cannabisnews.com: Clinton Announces Visit to Colombia 





Clinton Announces Visit to Colombia 
Posted by FoM on August 04, 2000 at 22:21:08 PT
Reuters
Source: Washington Post
One month after promising $1.3 billion to help Colombia in its war on drugs, President Clinton said today that he will visit the country to support its efforts to crack down on drug production."I am pleased to announce I will travel on Aug. 30 to Colombia to meet with President Andres Pastrana and to personally underscore America's support for Colombia's efforts to seek peace, fight illicit drugs, build its economy and deepen democracy," Clinton said in a statement.
He said House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) will join him.Clinton's visit to the Andean nation--scarred by a long-running war involving communist guerrillas, ultra-right death squads, state security forces and cocaine traffickers--will be the first by a U.S. president since George Bush's visit in 1990.The trip will mark a high point in U.S.-Colombian relations. Under Pastrana's predecessor, ties between the two nations sank to an all-time low when Washington blacklisted Colombia as a pariah state over allegations that then-president Ernesto Samper had funded his 1994 election campaign with drug money.Colombian media reported that Clinton's visit is likely to last only a few hours and will be restricted to the coastal resort of Cartagena.Clinton said he has signed a directive ordering an intensified effort to aid "Plan Colombia"--Pastrana's plan to build a better future for his country."The Presidential Decision Directive complements and supports the $1.3 billion assistance package that I requested from Congress, and that Democrats and Republicans passed in a bipartisan spirit last month," Clinton said.The aid, including 60 helicopters to help deploy U.S.-trained army battalions, will back Pastrana's broad strategy to crack down on drug production, provide peasants with alternative crops, negotiate peace with leftist guerrillas and stimulate economic growth.Congress imposed a limit of 500 U.S. troops and 300 civilian contractors that can be in Colombia at any time. But the law allows the president to waive that cap for 90 days in the event of an "imminent involvement" of U.S. forces in hostilities.Contact: letterstoed washpost.com Feedback: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/edit/letters/letterform.htmEdgartown, Mass.Published: Saturday , August 5, 2000 ; A04 © 2000 The Washington Post Company Related Articles:U.S. Aid Plan Heats Up Colombia War http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6619.shtmlIn Colombia, Use of U.S. Antidrug Aid in Question http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6583.shtmlWashington's War On Colombia http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6100.shtmlDrug Control or Bio Warfare? http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5616.shtml CannabisNews Search - Colombiahttp://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=colombia 
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Comment #5 posted by Kanabys on August 06, 2000 at 10:32:34 PT
He'd better look out for.......
stray, high velocity, rebel lead.
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Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on August 05, 2000 at 08:06:36 PT:
A shame
he won't be visiting the crash site of Captain Jennifer Odom's plane to pay his respects, but instead will be lounging on a beach in Northern Colombia, shaking hands with another soon to be ousted puppet, who's beachfront property was bought and paid for by narco money.It's directly because of Klinton's fears for his 'legacy' that he has engaged in deepening the covert US presence in the Colombian Civil War. Because of him, Jennifer Odom and her crew died. All so a philandering, lying, hypocritical SOB can leave office with at least one 'attaboy' to his credit.Yessir, you have to admire Klinton's chutzpah. But not necessarily his priorities.
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Comment #3 posted by eaw on August 05, 2000 at 07:56:29 PT
pleasure to lie
"snorted but didnt comsume"
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Comment #2 posted by Rainbow on August 05, 2000 at 07:55:45 PT
A new revelation to me
Yea right tell me again it is not another Vietnam. They all lieCongress imposed a limit of 500 U.S. troops and 300 civilian contractors that can be in Colombia at any time. But the law allows the president to waive that cap for 90 days in the event of an "imminent involvement" of U.S. forces in hostilities.After the 90 day cap I am sure there is another 90 day cap then another. Hey we can not leave our men and women in Columbia un-protected. And hey we don't pay them enough to worry about anyhow. So what are all you worried about. Our people go down get killed and maimed and we recruit more and that will keep unemployment down and control the population growth.Our pols are sick sick sick. and bushy is one of them. I am sure all of you know that Cheney's company Haliburton had just received a huge oil contract in Columbia before he left and after the aid package was voted.Cheers and hopefully peace,Rainbow
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Comment #1 posted by MikeEEEEE on August 05, 2000 at 05:12:43 PT
Vacation Plans
I'm not surprised, Clinton is getting all this free vacation time before he leaves, he's the most traveled President, he knows he won't have this opportunity to travel this much again with tax payer money after they kick him out.
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