Obama denies U.S. creating military bases in Colombia

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Obama denies U.S. creating military bases in Colombia
5 mins ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Friday denied the United States is planning to set up military bases in Colombia as part of an upgraded security agreement with the South American nation.

"There have been those in the region who have been trying to play this up as part of a traditional anti-Yankee rhetoric. This is not accurate," Obama told Hispanic media reporters.

Leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez -- a persistent critic of Washington -- has said the enhanced U.S.-Colombian security plan could be a step toward war in South America. On Sunday, Chavez called on Obama not to increase the U.S. military presence in Colombia.

~snip~
The new security arrangement would allow the Pentagon to lease access to seven Colombian military bases for U.S. support in fighting drug traffickers and guerrillas involved in the cocaine trade.

The agreement would also increase the number of American troops in Colombia above the current total of less than 300 but not more than 800, the maximum permitted under the existing pact.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090807/wl_nm/us_colombia_usa_bases

[David__77]

1. There should be 0 US troops in Latin America.

As well as:

0 in Asia
0 in Africa
0 in Europe
0 in Australia.

US troops belong in the US.

[Lagomorph]

11. We have the military doing humanitarian work...

Which is OK by me, unless congress wants to equip the Peace Corps with a fleet of helicopter carriers and C-17's.

After Katrina, we learned that getting to the party before disaster hits is better than showing up two days late.

[EFerrari]

30. Now, that's a new one. Our military is now aiding the butcher Uribe

doing "humanitarian" work in Colombia?

I hope our military is as far away from this homocidal slime as possible. Watch as much of this report as you can and see the butchery Uribe's government is inflicting on the peoples of Colombia.

http://www.linktv.org/latinpulse

[ohio2007]

20. We also need to pull our peacekeeper troops out of the37 worldwide UN missions ? I'm all for that

[AlphaCentauri]

24. When republicans talk about small government

they never mention all those bases and military artifacts that are part of the government.

[Joanne98]

2. Leasing is the same as setting up.

[timeforpeace]

3. Too bad Hugo is stuck with all those antiquated tanks Putin sold him! LOL!

[EFerrari]

29. This thread is about Colombia. Are you more lost than usual?

[Judi Lynn]

4. Uribe arrives in Uruguay, newspaper warns President

Friday, August 07, 2009
Uribe arrives in Uruguay, newspaper warns President

Uruguayan left-wing newspapers put pressure on the government today as Colombian President Álvaro Uribe arrives to try to find support from Uruguayan President regarding his plan to let the US station military troops in Colombia.

"Supporting the Wide Front's (centre-left ruling party) historical stance against the decision to let the US build military bases in South America is a matter of national dignity", said the Uruguayan newspaper La República.

In an editorial published today, the newspaper warns that the whole region will have its eyes on Uruguay: "Uribe is travelling over the continent trying to justify his decision to let military forces of the world's most powerful country settle in Colombia, with the pretext of fighting drug trafficking," the newspaper emphasized.

The Colombian President is meeting with Uruguayan Vazquez as part of his tour in South America, trying to rally other country to his cause. Uribe is about to sign a deal with the United States, allowing the North-American country to station US military bases in Colombia as part of the war against drug-trafficking ion the region.

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/BreakingNews/View/8398

[Grinchie]

5. Obama should go down there personally and address these accusations

Obviously, there is a Military presence in Colombia, otherwise the people wouldn't be bitching about it.

How about Obama fly down to one the bases and take a look for himself, instead of taking Hillary's word for it?
"Traditional Anti-Yankee Rhetoric" -- Taken from straight from the script of Edward Bernays

People need to wake up and take account of the Continuity of Government we are seeing in regards to Obama's continuation of the Status Quo. Corporate Interests are at play in South America, simply because the resources are to rich and nuerous to live without, and the Oligarchs want complete control.

If we had unlimited, low cost energy, we could synthesize all of the raw materials we could ever need, but no, we need to mine every square inch, and destroy the earth until every last scrpa is refined, used up, and thrown in the trash heap.

[MasonJar]

6. Why is Obama doing any business with Columbia? They have the most obvious

right wing government on that continent. What's with Obama that he is always so anti-the-left? He surely did not talk that way during the primary season.

[EFerrari]

33. He's dealing with an entrenched right wing in State and at the Pentagon.

GIGO

[Zorro]

7. Why did you snip out these sentences?

...Obama said this was a myth.

"We have had a security agreement with Colombia for many years now. We have updated that agreement. We have no intent in establishing a U.S. military base in Colombia," Obama said.

"This is continuation of assistance that we had been providing them. We have no intention of sending large numbers of additional troops into Colombia, and we have every interest in seeing Colombia and its neighbors operate peacefully..."

