Anger in Costa Rica over deal to ‘invite’ 46 US warships

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Raw Story/El Pais/Inside Costa Rica

Anger in Costa Rica over deal to ‘invite’ 46 US warships
By Daniel Tencer
Sunday, July 11th, 2010 -- 3:40 pm

Costa Ricans suspect 'ulterior motive' in permitting large numbers of US troops

Opposition leaders in Costa Rica are up in arms over an agreement between the country and the United States that reportedly allows 46 US warships and 7,000 US Marines to enter the country as part of an anti-drug effort.

According to several Costa Rican news sources, the government there signed an agreement with the US last week to extend an 11-year-old cooperative program aimed at eradicating the maritime drug trade.

But opponents say this year's deal differs from previous ones in that it allows US warships to enter the country. Previously, opponents say, only US Coast Guard vessels were allowed to enter Costa Rican territory. The new agreement expires on December 31 of this year.

A committee of the People's Movement political party said the deal turns Costa Rica into a "US protectorate" and brings the country into "a new phase of military occupation," according to the Costa Rican newspaper El Pais.



Read more: http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0711/anger-costa-rica-deal-... /

[Posteritatis]

1. 46 warships? Right.

The Seventh Fleet is only about sixty, including auxiliaries. Someone's hyperbole jar is leaking.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Legislators Appeal To Constitutional Court To Stop U.S Warships From Entering Costa Rican Waters

Legislators Appeal To Constitutional Court To Stop U.S Warships From Entering Costa Rican Waters

The decision authorizing the patrol of Costa Rican waters by U.S. warships is being contested by a group of legislators, headed by Gloria Bejarano, who filed an action of unconstitutionality with the Sala Constitucional (Costa Rica's constitutional court).

The legislators believe the authorization that was voted on and granted last week for the entry of 46 naval warships, 200 helicopters, war planes and 7.000 Marines as confirmed by the president of the Legislative Assembly, Gerardo Villanueva, violates Costa Rica's Political Constitution.

Villanueva confirmed that there are errors in the authorization, explaining that the co-operation agreement between the United States and Costa Rica signed 11 years ago was never published in La Gaceta.

The legislators argue in their filing that since the decree was never published it is null and void and in addition was for a 10 year period and would have expired in 2009.

Villanueva, however, argues that the agreement does not have an expiry date and the publication of the decree can be made any time.

The agreement signed in 2009 establishes a joint patrol of Costa Rican waters by the United States and Costa Rican Coast Guards.

Last week the United States, as is customary and required under the agreement, filed for authorization of the U.S. warships and personnel, that would be under the control of the Costa Rican Coast Guard, to enter Costa Rican waters to combat drug trafficking in the country and the region.

http://www.insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2010/july/09/c...
Costa Rican newspaper

[Judi Lynn]

3. Costa Rica to Allow US To Send Troops

Costa Rica to Allow US To Send Troops
July 06, 2010
Knight Ridder

Costa Rica has granted the U.S. military a six-month window to bring 7,000 Marines, five planes and 46 warships into its territory to help stem the flow of drugs northward.

The Central American country has increasingly become a target for drug traffickers as intelligence and law enforcement agencies have cut off other routes through Mexico. Without an army and with long coastlines and poorly guarded borders, Costa Rica is vulnerable to drug cartels using well-refined transportation mechanisms and the latest technological equipment, security experts say.

Some Costa Rican legislators voiced concern about the authorization, saying it gives the United States a "blank check" to use its territory and threatens the nation's sovereignty.

According to a letter from Costa Rican Public Security Minister Jose Maria Tijerino, specific requests to dock or unload U.S. military ships must be submitted to the country one month in advance.

