Amabassador Blasts Bruce Willis' Comments ("US should invade Columbia to end cocaine trade")

Associated Press ^ | 3/13/06

[presidio9]

Colombia's ambassador to the United States is criticizing Bruce Willis for comments he made during a press conference to promote his new film, "16 Blocks."

The actor said the United States should consider "going to Colombia and doing whatever it takes to end the cocaine trade."

In a harshly worded letter made public, Andres Pastrana told the actor that the source of the lucrative cocaine trade was an "enormous appetite for drugs, in particular in the United States and Europe."

Pastrana, who as president in 2000 launched an anti-drug effort with billions in aid from the United States, added that no country has sacrificed more than his own to rein in drug trafficking. Every year, he said, thousands of innocent civilians are killed as a result of anti-drug efforts.

Inviting Willis to visit Colombia, Pastrana said "if you accept, you will see that, beyond Hollywood cliches, 44 million Colombians are waging a real war against drugs."

President Alvaro Uribe called the actor arrogant and ignorant last week, saying his comments were "a shock to Colombia's dignity."

[mnehring]

As if Bruce Willis wasn't high enough (no pun intended) in my book, he just went up a few more notches..

[rlmorel]

See? We aren't the ONLY ones who take actors too seriously...:)

[george wythe]

We already invaded Afghanistan, but Afghanistan is still the leading opium producer in the world, IIRC.

The war on [some] drugs is a joke.

[gondramB]

My first reaction was that our ambassadors don't have to respond to everything an actor says ...but it sounds like the President was already talking about so the ambassador was probably correct to step in.

[misterrob]

Bruce should STFU on this issue. Maybe he should tell his neighbors in Hollywood to quit snorting blow as a way of helping.

[camle]

"arrogant and ignorant" a hollywood actor? now THAT'S news!

[presidio9]

I must have been misinformed. I didn't realize that our invasion of Afganistan had anything to do with their economy.

[in hoc signo vinces]

Bruce needs to challenge looney Clooney to a no holds barred cage match...

Bruce Willis...great guy!

[Publius6961]

What's "Columbia"?

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

My plan would take care of the drug problem at the source and at the demand.....

Poison 10% of the market and watch the addicts drop like flies and the r&r users dry up.

I will not shed tears.

[presidio9]

Bruce needs to challenge looney Clooney to a no holds barred cage match...

Selleck has first dibs

[Publius6961]

The war on [some] drugs is a joke.,p>Just as "Star Wars", which was "only" 85% effective was a joke...

Spoken like a true brain addled...

[george wythe]

March 13, 2006

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Congresswoman from Florida, Republican, wrote about her trip to Afghanistan:

My delegation conveyed to Afghan leaders that Congress remains deeply concerned about the mounting bloodshed in their nation and over the ongoing narcotics trade which supplies almost 90 percent of global opium and heroin.

You're right. We are "concerned," but we will not abolish the illegal crops and drug trade routes in an occupied country.

[tx_eggman]

What's "Columbia"?

A very overrated college in New York

[TexasCajun]

President Alvaro Uribe called the actor arrogant and ignorant...

We know. We know. ...it's most all of them.

[SquirrelKing]

We should send in Mr. Clark first.

[presidio9]

Smartest thing I've read here.

That's probably because you signed up two weeks ago. Why don't you look into Liberty Post while you're at it? We have enough liberaltarains here.

[robertpaulsen]

"We already invaded Afghanistan, but Afghanistan is still the leading opium producer in the world, IIRC."

I wasn't aware that we invaded Afghanistan to stop opium production. What are you saying? Kinda like, hey since we're there, let's do that too?

Anything else you want? I mean, since we're there and all.