, but Complete Title: House Approves Resolution Calling For More US Aid To Colombia Source: CNSNews.com Related Articles & Web Site: Colombia Drug War News Hill Stance on Colombia Aid Shifts Plan Colombia: This Will Be Worse Than Vietnam Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #6 posted by goneposthole on March 08, 2002 at 06:56:36 PT |
| He confutes the Bush administration. Ostenibly, the argument proposed by Rep. Gilman resorts to the terrorism card. The real reason behind all of this talk of war is money. Money not meant for you or anyone else outside of their circle. Why should Colombia allow her resources to be tapped without fair return? Occidental Petroleum plans on hauling it away, they can pay the Government of Colombia 51% of the revenue from the oil it extracts. Iraq receives 51% of the revenue from oil extracted from Iraqi soil. The wants, needs and desires of the people of Colombia are to be addressed before the profits of Occidental Petroleum. This can all be done peacefully. Rep. McGovern's argument trumps Rep. Gilman's, and peace can be the dividend. Prohibition does not work. Legalize [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by MikeEEEEE on March 07, 2002 at 18:29:29 PT |
| I always find it amazing how out of touch the government really is with the people, and the people with government. I doubt 5% of the US even knows about what's happening in Columbia. Al least one sane person in Congress has a brain.
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Comment #4 posted by Kevin Hebert on March 07, 2002 at 14:09:12 PT:
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| If they really wanted to stop drug money going to FARC, they could let American farmers grow the cocaine here. Either way, coke users are going to get their coke. However, the current situation funnels the money to terrorists, while growing it here would enrich the American farmer. How can they justify helping terrorists over farmers? I called Congressman McGovern at (202) 225-6101
to thank him for speaking out against this nonsense and was pleased to speak to a real person. It's never bad to say thanks when someone does the right thing in Congress, and these days opportunities to do that are few and far between. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by MikeEEEEE on March 07, 2002 at 13:53:33 PT |
| This is major step back for human rights and $$$. They'll never win a jungle war. Slow escalation, more investment; sound familiar? Get ready for a Vietnam style war. [ Post Comment ] |
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