http://www.military.com/news/article/costa-rica-to-allo...

~~~~~
Costa Rican Govt Approves US Occupation
Thousands of US Troops to 'Fight Drugs'

In another example of the growing militarization of the war on drugs, the Costa Rican government has given the US permission to launch an invasion of up to 7,000 Marines, ostensibly to “fight drugs.”

The vote was extremely controversial in Costa Rica’s legislature, with several MPs arguing that it gave he US a “blank check” to occupy the nation and was a threat to its sovereignty. Costa Rica has had no military of its own since its abolition in 1948.

Preceded by decades of on-again, off-again violence, the lack of a military has actually served the nation quite well over the past 62 years, and Costa Rica is one of the few nations in Central America not to face any violent uprisings or brutal dictatorships. The nation even celerates a holiday, on December 1, called Military Abolition Day.

Indeed, it appears that the only reason the nation is in America’s sights at all is because it is geographically so narrow, and an occupation of it could provide a convenient choke-point for blocking drugs from South America reaching Mexico and eventually, the United States, by land.

Under the terms of the agreement, US troops “will enjoy freedom of movement and the right to carry out any activities needed to fulfill their mission.” In addition to the ground troops, the US will be deploying 46 warships and hundreds of helicopters.

http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=31218

[DeSwiss]

4. K&R

More change, I see.

[cowman]

5. And this is bad because

oh thats right, according to you everything the U.S. does is bad or sinister

[Judi Lynn]

6. If I'm not mistaken the article concerns anger INSIDE Costa Rica concerning this extreme situation.

Go take a look at the information on the subject.

Personal attacks on me are absolutely stupid. I didn't create this story.

Wake the #### UP.

[cowman]

8. I will say one thing

we need to end the war on drugs and legalize certain drugs and tax them. that will greatly reduce the violence along our southern border and save billions each year although I would hesitate to legalize certain hard drugs like heroin, meth, cocaine, As a 35 year veteran Firefighter/Paramedic, I have seen first hand the terrible toll these drugs take on addicts and families and the crime associated with it, what the answer is I don't know.

[EFerrari]

14. If you have been in the action for 35 years

you could have noticed by now that everywhere we militarize the drug trade, it just gets much worse.

[cowman]

19. Oh yeah

I'm with the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue and over the years I have seen it get worse and worse with the resulting violence, when I first started I was of the mind that no drugs should be legalized but over the years as the violence became worse my views have changed. My oldest daughter is a Las Vegas Police Officer and she is on the front lines and she agrees that something has to give sooner or later.

[ixion]

10. Using the military to fight drugs is a ridiculous waste of money, and likely will cause

other issues simply because our military will, no doubt, kill innocent people under the guise of this 'war'.

[EFerrari]

12. Oh, these America haters with their news stories.

LOL

[Parche]

17. go back to the gun forum

dont need you here....

[cowman]

20. And you need to be a little more

tolerant of other peoples views, to which I admit that sometimes I haven't been to which I apologize.

[Parche]

21. i always am

[cowman]

24. See post #17 n/t

[Parche]

25. and what about it???

[cowman]

26. You told me to go back to the gun forum

I'm not needed here. I call that rather rude. I can be where I want to be on this site whether you like it or not.

[Parche]

27. because all of your posts are rude

that is why....you are intolerant

[cowman]

28. I already apologized to those that I got rude with

and have been civil towards you. Who's being intolerant now?
And your stalking me on another thread. Thats just warped

[Parche]

35. as long as you apologized....

i am not stalking you...........you sound paranoid....

I was just throwing it back at you........

[Judi Lynn]

7. U.S. military receives permission to dock in Costa Rican ports

U.S. military receives permission to dock in Costa Rican ports
By Chrissie Long
Tico Times Staff | [e-mail]

Costa Rica has granted the U.S. military a six-month window to bring 7,000 Marines, five planes and 46 warships into its territory to help stem the flow of drugs northward.

The Central American country has increasingly become a target for drug traffickers as intelligence and law enforcement agencies have cut off other routes through Mexico. Without an army and with long coastlines and poorly guarded borders, Costa Rica is vulnerable to drug cartels using well-refined transportation mechanisms and the latest technological equipment, security experts say.

Some Costa Rican legislators voiced concern about the authorization, saying it gives the United States a “blank check” to use its territory and threatens the nation's sovereignty.

According to a letter from Costa Rican Public Security Minister José María Tijerino, specific requests to dock or unload U.S. military ships must be submitted to the country one month in advance.

http://www.ticotimes.net/dailyarchive/2010_07/0705101.c...

~~~~~
Costa Rica's President Defends Decision On Military

Costa Rica's president, Laura Chinchilla, defended the decision to allow U.S. warships and Marines in Costa Rica's national waters, saying that the authorization is not significantly different than previous authorizations with respect to the cooperation agreement signed a decade ago.

The presidenta said that it is necessary to review the statutes of the agreement, but not to diminish the actions, but rather to make them more effective.

Chinchilla reiterated that the intention of the government is to expand its efforts to fight drug trafficking and arms smuggling and to establish new mechanisms of control.

