Colombia Eligible for U.S. Military Aid (OIL)

[Say_What]

Another example of the way Uncle Sam supports human rights. Doesn't matter that Colombia has the worst human rights record in the Western Hemisphere, they've been deemed to be eligible for US military aid. The Colombian government is so *democratic* it just gave the military power to make arrests without a warrant, tap phones, and collect evidence in *war zones* (read:OIL-rich land). Behind Israel and Egypt, Colombia is the world's 3rd largest recipient of $$$ from Uncle Sam.

Meanwhile, the EU wants to question US lap dog president Uribe on human rights and the rule of law in Colombia.

The depth to which the Bush junta will stoop on behalf of protecting US business interests is truely dispicable.

<clips>

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) has certified that Colombia is meeting congressional standards for protecting human rights, a State Department official said Friday.

The action ensures that Colombia will receive $34 million in aid for Colombian security forces, including airborne operations and a U.S.-trained counternarcotics brigade.

Powell issued the certification on Wednesday.

Jose Miguel Vivanco of Human Rights Watch said Powell's action "suggests that the Bush administration sees the defense of human rights as a matter of paperwork, not concrete actions."

more...

[brainshrub]

1. An added bonus of Columbia being the US's bitch

is that we get to cause all sorts of problems for Chavez's government in Venezuela.

[Say_What]

2. Correct. and some Venezuelan's are of the opinion that the US is trying

to set Colombia up like an *Israel* in this hemisphere--a country that the US would support and who could be depended on to watch out for US interests in LatAm.