The United States provides military aid to Colombia, mostly to wipe out drug crops. The Bush administration has asked Congress to authorize $98-million to train and arm a Colombian army brigade to protect a vital oil pipeline from rebel attacks.
Because the US are such good neighbours to the north. They just want to protect the Colombian government, help them. Yeah, that’s it.
From The Globe and Mail
all the more disturbing in the face of this excellent interview with Chomsky on the drug/terror tie in:
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=12420
all the more disturbing in the face of this excellent interview with Chomsky on the drug/terror tie in:
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=12420
Is trying to prevent drug production and trafficking that has a devastating effect on your citizens, and trying to protect part of your country’s energy supply, somehow sneaky or evil?
Seems like it is in both Colombian and US national interest to do this. And it’s not like American forces are invading. The assistance has been eagerly requested by the Colombian government. So what’s the problem?
But don’t let me stand in the way of your conspiracy theories. If you are pro-Chomsky, you already believe that America = Pure Evil.
Is trying to prevent drug production and trafficking that has a devastating effect on your citizens, and trying to protect part of your country’s energy supply, somehow sneaky or evil?
Seems like it is in both Colombian and US national interest to do this. And it’s not like American forces are invading. The assistance has been eagerly requested by the Colombian government. So what’s the problem?
But don’t let me stand in the way of your conspiracy theories. If you are pro-Chomsky, you already believe that America = Pure Evil.
It’s not the issue of trying to combat drug trafficking, it’s that I think combatting drug trafficking is an excuse to defend foreign commercial interests.
Also, the idea of a militarized war on drugs seems somewhat laughable. Prevention, treatment, etc are the way to deal with it. Prohibition was a resounding failure for the US. Anti-smoking initiatives that have focussed on prevention, treatment and lifestyle have also had great effect on reducing the amount of smokers in America.
My other main issue with US intervention in Columbia is that the Columbian government has an atrocious human rights record. Random Kidnappings, murders, torture appear commonplace. These are trappings of terror that the US claims to be now fighting against. So why do they now support this regime? Morals that exist only when convenient do not cut it.
(FYI, have a glance at Columbia’s record at Amnesty International for some readily available reasons for the US to withdraw their support until treatment of citizens and politcals opponents improve.
As a note about Chomsky, I tend to listen to what he has to say with a grain of salt – there’s kernals of truth but I find myself in disagreement about much also.
It’s not the issue of trying to combat drug trafficking, it’s that I think combatting drug trafficking is an excuse to defend foreign commercial interests.
Also, the idea of a militarized war on drugs seems somewhat laughable. Prevention, treatment, etc are the way to deal with it. Prohibition was a resounding failure for the US. Anti-smoking initiatives that have focussed on prevention, treatment and lifestyle have also had great effect on reducing the amount of smokers in America.
My other main issue with US intervention in Columbia is that the Columbian government has an atrocious human rights record. Random Kidnappings, murders, torture appear commonplace. These are trappings of terror that the US claims to be now fighting against. So why do they now support this regime? Morals that exist only when convenient do not cut it.
(FYI, have a glance at Columbia’s record at Amnesty International for some readily available reasons for the US to withdraw their support until treatment of citizens and politcals opponents improve.
As a note about Chomsky, I tend to listen to what he has to say with a grain of salt – there’s kernals of truth but I find myself in disagreement about much also.