The presidenta assures that the conventions are the same and that her administration is not making efforts to risk the constitutionality of the country or try to militarize police efforts.

http://www.insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2010/july/07/c...

~~~~~
US warships headed to Costa Rica
By Peter Krupa | Published: July 3, 2010

Militaryless, democratic, non-conflict-having Costa Rica is the new front in the United States’ War on Inanimate Objects. The country’s national assembly has given the OK for a veritable US invasion force to enter Costa Rican territory: 7,000 marines on 46 warships, including the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship the USS Makin Island, pictured.

La Nación quotes a document from the US Embassy that states that, “The US personnel in Costa Rica will be able to enjoy freedom of movement and the right to carry out the activities that they consider necessary to complete their mission.”

Well isn’t that just permissively vague.

The legislation says the mission has to do with fighting drug traffickers, as well as a few humanitarian goals, though the humanitarian use of a Harrier jet is still somewhat unclear.

On a casual note, I would point out again that for all the Costa Rican smugness about not having an army, they do a pretty good job of borrowing one when they need it. On a more serious note, because this is bound to be extremely politically unpopular domestically, the government must have a damn good reason for inviting all this firepower in from up north.

More:
http://www.latamdaily.com/2010/07/03/us-warships-headed...

[Joanne98]

9. This is an OUTRAGE!

[sabrina 1]

11. I read that a few days ago and thought it was a joke at first.

I couldn't find anything in the MSM about it either, just in Costa Rican newspapers.

It looks like we need another base to deal with those horrible, emerging Democracies in South America who have had the nerve to refuse to hand over their resources to Global Terr.. I mean, Corporations, to me. And to many others.

The War Machine marches on, with virtually no more opposition in this country. Let's hope the Costa Rican opposition has more success than we have, at least they're trying.

[EFerrari]

13. That's the way we roll in Latin America, quietly as possible.

Thanks to the supine presstitutes.

[sabrina 1]

15. Apparently. That's the reason I didn't post the information

when I first came across it. I could not find anything at all to verify it in a U.S. publication, yet Congress must have approved this. So, yes, our press waits for permission obviously, before they publish what our government is up to.

[MyNameGoesHere]

16. We are sending Marines for drug interdiction?

Ok that covers the north and west battle lines, i guess the next country we will deploy troops to or have bases is Guyana. That should pretty much have Venezuela surrounded.

[malaise]

18. Well adios to peaceful Costa Rica

This is madness.

[cali]

32. um, this has been going on for eleven years. not saying I agree with it

it's a phenomenal waste of resources and fruitless, but to say that this spells the end of peace in CR when it hasn't done that over the past 10 years, is silly as can be.

[Zorro]

22. Costa Rica Becomes Hub of Drug Cartels

<snip>

Costa Rica has gone from being a bridge for drug trafficking between South and North America to becoming established as a warehouse and trading center for drug cartels, from which the authorities have seized 92.7 tons of cocaine and $17 million in the last 3½ years.

“In this part of the world we are privileged by nature and the climate, but it is also the drug route from south to north, and of money from north to south,” Security Minister Janina Del Vecchio said in her annual activities report.

She said that Costa Rica is no longer just a transit area for drugs.

Now, according to Del Vecchio, “traffickers come here and store the drugs, and they don’t even have intermediaries – Colombians come and leave the drugs and Mexicans come and pick them up.”

<snip>

More at: http://laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=349013&CategoryId...

Apparently Costa Rica recognizes it has a drug trafficking problem.

It would not be surprising if some of the local vocal opponents to a US presence are on the payroll of the narcotraffickers.

[jdp349]

23. American's reaction to it's own drug addiction is fucking ridiculous

America has a drug problem, people do drugs, lots of them. Why? For a variety of reasons, but that's not the issue at hand.

So how does America to react to its own drug problem. Does it recognize that it is a nation of drug addicts and just accept this reality, say to hell with it decriminalize everything and take control of industry by providing reasonably obtainable and safe drugs to its citizens? nope...

Does it crack down hard on it's population addiction and apply an equal level of brutality to its own citizens as it currently does to its foreign suppliers? No of course not we just incarcerate 1% of ENTIRE population, the nation is more content with letting the developing world deal with the associated violence and destabilizing effects of an illegal drug industry. Who cares if top Mexican public officials are getting assassinated and that thousands of people are dying in drug related gang warfare.

Our addicts are our issue. I say we decriminalize drugs, force addicts out of the shadows and try and help them with all and address the systemic factors that lead to people to drug addictions in the first place with all the money we spend blowing up impoverished farmers in Central and South America and this stupid fucking drug war. Is it really so difficult? I feel like I'm taking fucking crazy pills!