[Judi Lynn]

10. Took up space, genius. I wanted to include the others.

Since we're limited to to the number of paragraphs we can use it's necessary to keep it brief. Since I was posting the article, I picked the snippets I wanted to highlight, as does everyone else.

Maybe DU should post a new rule requiring posters to ask YOUR advice on which paragraphs they can use in their original post.

Ordinarily posters with any interest in a topic DO go ahead and read the link, anyway. Are you claiming I'm trying to HIDE those paragraphs? I think your fellow tag-team right-winger has accused me of that, as well, once.

I'd like to thank you for any and all back seat posting you can offer. It really does help, and it showcases your spririt of closeness to your "fellow" DU'ers.

[Zorro]

12. Or perhaps DU should have a rule to post consecutive paragraphs

When starting an LBN thread. Most DU posters do, despite your implication otherwise.

Snipping around paragraphs is the type of omission that might get you convicted of a media crime in a future Venezuela.

[Judi Lynn]

15. More examples of typical exerting in posts. Surprising you are unaware of this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4003497

and another:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4004695

and another:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4004309

and another:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4005219

and another:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4002914

ETC.

If this still looks overwhelmingly confusing, or like some of that sinister commie stuff to you, I'll look for far, far more later, when I return.

[Zorro]

16. Are you disputing the assertion that most DU posters that initiate an LBN thread

post consecutive paragraphs? Hey, knock yourself out.

When you return, how about reporting what the snip vs. no-snip ratios are, OK?

[Judi Lynn]

17. Meaningless. Why don't you get a hobby? n/t

[Zorro]

18. I have a hobby.

Check my profile.

[bvar22]

21. So your "hobby"....

...is supporting brutal Right Wing Dictators in South America by disseminating corporate sponsored propaganda on the Internet?

You know, a lot of people get paid for that.
Have you though about turning Pro ?

[Zorro]

23. Apparently you have reading comprehension difficulties

Try reading my profile again with your eyes open this time.

[EFerrari]

27. Your hobby and profile is well known here. n/t

[EFerrari]

34. Bulleria. Once you have the link, it's up to you to follow up

and by now we know that the "media crime" bill was also bulleria.

Why you bother to forward this bs when it gets debunked every single time is a mystery. Or maybe, typical of your contributions to this forum.

[Zorro]

36. Who's promoting debunked BS?

You: "We do have plans to have 7 new bases in Colombia."

Obama: "We have had a security agreement with Colombia for many years now. We have updated that agreement. We have no intent in establishing a U.S. military base in Colombia. This is continuation of assistance that we had been providing them. We have no intention of sending large numbers of additional troops into Colombia, and we have every interest in seeing Colombia and its neighbors operate peacefully."

Now who knows more about the situation and what they're talking about? You, or Obama?

Here's a hint: it ain't you.

And your "contributions" to DU forums are well-known, since you reflexively defend any anti-US policy promoted by foreign political adversaries.

[EFerrari]

37. Posting yet a third time:

US official vows 'good explanation' for Colombia bases

by Yana Marull Yana Marull – Tue Aug 4, 5:34 pm ET

BRASILIA (AFP) – US President Barack Obama's national security advisor said Tuesday Washington will give a "good explanation" for plans to deploy US military units to bases in Colombia, after unease expressed in Latin America.

Retired general Jim Jones told reporters after meeting Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim in Brasilia that the goals of the agreement being negotiated allowing the use of the bases would be detailed.

The matter "will have a good explanation and a satisfactory outcome," he predicted to reporters as he began two days of talks with Brazilian officials on that and other defense issues.

Brazil and other Latin American nations, including Venezuela, Ecuador and Chile, expressed alarm at the announcement last month that the United States military would use and expand bases in Colombia.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090804/pl_afp/colombiausmilitarylatam_20090804213450

You know, calling someone AntiAmerican is not an argument. :hi:

[Zorro]

38. Obama gave a good explanation, but apparently you aren't listening

Hello? Hello?

[EFerrari]

39. Obama didn't explain anything. Apparently you weren't listening.

:)

[Zorro]

40. Sounded like a good explanation to me

But then, I'm not afflicted with unquestioning Hugo love.

[EFerrari]

41. You seem to be unafflicted with critical faculties of any kind.

The whole region does not want SEVEN NEW AMERICAN BASES in Colombia.

[Zorro]

42. Calling Obama a liar just reinforces the perception

that you're one of the most blissful posters on DU.

[EFerrari]

43. I'm perfectly comfortable criticizing the president

when he makes mistakes to my mind. The president must be, too, because he called for input both in his acceptance speech and in his inaugural address.

This is the DemocraticUnderground, not the Right Wing Lockstep and Bullshit Forwarding Teabag Underground. Maybe you're just lost, Zorro.

[Zorro]

44. Seems like I'm the one supporting Obama's policies on this issue, not you

So why do you mischaracterize the administration's Democratic position as "Right Wing Lockstep" and "Bullshit Forwarding Teabag"?

