U.S. affirms assistance in espionage investigation in Colombia

[Judi Lynn]

U.S. affirms assistance in espionage investigation in Colombia
08:56, May 12, 2010

The government of the United States affirmed on Tuesday that it is ready to assist the Colombian justice in investigation of alleged illegal espionage by Colombia's secret service against officers, political leaders of opposition and journalists.

U.S. ambassador to Colombia William Brownfield said, "If Colombia's internal investigation requests collaboration of the U.S. police authorities, we are 100 percent ready to collaborate."

Brownfield said that his country has reaffirmed military assistance meant to redress malpractice by the Colombian Administrative Department of Security (DAS, secrete service) after media exposure of illegal espionage carried out by it.

The Colombian government is reportedly studying the possibility of closing the DAS after the espionage scandal. The Colombian Prosecutor's Office on Monday announced a plan to bring five former officers of the DAS to justice, who will be impeached for illegal espionage.

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90852/6981912.html

[rabs]

1. It was not me !!

"One thing is to ask for results, as I ask for them, and other thing is to ask that things be done badly, that the law be violated." -- alvarito

alvarito today again denied he had ordered the "chuzadas" (wire tapping). It seems that every few days he has to deny it over and over again. So where there is smoke ....

Five former high-level functionaries were called to testify yesterday (Monday) and the possibility that alvarito will be called to give testimony is still open.

http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/articulo-202636-uribe-reitera-nunca-ordeno-chuzadas

[rabs]

2. Brownfield is on his way out

Don't know if the MSM carried it, but Brownfield's term in Bogota will be over this summer.

Obama last week nominated the current U.S. ambassador to Peru, Peter Michael Mckinley, to replace Brownfield (he who signed the bases accords in semi-secrecy last October) in Colombia. Senate ratification is pending.


P. Michael McKinley
Ambassador of the United States of America
Lima, Peru

On June 28, 2007, the United States Senate confirmed career Foreign Service Officer Peter Michael McKinley to serve as Ambassador to Peru.
Ambassador McKinley previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d' Affaires at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels between 2004 and 2007. From 2001-2004, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. Between 1994 and 2001, Ambassador McKinley was Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d' Affaires at U.S. Embassies in Mozambique, Uganda, and Belgium. Earlier assignments include U.S. Embassy London (1990-94), three tours in Washington (1985-90), and Bolivia (1983-85). Ambassador McKinley joined the Foreign Service in 1982.
Ambassador McKinley was born in Venezuela and grew up in Brazil, Mexico, Spain, and the United States. He did his undergraduate and graduate studies in the United Kingdom, and has a doctorate from Oxford University. His history of colonial Venezuela was published by Cambridge University Press as part of its Latin America series, and has also appeared in a Spanish edition.
Ambassador McKinley is married to the former Fatima