Posted on 08/07/2009 2:38:51 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Friday denied the United States is planning to set up military bases in Colombia as part of an upgraded security agreement with the South American nation.
"There have been those in the region who have been trying to play this up as part of a traditional anti-Yankee rhetoric. This is not accurate," Obama told Hispanic media reporters.
Leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez -- a persistent critic of Washington -- has said the enhanced U.S.-Colombian security plan could be a step toward war in South America. On Sunday, Chavez called on Obama not to increase the U.S. military presence in Colombia.
Obama said this was a myth.
"We have had a security agreement with Colombia for many years now. We have updated that agreement. We have no intent in establishing a U.S. military base in Colombia," Obama said.
"This is continuation of assistance that we had been providing them. We have no intention of sending large numbers of additional troops into Colombia, and we have every interest in seeing Colombia and its neighbors operate peacefully."
The new security arrangement would allow the Pentagon to lease access to seven Colombian military bases for U.S. support in fighting drug traffickers and guerrillas involved in the cocaine trade.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
“Obama denies U.S. creating military bases in Colombia”
The liar lies again.
Ah, so the US troops that are actually in Columbia are based where, exactly?
The leftist president of Ecuador kicked us out of Ecuador; therefore, Colombia accepted us in spite of that cheeky Kenyan bastard in Washington.
Don’t forget he is a democrat.
He said we are not creating bases there.
He didn’t say we don’t already have bases there.
It may not be US troops...it could be DEA or other agencies.
I personally knew some fedgov agents who ran paramilitary operations in South America.
They were not military but had Ranger training, wore fatigues, and carried military weapons.
So, there may not be any troops stationed there but we are probably still are running paramilitary operations.
“I personally knew some fedgov agents who ran paramilitary operations in South America.”
Ditto. Operations have been ongoing at least since the eighties. It has at times been disguised as “WOD”, but the pushers have never been the ultimate target. Just like the taliban, the communists in central and south america use drugs for the same purpose - destroy the USA.
Both must feel a sense of euphoria - two branches of the federal government in the hands of users (or former users) of their products. Disgusting.
I didn’t give the rumor any credence until zer0bama denied it.
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