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Details Of U.S.-Colombia Military Pact Cause Outrage
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rwro-@yahoo.com
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Nov 06, 2009 06:07 PST
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http://www.allgov.com/ViewNews/Details_of_US_Colombia_Military_Deal_Cause_O=
utrage_91106
AllGov
November 6, 2009
Details of U.S.-Colombia Military Deal Cause Outrage
=20
Latin American leaders have expressed concern over a new bilateral military=
agreement between the United States and Colombia that involves security is=
sues related to =E2=80=9Canti-U.S. governments=E2=80=9D in the region.=20
The 10-year treaty gives American military forces access to seven Colombian=
army, navy and air force bases, but also to major international civilian a=
irports in the country. In addition, U.S. personnel and defense contractors=
will enjoy diplomatic immunity under the agreement.
....=20
The U.S. placed greater importance on securing the new deal with Colombia a=
fter Ecuador=E2=80=99s leftist government refused to renew its agreement to=
allow American forces to use an air base for counter-narcotics operations.
=20
More importantly, a U.S. Air Force document obtained by the media states th=
e arrangement with Colombia provides a =E2=80=9Cunique opportunity=E2=80=9D=
for =E2=80=9Cconducting full spectrum operations throughout South America,=
=E2=80=9D including handling threats from =E2=80=9Canti-U.S. governments.=
=E2=80=9D
=20
Venezuela=E2=80=99s government, led by Latin America=E2=80=99s most vocal c=
ritic of the U.S., President Hugo Ch=C3=A1vez, broke off diplomatic relatio=
ns with the government of Colombia over news of the military treaty. Ch=C3=
=A1vez has warned that Colombian military bases could be used by the U.S. t=
o attack his country.
=20
Leaders in Brazil and Chile also have expressed concern over the agreement.
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http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=3D85772
VHeadline
November 5, 2009
=20
US Air Force document reveals true intentions behind Colombia military agre=
ement=20
Eva Golinger=20
An official document from the Department of the US Air Force reveals that t=
he military base in Palanquero, Colombia will provide the Pentagon with "=
=E2=80=A6an opportunity for conducting full spectrum operations throughout =
South America=E2=80=A6" =20
This information contradicts the explanations offered by Colombian Presiden=
t Alvaro Uribe and the US State Department regarding the military agreement=
signed between the two nations on October 30.
Both governments have publicly stated that the military agreement refers on=
ly to counternarcotics and counterterrorism operations within Colombian ter=
ritory.
President Uribe has reiterated numerous times that the military agreement w=
ith the US will not affect Colombia's neighbors, despite constant concern i=
n the region regarding the true objectives of the agreement. But the US Air=
Force document, dated May 2009, confirms that the concerns of South Americ=
an nations have been right on target. The document exposes that the true in=
tentions behind the agreement are to enable the US to engage in "full spect=
rum military operations in a critical sub-region of our hemisphere where se=
curity and stability is under constant threat from narcotics funded terrori=
st insurgencies =E2=80=A6 and anti-US governments=E2=80=A6"
The military agreement between Washington and Colombia authorizes the acces=
s and use of seven military installations in Palanquero, Malambo, Tolemaida=
, Larandia, Apiay, Cartagena and Malaga. Additionally, the agreement allows=
for "the access and use of all other installations and locations as necess=
ary" throughout Colombia, with no restrictions. Together with the complete =
immunity the agreement provides to US military and civilian personnel, incl=
uding private defense and security contractors, the clause authorizing the =
US to utilize any installation throughout the entire country -- even commer=
cial airports, for military ends, signifies a complete renouncing of Colomb=
ian sovereignty and officially converts Colombia into a client-state of the=
US.
The US Air Force document underlines the importance of the military base in=
Palanquero and justifies the $46 million requested in the 2010 budget (now=
approved by Congress) in order to improve the airfield, associated ramps a=
nd other installations on the base to convert it into a US Cooperative Secu=
rity Location (CSL). "Establishing a Cooperative Security Location (CSL) in=
Palanquero best supports the COCOM's (Command Combatant's) Theater Posture=
Strategy and demonstrates our commitment to this relationship. Development=
of this CSL provides a unique opportunity for full spectrum operations in =
a critical sub-region of our hemisphere where security and stability is und=
er constant threat from narcotics funded terrorist insurgencies, anti-US go=
vernments, endemic poverty and recurring natural disasters."
