Colombian defense chief quits, may seek presidency

[Judi Lynn]

Colombian defense chief quits, may seek presidency
By CESAR GARCIA Associated Press Writer
Posted: 05/18/2009 11:19:50 AM PDT
Updated: 05/18/2009 11:19:51 AM PDT


BOGOTA—Colombia's defense minister resigned on Monday, saying he will launch a presidential bid if current President Alvaro Uribe decides not to seek a third term.
Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos, who has received credit for some of the military's biggest successes against leftist rebels, said he is stepping down on May 23 after nearly three years in the post.

Colombian law says public officials have to step down a year ahead of the May 2010 election in order to seek the presidency.

Santos said he will support Uribe if the president runs for a third term, but if Uribe isn't on the ballot, Santos said, "I will be a candidate."

Uribe has not said publicly whether he will seek a third term, something that would require a constitutional change. Uribe was re-elected to a second term in 2006.

Colombia's senate on Tuesday plans to consider whether to schedule a referendum that could eliminate the ban on a third term.

More:
http://www.mercurynews.com/nationworld/ci_12396354?nclick_check=1

[Peace Patriot]

1. My take on it is that Uribe is bad news, but Santos is the worse news possible--

Santos is an arrogant, murderous nazi in the Rumsfeld mold. Uribe--though a very dirty beneficiary of the death squads and Bushwhack largesse, and associated with the Medellin Cartel in his early career--at least feels obliged to play-act at democracy. Santos won't and doesn't feel that obligation. He will create a military dictatorship. And that could be part of the Bushwhacks' long term plan to regain global corporate predator control of the oil in Venezuela and Ecuador, and other objectives in Latin America (destroying the new democratic, leftist renaissance).

That $6 BILLION of our tax money they larded on Santos and the Colombian military was for buying something. I figured safe drugs/weapons trafficking, at least. But their main goal is always OIL. And other things point to that as well--for instance, the demonization of Chavez and Correa (president of Ecuador); the Bush funded and organized fascist coup attempt in Bolivia, this last September, which Correa said was part of a three-country war plan (Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia); the reconstitution of the U.S. 4th Fleet in the Caribbean (which Lula da Silva said is a threat to Brazil's oil; everybody knows it's a threat to Venezuela); and the 'retired' Donald Rumsfeld's interest in toppling Chavez (WaPo op-ed in Dec '07, a year after he left the Pentagon). Santos would be Rumsfeld's boy in Colombia, in ways that Uribe never was (corrupt as he is). And the fascist thugs and murderers will be out in force to ensure that Santos gets 'elected.'

Trouble ahead. Big trouble. Maybe Oil War II: South America.

I think the new leftist tide is very, very strong, and will likely win the battle for Latin American independence and social justice. But I also think that Rumsfeld and brethren are not about to let all those oil profits go toward schools and medical care, without a fight. Santos ruling Colombia is part of the battle plan.

That said, the corpo/fascists are good at manipulating narratives to force people to settle for 'lesser evils.' All this could be narrative manipulation to get Uribe a third term (and get the U.S./Colombia "free trade" deal through Congress). It's the height of irony--and super-twisted fascism--that Uribe could be put forth as the 'democratic' alternative. 'Better than Santos,' say, in the way that McCain would be 'better than Bush.' I'm certainly not campaigning for Uribe--just trying to put this Santos thing into the larger perspective. He is an aggressive warmonger. With Santos ruling Colombia, there would be no hope of integration of Colombia with the rest of South America, and no hope of peace in Colombia's 40+ year civil war. He has openly stated that he will invade Venezuela, as he did Ecuador last year, on the pretext of killing FARC guerrillas. He defied Uribe's agreements with the rest of South America's leaders on this issue--and made his own policy statement in opposition to the civilian government led by Uribe. He believes in murderous power. That is his religion. Uribe is more a mixed bag--willing to negotiate, met with Chavez on common economic and development initiatives, more realistic as to the overwhelming leftist trend in Latin America--a corrupt fascist, willing to be propped up by military aid and military power, but stops short of grandiose dreams of the Third Reich in South America. That is Santos' ambition, in my opinion.

[Bacchus39]

2. I guess we'll have to see how this plays out

and see who the Colombian people elect.

I doubt they'll give much consideration to your concerns.

[rabs]

3. Uribe is leaving Santos twisting in the wind

but still Santos has rolled the dice.

Today in a radio interview, he said had had an "intuition" that Uribe will not run again. Uribe has until October to decide so that leaves Santos and any other Uribista pretenders to the Palacio Narino in the lurch for several months when they could be campaigning and raising funds etc.

Today the Uribista Senate took the first step for Uribe's re-re-election. (The Uribistas even sworn in two senators to replace the two who were arrested last week for their paramilitary connections.) But Uribe still faces s tough row to hoe before he can declare himself a candidate for his second re-election.

Uribe's first re-election campaign is under investigation by a court for over-spending during the campaign, in violation of Colombian law. (The now-defunct DMG was up to its eyeballs in providing funds to the Uribe campaign.) There is also the on-going Yidis-gate bribery scandal of a couple of legislators who approved his first re-election bid.

Assuming Uribe comes out of the investigation squeaky-clean (and he will, considering the corruption of the Colombian legal system) Alvarito still must get 25 percent of the registered votes in the referendum. The opposition is already talking about a blank-vote campaign to deny Uribe the 7 million votes he would need in the referendum.

There is also a strong current of Colombians who are fed up with all the scandals swirling around Uribe, the latest being the Tom and Jerry scandal.

Back to Santos: remember a few months ago he was advocating hot-pursuit of FARC guerrillas into neighboring countries. That gives an indication of how dangerous he could be if elected. His election would ensure that the war with FARC will continue, even though the FARC has been sending out peace feelers recently.

Santos brags that under his tenure as defense minister he delivers harsh blows against the FARC. But he shies away from the estimated 1,500 "false positives" during his three years as defense minister.

Finally, it is not mentioned in the press, but Colombian commenters to stories in El Tiempo, El Espectador, Semana and others speak of Santos' life-style orientation. One said Santos has been spotted in SoBeach in Miami cavorting with "pals."

Out of curiosity, looked up his bio on Wiki and there is no mention of a wife or kids. Colombia being a 90 percent Catholic nation and a very machista society, that does raise a question.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Never heard about this before seeing your comments. Very interesting.

Have read already in books I've gathered that Colombia is extraordinarily resistant to change, is very rigid societally by comparison to other countries in South America, not even having a heavy presence of immigrants from anywhere else to bring change or influence which might alter, diminish the relentless domination of their religion.

If this is true, opening to change in personal lifestyles would be far more unlikely.

I have also read that the paramilitaries actually kill vulnerable people within their reach they imagine are different from the role playing from the past. Read it far more than once. Read it from a personal testimony by a former para, as well.

So it has already been hinted at in the papers, as well. I never would have guessed, figuring he was just another slimey, vicious thug from the fascist regime, a man who loves the power of being able to order people to kill others.

If I am reading you correctly, it's possible his lifestyle might be a draw back, and a vote loser among the orthodox, radical Catholic voters, who might find it more unacceptable to them than the idea of an ambitious, lethal leftist-killer attracts them, so he's not necessarily a shoe-in.

This adds a LOT of interest value to their upcoming election, rabs. Thanks.