Deal: United States soldiers will deploy to Colombia

[Sol Invictus]

Stephen C. Webster
Raw Story
August 16, 2009

Chavez: ‘The winds of war [are] beginning to blow’

Some American troops will soon find themselves stationed at military bases scattered across the South American nation of Colombia with a mission to use advanced Predator drone technology to aid in fighting the drug trade and to combat terrorism, according to published reports Saturday.

But Colombia’s neighbors certainly do not see it that way.
In Venezuela, officials bristled. President Hugo Chavez warned, “the winds of war [are] beginning to blow.”

Chavez has already accused Colombian troops of making an incursion over the border and regional tensions are running high. Honduran de-facto President Rafael Correa also took exception, saying the United States would target Colombia’s neighbors if the deal is finalized.
“It has also sparked concern from moderate Colombian allies, such as Chile and Brazil, who want assurances that U.S. forces won’t be operating outside Colombia’s territory,” The Wall Street Journal adds.

Colombia says its agreement with the United States will allow Washington to use its military bases to track drug-runners through the use of remote aircraft.
“The Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, called for a meeting between US President Barack Obama and the region’s leaders, saying the ‘climate of unease disturbs me,’” reported the BBC.

“This agreement reaffirms the commitment of both parties in the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism,” Colombia’s foreign ministry said in a statement Friday.
Officials here said the two countries agreed the text of an agreement, which now has to be reviewed by government agencies in Bogota and Washington before getting a final signature.

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[Æmeric]

It would be so much easier to just legalize cocaine & tax it. Any cokehead who wants cocaine can get it but at a steep markup because of the illegality of it all. You would think the idiots in charge of drug policy would take a hint from the effects of (alcohol) prohibition in America & how it gave rise to modern crime syndicates.