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Getting It Right
IBD Editorials ^ | April 20, 2009

Posted on 04/20/2009 6:25:23 PM PDT by Kaslin

Trade: Hugo Chavez may have gotten a grinning handshake from President Obama in Trinidad. But it was our authentic friend and ally, Colombia, that got substance. The president got one right.


There was quite a media din over the president's greeting of Venezuela's strongman at the Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain over the weekend. Sure, it was a first. But along with bones he threw to Cuba, it crowded out weightier news.

Obama may have shaken hands, accepted an idiotic book and politely listened to diatribes from regional troublemakers. But for our ally Colombia, he wasn't just gesturing. He was delivering results.

It started Saturday, when he put himself next to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe at lunch and then studiously exchanged notes.

Having listened to Uribe, (and that must have been a nice dose of sanity after enduring 50 minutes of ravings from Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega, or weird conspiracy theories by Bolivia's Evo Morales), Obama then seemed to realize that the long-stalled Colombia free trade agreement should have been passed yesterday.

The president announced that his team must find a way to pass the agreement. With world trade down 80%, the pact opens new markets to the U.S. He demanded immediate action, asking Colombia's trade minister to fly to Washington this week.

Then it got even better: Obama invited Uribe to the White House and promised to visit Colombia himself, allowing the Colombians to lay out for him their vast economic and social progress, and their desire to integrate into global trade.

(Excerpt) Read more at ibdeditorials.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial
KEYWORDS: bho44; bholatinamerica; bhovisit; colombia; freetrade; obama; uribe

1 posted on 04/20/2009 6:25:24 PM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Alright Obama, that’s one good line drive. Keep your eye on the ball and swing right.


2 posted on 04/20/2009 6:31:26 PM PDT by Keflavik76
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To: Keflavik76

Yep, he did get a good triple on that hit.


3 posted on 04/20/2009 6:32:51 PM PDT by rovenstinez
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To: Kaslin
The president announced that his team must find a way to pass the agreement.

I'll believe it when I see it.

4 posted on 04/20/2009 6:33:19 PM PDT by wmfights (If you want change support SenateConservatives.com)
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To: Kaslin

OK. He got one right. I’ll give him that


5 posted on 04/20/2009 6:35:33 PM PDT by paul51 (11 September 2001 - Never forget (July 4, 2009 see you there))
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To: Kaslin

Hmm.


6 posted on 04/20/2009 6:37:33 PM PDT by saganite (What would Sully do?)
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To: Kaslin

If its true, then that’s good. However, he has to follow through and get the Colombian free trade agreement passed through Congress.


7 posted on 04/20/2009 6:47:29 PM PDT by Unam Sanctam
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To: Kaslin

If true, I’ll just say that even a blind squirrel gets a nut on an occasion.


8 posted on 04/20/2009 6:52:14 PM PDT by farlander (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: Kaslin

The farc laptop comment on obama has worried me in the context of US relations with uribe/colombia. Will have to see where things go.


9 posted on 04/20/2009 7:00:48 PM PDT by WoofDog123
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To: Kaslin

Broken clock gets one right!

(stand by for union thugs and protectionists to howl)


10 posted on 04/20/2009 11:31:28 PM PDT by Darwin Fish
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