Posted on 07/04/2007 12:45:41 PM PDT by Kitten Festival
How the U.S. Congress deals with U.S.-Colombian relations in the next few weeks will have a lasting impact on U.S. and regional security and prosperity.
Colombia is an important country, among other factors because of its seldom-recognized strategic value. Colombia is the keystone of South America, with gateways to the Andes Mountains, the Amazon basin, two oceans, and its close proximity to the Panama Canal. Our enemies recognize that significance. And make no mistake, the Marxist guerrillas who have been fighting for nearly five decades to gain control over Colombia are enemies of the United States and ofthe freedoms we value, as are the drug traffickers, paramilitaries and organized crime syndicates which have destabilized that nation. (..)
Labor freedoms are critical to a free society and free labor is a pillar of Colombian democracy. The fascist dictators of the 20th Century, from Lenin to Hitler to Castro, followed a pattern: to gain absolute power, they needed to take over, to command, but not destroy, civil institutions. The first two targets, almost invariably, were the press and the labor unions.
(Excerpt) Read more at latinbusinesschronicle.com ...
I normally do not go for the free trade kool aid, but in this case we should support Columbia in this manner, they are an ally, and they are fighting the drug wars in their own back yard.
But how to keep the Trade Deal from becoming a “let’s lower the price of cocaine” deal?
Bump
If it follows the format of the FTAA with Chile, it should be immediately implemented. The FTAA has tightened our relationship with Chile, and has reinforced Democracy in that critical ally.
Having another free trade partner in Columbia - who’s pulling themselves towards full-blown democracy - would be wonderful, to offer all other countries in South America an alternate model to that of Venezuela.
Thanks for your suppport. You are a real man and not a sorosite maggot.
Free trade doesn’t cover cocaine. Coke dealers don’t need a free trade deal, they do illegal smuggling free trade or no free trade. Colombia’s rose growers on the other hand need free trade because they only trade legally.
Basically, we can have all the coke dealers and coke we want if we refuse to extend colombia free trade. What will happen is the rose farmers, who could benefit from free trade will go out of business if they don’t get free trade and will move over to the cocaine industry where they don’t need no stinking free trade. I’d rather they stuck to growing roses and sold them here. Doing roses keeps them busy with roses. Put them out of business and they’ll go back to cocaine.
You get it. Well said, soldier.
The more goods that arrive in the US from Columbia, the greater the ease of smuggling the ya-yo into the US.
However, it is my opinion that the drugs will be smuggled either way, it makes more sense to encourage more legitimate business with Columbia just to support their economy, and to Uribe’s credit, he hasn’t given into the Venezuelian backed FNLM/MS-13 like his predecessor did allowing the commies to have home bases out in the jungles.
Besides, maybe the price of Emeralds will fall if this is implemented.....:)
I say no more free trade agreements with anyone until the situation is reviewed- we open our markets, but other countries do not open their markets to us. Free trade must becom fair trade. Also, this will give the drug dealers more ways to smuggle in drugs. Columbia-like Mexico- is very corrupt.
Normally I would agree with that nyconsv, not in this case, Columbia borders VZ, they ahve been fighting Narco Commie guerrillas for 30 years only now they have Chavez to back them as well as drug sales.
It is in our interests to make certain that Columbia doesn’t fall to neo communism as almost half of South America has, if a free trade deal helps to stabilize and grow Columbia into an alternative to the Chavistas then I am 100% for it.
One sentence in the story tells it all...they have been ‘slow to open their markets’. If they expect to reap the benefits of free trade, they must open their markets as well. If they are unwilling to do so then I am still against it. I am tired of American companies getting the shaft from countries who refuse to play fair.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.