cannabisnews.com: Bush Praises Colombian President for Standing Tall Bush Praises Colombian President for Standing Tall Posted by FoM on April 18, 2002 at 12:06:52 PT By Carolyn Skorneck, Associated Press Writer Source: Associated Press President Bush praised Colombian President Andres Pastrana on Thursday for "standing strong" against narcotics traffickers and terrorists. He urged Congress to let the South American nation use U.S. helicopters and other equipment in its fight against insurgents. "He fights terrorism -- he fights well-organized, well-funded groups that are out to destroy democracy in Colombia," Bush said after his Oval Office meeting with Pastrana. "He has been strong in his support for democracy not only in his own country, but in the region." The president has asked Congress to remove restrictions that prevent Colombia from using helicopters and other U.S. anti-drug aid to fight leftist guerrillas. Congress imposed the limits to avoid having the United States become entangled in a larger war. Bush also is seeking $133 million to help Colombia stop guerrilla attacks on an oil pipeline, reduce kidnappings and rebuild bombed police stations, $439 million in longer-term aid, and $35 million in emergency anti-terrorism support. Congressional leaders, who met with Pastrana on Wednesday, generally backed the Bush proposal, a departure from previous U.S. policy. "My predisposition is to be very supportive," Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said. "President Pastrana especially has done an outstanding job in leading his country through some very difficult times." House Speaker Dennis Hastert said he would push to let U.S. military equipment be used against Colombian rebels as well as drug traffickers. He and Pastrana described Colombia as another battlefield in the global war on terrorism. "Terrorism is terrorism, whether it's narco-terrorism or terrorism against a government," said Hastert, R-Ill. "We have a common enemy that is narco-terrorism," Pastrana said Wednesday. "In the last weeks, the last months, that is what we have had in our country and that is why we are asking the support of the United States to fight narco-terrorism, the support of the world to fight this common enemy, with its violence financed by drugs." Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden said he was "inclined to support" Bush's proposal on the military equipment. And it might not even require new legislation, he said, since the State Department has designated the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC, a terrorist organization. Peace talks with FARC collapsed in February. Recently, bombings blamed on FARC have hit major cities and targeted Pastrana's likely successor in the May 26 elections, Alvaro Uribe, who has pledged to crack down on terror. On Capitol Hill, a skeptical Rep. Sonny Callahan, R-Ala., asked Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage on Thursday why the administration wants $35 million for emergency anti-terror aid for Colombia, and what Colombia has to do with the war on terrorism. "We do believe this is part of the war on global terrorism," Armitage told the House Appropriations subcommittee on foreign operations. "We know ... FARC is targeting Americans, and not just targeting officials and infrastructure in Colombia." Rep. Steven Rothman, D-N.J., questioned whether $104 million proposed to protect a Colombian oil pipeline was really for that purpose or to build up its anti-insurgency forces. Possibly both, Armitage said. "They are in a real tussle ... for survival," he said. "We want to train another battalion that will effect that type of security. Could those forces be used in counterinsurgency? Absolutely. Could they also be used to protect the pipeline from insurgents? Absolutely." In his talks with Bush, Pastrana said he was asking Venezuela on Thursday whether the FARC is using the country as a staging ground against Colombia. "We need that information," Pastrana said. Bush expressed concern that FARC is acting against Venezuelan farmers who are not protected by that nation's government, which was nearly deposed in a coup last week. The U.S. president said FARC is clearly a terrorist group. Daschle expressed concern about the future impact of changing current policy, given that Pastrana is leaving office this year. "What will be the commitment of the new government?" he said. "What will be the intention of the Colombian government with regard to using their own forces? Why have we not been able to apprehend some of the FARC leaders yet?" The United States has given Colombia $1.7 billion in the past two years to further Pastrana's $7.5 billion, six-year, anti-drug Plan Colombia. Complete Title: Bush Praises Colombian President for 'Standing Tall' Against Terrorists, Drug TraffickersSource: Associated PressAuthor: Carolyn Skorneck, Associated Press Writer Published: Thursday, April 18, 2002 Copyright: 2002 Associated PressRelated Articles & Web Sites:Colombia Mobilizationhttp://www.colombiamobilization.org/Colombia Drug War Newshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/colombia.htm Congress Supports Bush Colombia Planhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12564.shtmlOrganizers of IMF Protest Object To Route http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12563.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by letsgetfree on April 19, 2002 at 08:09:43 PT bush democracy "He fights terrorism -- he fights well-organized, well-funded groups that are out to destroy democracy in Colombia," Bush said after his Oval Office meeting with Pastrana. "He has been strong in his support for democracy not only in his own country, but in the region." We all know Bush's plan for the "region" including Venezuela, and it's oil. Democracy? Democracy to them is everyone agreeing with their agendas. Venezuela is the silver lining, i can take hope from that. We all know that time is running out for the western lifestyle, they are going to try to take compleate control over our lives before the shit hits the fan. there isn't enough for everyone to live like bush cheney or an enron exec, so they're going make so only they can live like that.scary indeed. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Lehder on April 19, 2002 at 04:39:53 PT laugh... while you can, and don't be surprised when it becomes official. The threat is so great.... [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Lehder on April 19, 2002 at 04:33:31 PT amazing, p4me! I knew that they liked piss - and lots of it, but....These are some sick pups, these pfreaks. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by p4me on April 18, 2002 at 12:33:23 PT you won't believe it The police made good on their promise to raid the DE2 in Bournemouth today. They did not arrest anyone but did seize the portable potty outside to analyze its contents. You really need to read this thread by Cannabinol or Nol Van Sheik(sp). It is a good laugh. In case you don't read the link, Nol says he does not know about the situation of the person occupying the roo (their term) except he knows he is in deep shit. Jimmy Ward adds a chemical to the pot everyday that removes all traces of THC. I guess the police just want to piss away their budget.http://212.129.240.114/upload/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2646VAAI [ Post Comment ] Post Comment