US builds up its bases in oil-rich South America

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From the Caribbean to Brazil, political opposition to US plans for 'full-spectrum operations' is escalating rapidly

By Hugh O'Shaughnessy
Sunday, 22 November 2009


The United States is massively building up its potential for nuclear and non-nuclear strikes in Latin America and the Caribbean by acquiring unprecedented freedom of action in seven new military, naval and air bases in Colombia. The development – and the reaction of Latin American leaders to it – is further exacerbating America's already fractured relationship with much of the continent.

The new US push is part of an effort to counter the loss of influence it has suffered recently at the hands of a new generation of Latin American leaders no longer willing to accept Washington's political and economic tutelage. President Rafael Correa, for instance, has refused to prolong the US armed presence in Ecuador, and US forces have to quit their base at the port of Manta by the end of next month.

So Washington turned to Colombia, which has not gone down well in the region. The country has received military aid worth $4.6bn (£2.8bn) from the US since 2000, despite its poor human rights record. Colombian forces regularly kill the country's indigenous people and other civilians, and last year raided the territory of its southern neighbour, Ecuador, causing at least 17 deaths.

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who has not forgotten that US officers were present in government offices in Caracas in 2002 when he was briefly overthrown in a military putsch, warned this month that the bases agreement could mean the possibility of war with Colombia.

...snip...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-builds-up-its-bases-in-oilrich-south-america-1825398.html

I don't recall hearing anything in our media about U.S. plans for 'full-spectrum operations' in S. America. Why does our country always seem to end up right where the oil is?

[Cirque du So-What]

1. Why does our country always seem to end up right where the oil is?

The neocons & the oil oligarchs (oilygarchs?) - some individuals belong to both groups - wouldn't have it any other way. No blood sacrifice of other people's children is too great for them.

[Subdivisions]

6. Prolly a little of this too:

Russia, Ecuador sign deals on arms, energy
Oct 29, 2009

MOSCOW — President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday called new arms and energy deals between Russia and Ecuador just a beginning as Moscow strives to deepen ties in Latin America.

Medvedev and Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa announced a $22 million deal for Russia to provide Ecuador with two Mi-17 transport helicopters.

"It's not much, but it's the beginning of cooperation," Medvedev said. "There are prospects for our nations."

They also presided over of the signing of agreements on Russia's assistance in the construction of two hydropower stations and development of Ecuador's substantial oil and gas reserves.

...snip...

http://ecuador-rising.blogspot.com/2009/11/russia-ecuador-sign-deals-on-arms.html


I think WWIII will be the U.S. vs BRIC and then some other regional conflict like U.S.(w/allies) vs Pakistan, Saudi Arabia vs Yemen, maybe another Balkans conflict. Whether this is correct or not, it's coming... and soon.

[dysfunctional press]

2. if we had followed jimmy carter's proposed solution back in1980 and beyond...

we wouldn't be using our military to procure and/or protect 'vital' oil interests.

ronbo raygun and his buddies decided it was more profitable(for them) to use american soldier's lives

and so it goes.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

4. Jimmy Carter was a warmongering tool of Christian fundamentalist members of The Family

I read it right here.

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5. Not just our children's lives but also the profit from billions in military hardware. n/t

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

3. I didn't realize we needed a base in Colombia to shoot a nuclear missile at Caracas.

I'm pretty sure we can do that right now.

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7. Who un-recced this and why? n/t

[rollingrock]

9. oops

posted in the wrong place

[pscot]

8. We have almost a thousand bases

scattered around the world. The fucking military is out of control.

[rollingrock]

10. Too late

latin americans won't tolerate any US build up in their backyard for long, not with the left in power. they didn't even tolerate it much when the right was in power (its a machismo thing - you don't let foreign soldiers occupy your territory). this can get ugly really fast

[tblue]

11. President Obama, hello? HELLO?! Are you there?! I WANT MY CHANGE I BELIEVED IN!!!!!!

Excuse me while I explode my head.

I can't stand it. Can't stand it! Oh what a world what a woeld.........

[kenny blankenship]

13. "not with the left in power"

that would be why they're building up bases in the last quisling client state: The Reconquista!

Ah, too long have we ignored thee South America! Too long have we laid by the rod and staff of our Yanqui anger. You thought we didn't notice you going off on your own ways, did you? You will come back to the banana plantation yet. You'll come back - hard or easy.

[kenny blankenship]

12. Wow Colombia is our new beachhead in S. America. Like Afghanistan in Central Asia

and the sheep won't even know we're down there until the invasions begin.

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14. I don't think there will be invasions. But there has definately already

been some covert shenanigans pulled off down there.

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15. Ummmmmm....HELLO!!! Does anyone care that Obama is building up

a nuclear presense in S. America?

Do you not care that OUR country is taking nuclear weapons to S. America in violation of an international treaty? Do you not care that OUR country is engaging in covert operations to destabilize Latin America?

Jeez! The silence is deafening!