That doesn't make sense, but then coming from you, it's not surprising in the least.

[EFerrari]

45. How intimate are you with your straw man?

lol

[Zorro]

47. Your "logic" revealed

Support Democratic policies ≠ Democrat.

Consistently support foreign anti-US policies = Democrat.

No wonder the Republican caricature of Democrats gets traction.

[EFerrari]

48. If the Republican caricature gets traction here

it's because you forward it.

:hi:

[Flaneur]

14. Obama is playing semantics here.

The US is going to "lease" seven bases from Colombia, so no, we're not "establishing" them.

They are to replace the anti-drug (and what else?) base at Manta in Ecuador, who's nationalist president threw out the US military.

[Vidar]

19. Good catch & welcome to DU.

[EFerrari]

31. It's not accurate to call Correa a nationalist.

It's more accurate to say he doesn't want US troops on Ecuadorian soil. In fact, most regional leaders agree with him entirely.

[AlphaCentauri]

25. "operate peacefully" like if they were tools and instruments

Colombia is a country where people can't live in peace. Colombians don't understand that their problems are consequences of the consumption of drugs in other countries and they could fix them just by legalizing the drug market and let the other countries take care of their own addiction problem.

[EFerrari]

28. I wonder if the President has talked to Mr. Jones recently:

US official vows 'good explanation' for Colombia bases

BRASILIA (AFP) – US President Barack Obama's national security advisorsaid Tuesday Washington will give a "good explanation" for plans to deploy US military units to bases in Colombia, after unease expressed in Latin America.

Retired general Jim Jones told reporters after meeting Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim in Brasilia that the goals of the agreement being negotiated allowing the use of the bases would be detailed.

The matter "will have a good explanation and a satisfactory outcome," he predicted to reporters as he began two days of talks with Brazilian officials on that and other defense issues.

Brazil and other Latin American nations, including Venezuela, Ecuador and Chile, expressed alarm at the announcement last month that the United States military would use and expand bases in Colombia.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090804/pl_afp/colombiausmilitarylatam_20090804213450

[Mr. Sparkle]

8. Shouldn't the headline read "US has no plans to create military bases in Colombia " .

Whats up with the "Obama denies" crap. It looks like they are taking a cheap shot at the President.

[EFerrari]

26. Except per his own National Security advisor, we want 7 new ones.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090804/pl_afp/colombiausmilitarylatam_20090804213450

We do have plans to have 7 new bases in Colombia.

[bemildred]

9. Yeah, yeah, we are just "enhancing" the ones we had, or something like that.

It's so annoying when they start parsing words and being cute with grammar.

[roody]

13. Impunity for US soldiers is part of the deal, probably not new either.

[bvar22]

22. This is a losing strategy.

The US should be whole heartedly supporting the emerging populist democracies in South America instead of rallying around and propping up the dying right wing oligarchs (Uribe).

Our current adversarial policy is closing the door on emerging markets, and driving them straight into the hands of the Russians and Chinese.

The reforms sweeping across South & Central America is one of the few things that gives me hope for the World.

Obama is once again playing fast & loose with the truth.
The US is in fact expanding its military presence and increasing its number of bases in Colombia.

[EFerrari]

32. Obama needs to clean up his act on Latin America

or he will begin to lose Latino voters, there's no doubt about it.

[The abyss]

35. I think

that what we are seeing with these expansions in Columbia and the Honduran coupe nonsense was a third tier option for the last 5-10years.

They were pretty sure Ecuador would bail on their main lease, but Paraguay took them by surprise.

The goal was originally to place the pipelines in Afghanistan and placate the Israelis by creating a divided Iraq.

But by invading Afghanistan & Iraq the US has proven to the world just what their goals were. Now the Russians & Chinese have the backs of the Iranian government. The Chinese were the largest buyer of the US T-Bills (if anyone has been paying attention they ain’t buying too much). The Russians own and support the reactor being constructed in Iran. The Russians also are a major economic trading partner with Iran.

The US has been kicked back to that third tier option of controlling their own backyard. Unfortunately the denizens in the backyard aren’t playing along.

[bvar22]

46. AND,

...the hostile posture toward the emerging populist governments, and continued support of the dying/failing right wing oligarchs (Colombia) has also driven the emerging democracies in South America straight into the hands of the Russians and Chinese.

The US had better get ready to either:

1)End support for the right wing oligarchs in Central and South America and "renegotiate" our relationship with the new democracies,

OR,

2) say "goodbye to an entire continent.

[The abyss]

49. I agree

I think the bye bye deal is the heavy odds favorite.

We could have made a difference; we could have made adjustments….

I will wait.

Unfortunately I still believe in that worthless piece of paper that begins “We the people”