cannabisnews.com: US Seeks To Help Colombian Troops Defend Pipeline





US Seeks To Help Colombian Troops Defend Pipeline
Posted by FoM on February 05, 2002 at 20:06:42 PT
By Jason Webb 
Source: Reuters
The United States wants to train and equip Colombian troops to defend a key oil pipeline, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday, unveiling plans to turn U.S. aid more directly against rebels fighting a 38-year-old war. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman said the Bush administration would ask Congress for $98 million to strengthen a Colombian army brigade to guard the 490-mile Cano Limon pipeline, whose oil field is operated by U.S. firm Occidental Petroleum Corp. 
The aid, which would likely include helicopters, comes on top of already massive U.S. assistance limited to wiping out cocaine and heroin production in the Andean nation. Grossman said helping protect the Cano Limon -- a favorite target of leftist rebels -- was part of Washington's commitment to help Colombians create a "terror-free democracy." "The war on terrorism will require every bit of state policy and every tool available to the state," Grossman told a news conference in Bogota as he wrapped up a three-day visit by a top-level U.S. delegation. The Bush administration sent to Congress on Monday a fiscal year 2003 budget that included funds for training a second anti-drug brigade as part of a 14 percent increase in anti-narcotics spending in the Andean region. Of the $731 million proposed for the regional effort, $439 million was for Colombia. Wary of getting dragged into a conflict that has claimed 40,000 lives in the past decade, the United States has not granted President Andres Pastrana's request for authorization to use U.S. anti-narcotics aid against guerrillas and far-right paramilitaries in non-drug operations. On Tuesday, Grossman said the new aid will be modeled on training provided for a Colombian army anti-narcotics brigade, whose progress has pleased Washington. RIGHTS GROUPS CALL FOR END TO U.S. AID Washington-based Human Rights Watch called on Tuesday for the United States to end military aid to Colombia because its armed forces have not cut links with paramilitary outlaws. Grossman said the U.S. government will study the report. Keeping Cano Limon running will help Bogota fight the rebels at a critical time for struggling 3-year-old peace talks and provide money for funding its own war effort. Each day the country's second-largest oil pipeline is out of action, the Colombian government loses $2.3 million from oil sales alone. The 120,000-barrel-a-day duct, which is currently not in operation due to repairs, was bombed 170 times last year and has already been bombed at least 13 times in 2002. It is targeted by both the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia -- known by the Spanish initials FARC -- and the smaller National Liberation Army, or ELN, as part of extortion campaigns. The two rebel groups are dubbed "terrorist organizations" by the United States. The United States also wants to ensure oil supplies in the Andean region -- its second largest source of oil imports outside the volatile Middle East, officials said. Newshawk: JR Bob DobbsSource: Reuters Author: Jason Webb Published: February 05, 2002 Copyright: 2002 Reuters UnlimitedRelated Articles & Web Sites:Human Rights Watchhttp://www.hrw.orgColombia Drug War Newshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/colombia.htmDrug War Revised in Colombia http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11916.shtmlWhen War is Over, Oil Dealers Will Be Winners http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11081.shtmlOil Rigged - Americas.orghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8691.shtmlFor All the Oil in Colombia http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8664.shtml 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #2 posted by mayan on February 06, 2002 at 14:51:18 PT
Like Afghanistan Eh?
If the U.S. Government can wipe out the FARC & the indigenous people, we will be able to suck all of their oil from the earth. Sounds like Afghanistan doesn't it?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by Dark Star on February 06, 2002 at 10:22:24 PT
What It is Really About
"the Bush administration would ask Congress for $98 million to strengthen a Colombian army brigade to guard the 490-mile Cano Limon pipeline, whose oil field is operated by U.S. firm Occidental Petroleum Corp.There you have it. It's about oil, and supporting multinational corporate thugs. Occidental Petroleum is responsible for ecological terrorism in South America, and deserves no support from American taxpayers. 
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment