Colombia, U.S. sign military cooperation deal

[Joanne98]

Source: Reuters


BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia and the United States signed a pact on Friday increasing U.S. access to military bases in the South American country, deepening its standing as Washington's main ally in the region.

Left-leaning leaders in neighboring countries object to the deal, which gives U.S. troops access to seven bases in an effort to boost anti-drug and counter-insurgency operations.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says the pact will destabilize the region and could set the stage for a U.S.-led invasion of his oil-rich country, a claim that Bogota and Washington dismiss.

"The pact is based on the principles of total respect for sovereign equality, territorial integrity and not intervening in the internal affairs of other states," said a statement issued by Colombia's foreign ministry.

U.S. and Colombian officials say the American military presence in the Andean country will not exceed caps previously set by the U.S. Congress of 800 military personnel and 600 contractors.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE59T1S720091030

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Well no more than 600 contractors! I'm sure glad Hillary got the message about staying OUT OF Latin America's business!

[unhappycamper]

1. Great!

More bases to launch CIA attacks from.

[Grinchie]

2. It's always nice to be able to retreat to a secure compund after fomenting revolution

You're doing a heckuva job Obama/Clinton/DLC/Haliburton

[LaPera]

3. The CIA & US military are determined to illegaly oust elected Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez

The corporations whom the CIA works for, represents, as well as does all the corporations imperialistic deeds & dirty work, while hundreds of billions of dollars from OUR tax dollars funds the CIA.

The oil corporations (just like in Iraq) want those massive Venezuelan oil fields for themselves and not have to pay for the oil via Venezuela taxes, only pay-offs to whichever right-wing puppet the CIA installs.

As we seen for years the oil companies keep all their "liberated oil for their own profits while gouging American workers and consumers at the pumps....That's why the bases and more US military....

Fuck, it's NOT about drugs, that's our military's excuse....the republicans already own that drug Columbian cartel.

It's all about oil and getting rid of a progressive (Chavez) from the region for imperialism and as they have for centuries keep the peasants dumb & poor slave worker (just as the republicans want to do us in our country).

[ChangoLoa]

10. You're underestimating Venezuelans

by saying that we could end up being ruled by a US puppet, giving away our oil to the Americans and not being able to overthrow such an anti-Venezuelan government. It also shows that you're a bit misinformed about our history.

[ronnie624]

12. LaPera's message

addresses the history of U.S. involvement in all of Latin America, of which there is an extensive and richly detailed record. His brief assessment is in fact accurate.

The policy goals of the U.S. government regarding Latin America have always been to control resources, markets and labor, and to maintain regional strategic hegemony, with the CIA since its creation, leading the way in the achievement of those goals through covert war and terrorism. You can't study the history of any country in the region without factoring in this overarching part of the story.

If you really believe the United States doesn't have an extensive history of installing and maintaining client governments in Latin America, then it is you who has been misinformed, even about the history of your own country.

There are many good books on the subject of how the U.S. foreign policy establishment maintains corporate empire. John Perkins, Stephen Kinzer, Noam Chomsky and Naomi Klein are a few authors that come to mind.

[Mudoria]

4. Thank you Colombia

[LaPera]

5. For what?

[AlphaCentauri]

6. Thats what you do when you get a Novel peace prize

spread the military?

[excess_3]

7. feel the love .nt

[G_j]

8. kick

[classysassy]

9. Attention

ammo and arms merchants of death,we are doing this for you,so don't forget those campaign bucks,we need them to keep getting reelected so we can keep you in business.Again thank you,oh by the way would you please wipe the blood off the money before sending it,ty as always your trusted partner in crime.

[David Zephyr]

11. Was this in the makings during the Bush/Cheney term?

This is troubling on many dimensions.