It's not difficult to imagine which governments in South America are consid=
ered by Washington to be "anti-US governments." The constant aggressive dec=
larations and statements emitted by the State and Defense Departments and t=
he US Congress against Venezuela and Bolivia, and even to some extent Ecuad=
or, evidence that the ALBA nations are the ones perceived by Washington as =
a "constant threat."
To classify a country as "anti-US" is to consider it an enemy of the United=
States. In this context, it's obvious that the military agreement with Col=
ombia is a reaction to a region the US now considers full of "enemies."
COUNTERNARCOTICS OPERATIONS ARE SECONDARY
Per the US Air Force document, "Access to Colombia will further its strateg=
ic partnership with the United States. The strong security cooperation rela=
tionship also offers an opportunity for conducting full spectrum operations=
throughout South America to include mitigating the Counternarcotics capabi=
lity." This statement clearly evidences that counternarcotics operations ar=
e secondary to the real objetives of the military agreement between Colombi=
a and Washington. Again, this clearly contrasts the constant declarations o=
f the Uribe and Obama governments insisting that the main focus of the agre=
ement is to combat drug trafficking and production. The Air Force document =
emphasizes the necessity to improve "full spectrum" military operations thr=
oughout South America -- not just in Colombia -- in order to combat "consta=
nt threats" from "anti-US governments" in the region.
PALANQUERO IS THE BEST OPTION FOR CONTINENTAL MOBILITY
The Air Force document explains that "Palanquero is unquestionably the best=
site for investing in infrastructure development within Colombia. Its cent=
ral location is within reach of =E2=80=A6 operations areas =E2=80=A6 its is=
olation maximizes Operational Security (OPSEC) and Force Protection and min=
imizes the US military profile. The intent is to leverage existing infrastr=
ucture to the maximum extent possible, improve the US ability to respond ra=
pidly to crisis, and assure regional access and presence at minimum cost. P=
alanquero supports the mobility mission by providing access to the entire S=
outh American continent with the exception of Cape Horn=E2=80=A6"
ESPIONAGE AND WARFARE
The document additionally confirms that the US military presence in Palanqu=
ero, Colombia, will improve the capacity of espionage and intelligence oper=
ations, and will allow the US armed forces to increase their warfare capabi=
lities in the region. "Development of this CSL will further the strategic p=
artnership forged between the US and Colombia and is in the interest of bot=
h nations=E2=80=A6A presence will also increase our capability to conduct I=
ntelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), improve global reach, s=
upport logistics requirements, improve partnerships, improve theater securi=
ty cooperation and expand expeditionary warfare capability."
The language of war included in this document evidences the true intentions=
behind the military agreement between Washington and Colombia: they are pr=
eparing for war in Latin America.
The past few days have been full of conflict and tension between Colombia a=
nd Venezuela. Just days ago, the Venezuelan government captured three spies=
from the Colombian intelligence agency, DAS, and discovered several active=
destabilization and espionage operations against Cuba, Ecuador and Venezue=
la. The operations -- Fenix, Salomon and Falcon, respectively -- were revea=
led in documents found with the captured DAS agents. Approximately two week=
s ago, 10 bodies were found in Tachira, a border zone with Colombia. After =
completing the relevant investigations, the Venezuelan government discovere=
d that the bodies belonged to Colombian paramilitaries infiltrated inside V=
enezuelan territory. This dangerous paramilitary infiltration from Colombia=
forms part of a destabilization plan against Venezuela that seeks to creat=
e a paramilitary state inside Venezuelan territory in order to breakdown Pr=
esident Chavez' government.
The military agreement between Washington and Colombia will only increase r=
egional tensions and violence. The information revealed in the US Air Force=
document unquestionably evidences that Washington seeks to promote a state=
of warfare in South America, using Colombia as its launching pad. Before t=
his declaration of war, the peoples of Latin America must stand strong and =
unified. Latin American integration is the best defense against the Empire'=
s aggression.
The US Air Force document was submitted in May 2009 to Congress as part of =
the 2010 budget justification.
It is an official government document and reaffirms the authenticity of the=
White Book: 'Global Enroute Strategy of the US Air Mobility Command,' whic=
h was denounced by President Chavez during the UNASUR meeting in Bariloche,=
Argentina on August 28.
I have placed the original document and the non-official translation into S=
panish of the relevant parts relating to Palanquero on the web page of the =
'Center to Alert and Defend the People' -- 'Centro de Alerta para la Defens=
a de los pueblos' -- which we have created to guarantee that strategic info=
rmation is available to those under constant threat from imperialist aggres=
sion.
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=3D=3D
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