Posted on 10/30/2009 7:36:59 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
BOGOTA – In a private, low-key ceremony, the U.S. ambassador and three Colombian ministers on Friday signed a pact giving American personnel expanded access to military bases in this drug-producing country, a deal that Venezuela's Hugo Chavez has called a threat to the region's security.
Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez said the 10-year deal takes effect immediately and restricts U.S. military operations to Colombian territory — alluding to fears expressed by leftist leaders in the region that it would make Colombia a base for asserting U.S. power in South America.
Details of the pact, which aims to boost drug and counterinsurgency operations, were not immediately released. But Colombia said in a statement that it "respects the principles of equal sovereignty, territorial integrity and nonintervention in the internal affairs of other states."
The U.S. State Department said in a statement that the accord "does not signal, anticipate or authorize an increase in the presence of U.S. military or civilian personnel in Colombia."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Hugo ain’t gonna like this.
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez (C) and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L) wave from a tractor as they attend the beginning of the harvest of soy beans near El Tigre, in the state of Anzoategui, October 30, 2009. REUTERS/Jorge Silva (VENEZUELA POLITICS AGRICULTURE)
Expect Obama to use this to help Hugo.
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