Posted on 03/22/2004 12:03:59 PM PST by marron
US Government wants to increase soldiers in Colombia Bogotá.
The government of George W. Bush asked the US Congress to authorize an increase from 400 to 800 the number of soldiers and from 400 to 600 the number of contractors that can operate in Colombia, according to diplomatic sources.
Officials at the Pentagon and the State Department began a series of meetings at the House of Representatives and the Senate with the aim of obtaining authorization of an increase in the maximum number permitted, presently 400 soldiers and 400 contractors, according to the ambassador from Bogotá in Washington, Luis Alberto Moreno.
In statements to the Colombian press, Moreno said he was aware of this initiative, and although he clarified that it is not the Colombian government that is seeking to change the maximum number of soldiers..
"During the last ten days there have been consultations with various congressional committes. We, the Colombian government, are not trying to change the “cap”. But obviously we want cooperation between the two countries to be the best possible” said Moreno.
"If they think they need 5 or 10, this is their decision. We do agree that they need to review the cap to allow us to adapt to specific conditions that the country needs”, he added.
The upper limit on US operatives deployed in support of the Plan Colombia fight against drugs, combined with the fight against illegal armed groups, was established by Congress around the middle of 2000, by means of an emergency legislation which left open various mechanisms by which president Bush could increase the limit in special cases.
Moreno explained that since 2000 when they began to carry out Plan Colombia the number of programs being implemented as part of this strategy has increased, requiring more US personnel.
"It is to Colombia’s advantage due to the number of programs in the country, and the Colombian government obviously wants the best in the way of cooperation. We want the greatest possible flexibility”, said Moreno.
“Over the years, our assistance programs in Colombia have increased, while the cap has remained constant”, said a US official to the newspaper El Tiempo de Bogotá.
"In fact, over the last two years there has been more assistance specifically aimed at terrorism and the protection of infrastructure, which was not considered when all this started", he added.
The initiative by the Bush government was revealed today at a moment in which the president of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, undertakes a visit to Washington to ask for an increase in aid by the US against drug trafficking and illegal [armed] groups.
He will ask Bush to extend Plan Colombia for four more years, by means of which Washington has given some $2.6 billion dollars, mainly in military equipment and military advice, but which expires in September of 2005. AFP. Lunes, 22 de Marzo del 2004
Oh of course not. You do understand they're connected don't you? Something about buying pot on the street puts guns in the hands of terrorists. Of course the same could be said about transportation of cigarettes from here in NC to somewhere up north. The government is prosecuting someone right now in Charlotte on that very issue. Of course to make it simpler, I think we should just ban tobacco as well. Seems the Republicans are well on their way in helping the Democrats do that with their votes
I realize it takes hundreds of thousands of soldiers going from our shores to protect us from phantom WMDs in April to plants in South American jungles in May, but how about some time back on the border? We still do have a border don't we?
Sorry for the cynicism but I talked to a Carolina graduate today. One year out of college and her head is so full of drivel I don't think it's really going to matter much anymore when people like that get into positions of power. What's worse is she considers herself a Republican.
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