McCain to visit Colombia next month

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

McCain to visit Colombia next month
By GLEN JOHNSON – 10 hours ago

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Tuesday he wants to show his support for Colombia's anti-drug efforts and a pending free-trade agreement with the U.S. by visiting the South American ally.

In announcing the trip and citing his friendship with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, the Arizona senator sought contrasts with his Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.

McCain said Obama opposes U.S. anti-drug aid for the world's largest producer of cocaine and also is against the free-trade agreement, despite having described himself as a proponent of free trade.

McCain said his campaign committee would pay for the trip south — specific travel dates were not announced for security reasons — just as it did last week when he flew north to deliver an economics speech in Canada.

His staff committed one mistake in announcing the trip, though, repeatedly misspelling the country as "Columbia."



Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ir-vR3IW8RJzPo4z3u4XFDd4_LKwD91GNE8O0

[Solly Mack]

1. maybe it's just me but...

"...U.S. anti-drug aid for the world's largest producer of cocaine..."

snicker

How's that aid working out?

LMAO

[Lasher]

2. Colombia has more terrorist attacks than any other country on earth.

And McLame just has to go there. Not prudent, IMO.

And why does he need to campaign for president in other countries? I wish we could do something about the inordinate influence other nations have on our elections.

[Acadia Blue]

12. All the members of the international fascist society stick together

[dipsydoodle]

3. Columbia !

Must be a record :rofl:

[hlthe2b]

7. McLame thought they meant Columbia, Missouri...

and he said "SURE!" I'll go there to flesh out that trade ageement and meet with the anti-drug folks in law enforcement!

[dipsydoodle]

8. Some of these spellings are a bit confusing

I must confess that if Judi hadn't now logged the correct spelling of the Latin American country into my brain on this occasion I may have made the same mistake myself in the future. :hi:

[rambler_american]

4. It'd be a nice gesture

if he picked up a little something for Cindy while he's there. Y'know, to maybe make up for calling her a cunt and all.

[Judi Lynn]

5. McCain to Travel to Colombia to Talk About Trade, Drugs

June 24, 2008, 8:38 pm
McCain to Travel to Colombia to Talk About Trade, Drugs
Elizabeth Holmes reports from Costa Mesa, Calif., on the presidential race.

John McCain announced Tuesday that he will make a campaign trip to Colombia next week. The Republican presidential candidate is expected to talk about trade relations — a trade deal between the two countries is pending–and drug traffic from the Latin American country.

“It is a vital ally in our struggle against the scourge of drugs, a great amount of cocaine that comes into the United States of America as we know comes from Colombia,” the Arizona senator said during a press conference in Riverside, Calif.

McCain told reporters he has traveled to Colombia before, and he emphasized his strong relationship with President Alvaro Uribe. “I know the struggle that nation has undergone,” McCain said, adding that he was going there to thank Uribe for his efforts to strengthen the ties with the U.S.

More:
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/06/24/mccain-to-travel-to-colombia-to-talk-about-trade-drugs/



Uribe shows he can ride his horsie, and drink coffee at the same time.

[JI7]

6. first Canada and now Columbia, did McCain give up on US voters?

[hopewell1985]

11. Ya

He might win Alabama.

[merwin]

9. I'd bet money that he's down there to pick up some coke for W

[whistle]

10. Check out the CIA cocaine pipelines

[Judi Lynn]

13. Ecuador puts off Colombian ties

Page last updated at 04:38 GMT, Thursday, 26 June 2008 05:38 UK
Ecuador puts off Colombian ties

Mr Correa "indefinitely cancelled" re-establishing ties with Colombia
Ecuador's President Rafael Correa has said he will not restore diplomatic ties with Colombia until its president, Alvaro Uribe, leaves office in 2010.

It is the latest diplomatic salvo between the two countries since they broke off relations in March following a Colombian raid into Ecuador.

Colombian planes bombed a Farc camp near the border, killing 17 rebels, sparking a regional crisis.

The two countries had agreed to restore ties at a low level earlier this month.

More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7474652.stm

[Peace Patriot]

14. McCain wants some first hand experience at how they handle their "labor problem"

in Colombia.

Is that the "trade deal," ya think? They get $5.5 BILLION in military aid--and Monsanto to mow down their forests for them--and we get certain imports, including zany new methods for burying the body parts of uppity workers.

[superconnected]

15. Collecting data for his plan to make america a 3rd world country and a cartel

[Judi Lynn]

16. And now for a news "story" which seems to have been dictated by John McSame:

McCain to hold talks with Uribe in Colombia
Thursday, 26 June, 2008

Republican White House hopeful John McCain will travel to Colombia next week to meet President Alvaro Uribe and discuss a bilateral free trade pact Democrats have held up in Congress.

"This shows that Senator McCain knows Latin America, and shows how he is different from Barack Obama," campaign spokeswoman Hessy Fernandez said.

IN DEPTH: Visit our US Elections minisite

She said Mr McCain would travel to Colombia "next week," accompanied by Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, but did not give exact dates.
(snip)

Mr McCain supports the free trade deal; his Democratic rival, Mr Obama, does not.

More:
http://news.sbs.com.au/worldnewsaustralia/mccain_to_hold_talks_with_uribe_in_colombia_550310

[Judi Lynn]

17. Working to enforce a new FTA will undermine Plan Colombia, an overlooked point!

Our right-wing neo-grabby-greedy FTA lovers have missed this fine point altogether, but would they care, anyway? Get series!!!1!!1!!!!11!

Published: June 26, 2008 6:00 a.m. Letter (Web version): U.S. needs trade policy that creates jobs

Those who support a U.S.-Colombia trade deal ignore basic realities about Colombia’s government and about the agreement itself.

This pact rewards the government of President Alvaro Uribe, which has been linked to paramilitary death squads that killed more than 2,500 trade union members. More than 50 members of Colombia’s Congress are either in jail or being investigated for colluding with the death squads.

The deal itself is nothing but a series of giveaways and protections for multinational corporations. It provides incentives to outsource even more jobs that belong to Americans.

Lowering tariffs for U.S. producers sounds good, but Colombia’s middle class is too small to buy an appreciable amount of our manufactured goods.

The deal would undermine PLAN Colombia because Colombia’s farmers can’t compete against subsidized U.S. farm products. The Colombia FTA would force them back to coca production, which PLAN Colombia tries to prevent. It’s not just a few blue-collar workers who are hurt by these so-called “free trade agreements” but entire communities.

More:
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080626/EDIT09/806260392