NYT: U.S. Rethinks Its Cutoff of Military Aid to Latin American Nations

[DeepModem Mom]

U.S. Rethinks Its Cutoff of Military Aid to Latin American Nations
By STEVEN R. WEISMAN
Published: March 12, 2006


SANTIAGO, Chile, March 11 — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice indicated Saturday that the United States would look for ways to resume military assistance to Latin American nations cut off from aid programs because of their refusal to shield Americans from the International Criminal Court.

Officials traveling with Ms. Rice said that in meeting with President Evo Morales of Bolivia, she had emphasized the importance of cooperating on efforts to combat drugs despite his vow to end coca plant eradication programs. The newly installed Bolivian leader favors the legal cultivation of coca, the plant used to manufacture cocaine, but says he opposes cocaine and has agreed to let American antidrug officials remain in the country.

In a friendly but pointed gesture, he gave Ms. Rice a small guitar decorated on the front with real leaves from a coca plant in lacquer. Ms. Rice, perhaps not realizing that the decoration was from the plant that the United States has sought to eradicate, then smiled and strummed the guitar for television cameras. American officials said Bolivian leader was clearly trying to show how growing the plant that is made into cocaine is a part of his nation's culture.

Eliminating or reducing military assistance to countries like Chile and Bolivia that are seeking to combat terrorism or drug trafficking is "sort of the same as shooting ourselves in the foot," Ms. Rice told reporters on Friday as she traveled here for the inauguration of Michelle Bachelet as the new president of Chile.

Ms. Rice said, however, that the Bush administration had limited flexibility in restoring aid because a law enacted by Congress required the cutoff of military aid to countries that did not exempt American citizens from being brought before the court....


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/12/politics/12rice.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[FloridaPat]

1. Congress passed that law? I missed that one. Thought it was

another executive order.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Led by Jessie Helms

The ASPA, a measure sponsored by an overwhelmingly Republican group of legislators in the House and Senate, requires the president to cut off military aid to all countries that have ratified the Rome Statute and failed to sign a bilateral immunity agreement (BIA) exempting U.S. personnel on their soil from extradition to the ICC.
...
Senate ASPA Sponsors (S. 857 / S. 1610): Jesse Helms (R-NC), Kit Bond (R-MO), Larry Craig (R-ID), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Trent Lott (R-MS), Frank Murkowski (R-AK), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Richard Shelby (R-AL), John Warner (R-VA) and Zell Miller (D-GA)

House ASPA Sponsors (H.R. 1794 / H.R. 4775): Tom Delay (R-TX), Benjamin Gilman (R-NY), Henry Hyde (R-IL), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Bill Young (R-FL), and John Murtha (D-PA)

http://www.ciponline.org/colombia/040331ston.htm

[Rex]

3. What a sad gesture my Rice.

For such a powerful executive branch, they sure do show weakness on foreign policy. Worst administration ever.

[fiveleafclover]

4. Worst PEOPLE ever

Sorry to be so specific, but I think that might be closer to the truth.

[Demeter]

5. Hope They Turn It All Down Flat

The best thing for South of the Border is the border, keeping pernicious US busybodies out. And their bankers.

[Tempest]

6. Not only turn them down flat

But petition China and Russia to supply them.

[Joanne98]

7. There's a picture of Condi strumming the cocoa leaf guitar

In a friendly but pointed gesture, he gave Ms. Rice a small guitar decorated on the front with real leaves from a coca plant in lacquer. Ms. Rice, perhaps not realizing that the decoration was from the plant that the United States has sought to eradicate, then smiled and strummed the guitar for television cameras. American officials said Bolivian leader was clearly trying to show how growing the plant that is made into cocaine is a part of his nation's culture.

[Joanne98]

8. Here it is. It doesn't look like cocoa leaves.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10958636/

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. "refusal to shield Americans from the International Criminal Court"

.
.
.

American Government don't want to be held responsible for their illegal an murderous ways -

They consistently require "immunity" for their troops and representatives in other countries for crimes committed by US citizens and military - -

PNACers are "Above The Law" doncha know????

(sigh)

[arcos]

10. We DO NOT WANT YOUR AID Condi! nt

[cantstandbush]

11. I hope they refuse to buy American. n/t

[cantstandbush]

12. Our cut off of military aid was the best thing that ever happened to these

countries. Our "aid" was keeping them in debt. They really need to be unencumbered by the US. They have a growing economy and natural resources (oil) and strong workforces. Pretty soon, there will be reverse immigration to the US as these economies grow and make their own deals abroad. The US is so busy warmongering in the ME they have squandered opportunities to build strong alliances wiwth the leftist governements emerging in south and central America.

[NorthernSun]

13. Latin aid

As soon as the CIA and Pentagon install Right-Wing dictators again, they will get plenty of military aid to use against their own people.