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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fg-farc28nov28,0,3731279.story?coll=la-home-headlines
Colombian Government Claims Rebels Targeted Bush
By Warren Vieth and Rachel van Dongen
Times Staff Writer
6:43 PM PST, November 27, 2004
BOGOTA, Colombia — Marxist rebels tried to organize an assassination attempt against President Bush during his visit to the port city of Cartagena last week, a top Colombian official said Saturday.
Defense Secretary Jorge Alberto Uribe told reporters in Bogota that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, a 17,000-member rebel group known as FARC that has been fighting Colombia's government for decades, had plotted to kill Bush.
"Through informants and various sources, we had information indicating that different groups of the FARC had been instructed by the secretariat (of the FARC) that they would attempt to assassinate President Bush," Uribe said in a report carried by Caracol Television.
White House and other U.S. officials refused to discuss the reported plot Saturday, and it was not immediately clear whether members of FARC actually attempted to carry out any instructions to target Bush during his brief stop in Colombia.
Bush traveled to Colombia on Monday to assure leaders there of continued U.S. aid in a crackdown on drug trafficking. The stop came after the president's trip to Chile for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference.
Uribe would not elaborate on the details of the alleged plot and would not say whether there had been any arrests or confrontations between Colombian or U.S. security forces and the rebels. Uribe offered no evidence of an assassination plot and did not say whether any evidence had been recovered.
Secret Service spokesman Jonathan Cherry in Washington declined to discuss the plot outlined by Uribe.
"The Secret Service does not comment or release information regarding our protective intelligence and protective methods," Cherry said. "The Secret Service does not discuss any alleged threats to our protectees."
A White House spokesman also declined to provide details.
"We have full confidence in the fine work of the Secret Service and their work with security officials on the ground when the president travels," White House spokesman Jim Morrell said in Washington, D.C.
Security was heavy Monday during Bush's stop in Cartagena. Security personnel were stationed atop the airport control tower, and several helicopters were circling overhead when the president arrived shortly before noon. Uribe said Saturday that 15,000 Colombian troops were deployed because of the threat against Bush.
Low-flying helicopters accompanied Bush's motorcade on the drive through the city, including two black choppers that flew extremely close to the ground. At one point, the helicopters swooped so low they kicked up a small dust storm, forcing onlookers to cover their heads and eyes. Armed security officers, including some in riot gear, were stationed along the route.
Over the past four years, the United States has provided billions of dollars in aid to help the government of Colombia improve internal security and counter the drug trade. Colombia produces most of the cocaine and much of the heroin sold in the United States. Both the FARC and the country's right-wing paramilitary organizations have ties to drug traffickers, according to Colombian and U.S. authorities.
FARC has made several unsuccessful assassination attempts against Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, including a car bomb attack during his 2002 campaign.
U.S. officials have been impressed by President Uribe, who has launched a full-scale military assault against FARC.
Bush vowed during his stop that the United States will add new money to Plan Colombia, which has cost $3.3 billion since President Clinton began the program in 2000. The package makes Colombia the largest recipient of U.S. aid outside the Middle East.
Last month, Congress agreed to double the size of the U.S. military contingent in Colombia, from 400 to 800. The troops train Colombian forces and help them carry out anti-narcotics operations; they are barred from any combat role.
Times staff writer Vieth reported from Crawford and special correspondent Van Dongen from Bogota. Staff writer Paul Richter in Washington contributed to this report.
I really have come to admire and treasure the sublime gestures of President Bush. Nothing could have shouted "President Uribe and the Colombian people are important to America, you are safe and secure, and here's the proof" like the President of the United States appearing openly and securely next to the Colombian leader as equal partners in prosperity and peace.
That gesture meant everything to Uribe's political standing, and it was an immeasurably vital event to affirm authentic confidence, pride and morale among the Colombian people.
That's how you groom trusting allies and loyal partnerships. Nobody has ever done it like W.