US takes role in Colombia to new level

The Guardian (UK) ^ | Thursday March 21, 2002 | Martin Hodgson in Arauca, Colombia

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

Oil, not drugs, is the focus of a $98m aid package to fund an army brigade to protect a pipeline from sabotage by guerrillas

The Cano Limon oil pipeline is buried 6ft underground, but its route through the rolling Colombian prairie is clearly marked by a swath of oil slicks and scorched earth - the result of incessant bomb attacks by leftwing rebels.

Since it was completed in 1985, the pipeline has been holed so many times that locals call it "the flute". Some 2.9 million barrels of crude oil have spilled into the soil and rivers - about 11 times the amount from the Exxon Valdez disaster.

Now the US government is seeking congressional approval for $98m (£70m) to provide helicopters, equipment and training for a new Colombian army brigade to guard the pipeline.

Oil is Colombia's biggest foreign currency earner, and US officials say that the aid is essential for the Colombian government - a key ally in the US war on drugs. But critics of the plan say it is unclear whose interests will be served.

Last year, 170 bomb attacks put the pipeline out of action for most of the year, causing the loss of about $430m in oil revenue for the Colombian government.

"This is not just a statistic - it's a huge reality for a country in terms of funding everything they do, whether it's the military, the police, or hospitals," says a US government official.

The attacks also reduced by $75m the profits of Occidental Petroleum - a generous donor to both US Republican and Democrat parties, and an enthusiastic supporter of US military aid to Colombia.

"We're talking about something which is fundamental for the country. Obviously, it's important for Occidental as well, but Occidental can survive without Cano Limon," says a company spokesman.

Some fear the aid means the Bush government is more concerned with protecting the interests of American companies than in helping end a 38-year civil war.

"It's a way of saying that US interests trump everything else. There are real and legitimate reasons to protect the pipeline, but is this the best way to promote stability and the rule of law?" asked Robin Kirk of Human Rights Watch.

US officials say they have no intention of leading the US into deeper involvement in Colombia's vicious civil war, but, if approved, the aid would mark a major policy shift. Until now, US aid to Colombia has focused on fighting the drugs trade, but the new package would mean direct support for counter-insurgency operations against the guerrilla saboteurs.

Colombia's two largest guerrilla armies, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) oppose foreign involvement in the nation's oil industry. According to the Colombian military, the rebels hope that the bombings will weaken the government by depriving it of foreign earnings.

From oilfields near the Venezuelan border, the pipeline snakes half the width of Colombia to the Caribbean coast, but most of the attacks occur in the first 75 miles, where it crosses Arauca state, a rebel stronghold since the 1960s.

Occidental's headquarters at the Cano Limon field are a fortified compound and company employees must be helicoptered in from the regional capital.

Troops on motorbikes buzz along the access roads, while a Colombian army surveillance plane circles overhead. According to Brigadier General Carlos Lemus, two thirds of government troops in the region defend the oil infrastructure.

But the army is incapable of protecting the entire 480-mile pipeline. Away from the drilling rigs, troops patrol on foot.

"We need mobility and the capacity to react fast. With the right equipment we could defend it, but our resources are limited," says Gen Lemus.

Under an agreement with the Colombian government, the company provides "non-lethal" aid such as fuel, food and transport to the army, but the general believes that Occidental could do more.

"I think that the company hasn't done enough to apply modern technology. We've been asking them to install some kind of early warning system with sensors. At the moment the only sensors are our soldiers," he says.

Major Edgar Delgado, commander of an army base at the oilfield, says the region's problem cannot be solved by military means. "We don't need more aircraft or more weapons. We need more cooperation from the community. Where there is petrol there is money, but there is also hunger. And hunger causes violence," he says.

Royalty payments and company handouts have brought electricity, roads and some jobs, but the oil boom also caused a population explosion, inflated prices and the decline of local agriculture.

Locals say most of the profits have been siphoned off by corrupt politicians. The state capital is dotted with costly white-elephant building projects such as a velodrome for bicycle races, which was used once and is now abandoned.

The mayor of Arauca, Jorge Cedeno, says: "If they have to reinforce security, let them do it, but there must also be social development. If we don't solve the social problems, the war will continue," he says.

[Willie Green]

Related thread:

BP Cuts 500 North Sea Oil Jobs

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U.S. Petroleum & Crude Oil Overview
(thousand barrels per day)

	1960	1965	1970	1975	1980	1985	1990	1995	2000
U.S. Crude Oil Production	7,035	7,804	9,637	8,375	8,597	8,971	7,355	6,560	5,834
U.S. Petroleum Imports	1,815	2,468	3,419	6,056	6,909	5,067	8,018	8,835	11,093
Total	8,850	10,272	13,056	14,431	15,506	14,038	15,373	15,395	16,927
Imports as % of Total	20.5	24.0	26.2	42.0	44.6	36.1	52.2	57.4	65.5

As North Sea oil production continues to decline, America's dependence on imported petroleum will shift even more towards OPEC. While drilling offshore and in ANWR may help, it would still be insufficient to dramaticly reduce our ever-increasing consumption.

The obvious solution to this dependency would be to begin construction of modern, efficient mass-transportation systems in our nation's most densely populated regions and urban areas. Electricly powered light rail, high-speed rail and maglev systems could be easily fueled by clean-coal and nuclear technology power plants.

Unfortunately, RINOs have been bought-out by Big Oil special interests. Alaskan representative Don Young, who chairs the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, continues to sidetrack and delay implementation of energy efficient mass-transportation systems. A whole contingent of Nevada RINOs unite to obstruct our nation's efforts to utilize abundant nuclear power. And Dubya's own sibling, Jeb, brags about his obstruction on his re-election website:

Protecting Florida’s Coasts From Offshore Drilling – Thanks to Governor Bush’s hard work and leadership, Florida’s coastal and marine resources will continue to be free from the threat of offshore drilling. Protections secured by Governor Bush far exceed those agreed to by former President Clinton, former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, and the late-Governor Lawton Chiles.

[Free the USA]

Check the Bump List folders for articles related to and descriptions of the above topic(s) or for other topics of interest.

[Willie Green]

bttt

[j_accuse]

This about more than oil ...

Colombian Rebels Plan Strike in U.S.

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The pro-narcoguerrilla National Colombia Mobilization is part of the A.N.S.W.E.R. pro-terrorist march to be held in Washington DC on April 20th - Hitler's Birthday. Join the Operation Infinite Freep in DC that same day.

Join Operation Infinite FReep! April 20

*Infinite FReep Bump List
Click Here to find more Operation Infinite FReeps

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The war in Colombia is just and US should back it Boston Globe
Abandoned camps reveal Colombian rebels lived well AP
A Terrorist Regime Waits In The Wings [re:Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)] INSIGHT magazine

Get more Colombia updates from

[mafree]

bttt

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[George Frm Br00klyn Park]

Guys, Just more of the "Third Way's" "Public Private Partnerships" for the children of the world. Peace and love, George.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks Willie.

[DoughtyOne]

Third Way? What does that mean George. Hmmmm.

Grin...

[Quila]

Oh yeah, let's solve everyone's problems. While we're at it, let's send in our troops too and overtax our military even more.

Gotta ensure those corporate profits for big donors, you know.

[monkeywrench]

Bttt!