Aren't the republicans all about taking "personal responsibility", lets see this country take some personal responsibility for it's drug addiction.

[Ruby the Liberal]

29. Grabbing my tin foil hat for a moment

why does CR need 7,000 troops and 46 ships?

They don't.

This is our Gulf of Mexico deployment redeploying.

Take it for what its worth.

[tekisui]

30. Kick for more accurate headline.

[geek tragedy]

31. Will the Marines be allowed on shore with their guns

or are they limited to actions at sea and in the air?

If they're not physically walking around in Costa Rica, it's not quite as bad.

[blindpig]

33. US soldiers, get out of Costa Rica (Emergency press release)

On the night of June 29, the entry into the country of 46 US warships with the ability to transport 200 military helicopters, among which are included the SH-60, HH-60B, and Black Hawk gunships, as well as CH-46 helicopters and AV-8B Harrier aircraft, was approved in the Legislative Assembly. Together with this arsenal, permission was given for 7,000 US soldiers to be able to "enjoy freedom of movement and the right to carry out activities they consider necessary in the fulfillment of their mission," under the assumption that their aim is to support the struggle against drug trafficking, and to offer humanitarian aid and build schools.

This military penetration of the country only corresponds to the US plans of militarization (led by Obama), the aim of which is put what they consider their backyard under complete control, before possible social upheavals, while they continue taking positions in alliance with, and with the complete backing of the local governments, as has already been observed with the deployments begun in Mexico, that they are attempting to spread to South America, everything in the best style of the rehearsal they carried out with the occupation of Haiti during the catastrophe of the earthquake, beside the blue helmets of the UN and in the context of a world capitalist crisis, which continues unresolved.

Precisely the government of Laura Chinchilla, together with businessmen, sees in this pact the possibility of streamlining the repression and the crushing of any type of workers' and popular struggle or demonstration, by complementing the function of the police at a time when they have introduced the Public Employment Law, together with pressures for approving big labor reforms in the private sector, as well as reducing the budget of the public universities, and the plans for privatization, as in the case of the docks and electric power.

The whole media bombardment about the presence of chiefs and members of the drug cartels (whose main points of support are the governments of the United States and Colombia) pursues leveling the road to this new military interference, and it complements the repressive laws that had been approved, like the Anti-terrorist Law, all directed at the repression of workers, students and the rest of the groups of the people.

From the Liga de la Revolución Socialista, we are making an urgent appeal to all organizations connected with the workers' and popular movement, with all the means at their disposal, to raise a big campaign that will serve to condemn and overthrow this virtual military occupation. We urge the men and women comrades of the workers' and socialist left, and independents inside the UCR, to begin to organize and set up this campaign at every school and workplace inside the university beside the struggle for the budget.

Down with the pacts and laws that conceal military penetration of the region under the sham of fighting drug trafficking!

No US military presence in Costa Rica, Latin America, or any region of the world!

http://www.class-struggle.com/2010/07/us-imperialism-ha...

[Hell Hath No Fury]

34. Wow.

Methinks this is less about a drug war and more about our old Latin American policy. Too many "radical leftists" in power down south -- can't have that, now, can we.

I hope the Costa Ricans kick our asses out.

[Judi Lynn]

36. Costa Rica Congress OKs US warships

Costa Rica Congress OKs US warships
Tuesday, 13 July 2010 14:25
Written by {ga=latinamerica-press}

Costa Rica´s National Assembly on July 1 gave the green light to allow 46 US warships and 7,000 marines to enter the country´s waters to monitor for drug trafficking. Opposition immediately said they would challenge the measure.

Military presence in Costa Rica, which abolished its army in 1948, is a thorny issue, and opposition lawmakers and activists said allowing the United States into the country would threaten Costa Rica´s sovereignty.

But President Laura Chinchilla, a former public security minister who promised to increase funding for anti-drug and crime programs and took office on May 8, said that it is necessary to fight drug traffickers, who are increasingly using Costa Rica as a storage and shipping point to for cocaine from the Andes northward to Mexico and ultimately, to the United States.

With 39 of 57 lawmakers present, the measure passed 31-8.

The permission is based on a decade-old bilateral counter-drug trafficking agreement between the United States and Costa Rica, but criticism against the US military presence in recent years led to sending the agreement to lawmakers for approval.

The agreement will be valid from July 1 to Dec. 31 of this year.

Less than a week after the measure was passed, the opposition Social Christian Unity Party, or PUSC, issued a complaint with the Constitutional Court to declare the it unconstitutional.

“By having US military forces in joint-patrol activities, based on what the agreement expressly establishes, the Assembly is authorizing foreign military participation in police actions, which is expressly prohibited by the constitution,” said the PUSC in a statement.

More:
http://www.eurasiareview.com/201007134957/costa-rica-co...