Countries show selfishness
Personal gain main interest in U.S.-Colombia agreement
Camila Pinzon Mendoza
Issue date: 10/1/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion
Is there ever a true willingness to help someone without expecting anything in return?
Agreements between the United States and Colombia will give the U.S. military access to seven Colombian military bases with the sole objective of putting an end to terrorism and drugs, since Colombia itself is incapable of doing so. But, they - Colombian and United States governments - have their own different interests, which makes the future of relations between the United States, Colombia and Latin America questionable.
"The use of Colombian military bases by the U.S. armed forces is not just the war on drugs and terrorism, but the U.S. imperial interest," said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Chavez based his discourse on the opinion that the real interests of the United States are bigger and more greedy than others, no matter whom the president of the United States is or the ideology of the U.S. government.
However, President Chavez is not the only one nervous about this Colombia-U.S. conflict; most South American countries are concerned as well.
Alvaro Uribe, president of Colombia, made a tour of each South American capital and has found out that it isn't a bilateral concern. The entire region is worried about what U.S. armed forces could do in Colombian territory.
Most South American presidents have disapproved of this agreement, as well as the Brooking Institutions Partnership for the Americas Commission and the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy, have called for a change in this strategy.
However, this doesn't stop the decision of the two presidents involved; the agreement has already been discussed several times and approved. The only thing missing is Uribe's signature.
There are some facts that make this accord positive to Colombia and relax some of the tensions in South American Countries, but apparently they don't recognize these.
U.S. equipment and technologies may catch any communication in real time that would neutralize and intimidate insurgent groups.
The agreement also states that the bases will be Colombian and completely controlled by Colombians. Both countries have to agree to every operation and Colombia will show their opposition if the country considers something as a violation of Colombian independence. It also ensures that U.S. forces cannot operate anywhere outside Colombian territory (other than international waters).
The Colombian Constitution of 1991 declared that any international troops can transit in Colombian territory. A statement we know, but don't trust at all. The Colombian president is used to altering the constitution whenever he wants, ignoring the opinion of the majority of Colombian society. It is the antithesis of democracy.
There are a considerably large number of things that justify the uneasiness of the United States in South America to the region and to me, as a Colombian citizen. Documents of the Air Mobility Command from the Pentagon from this year called Global en Route Strategy stated two disconcerting things.
First, U.S. forces wanted to change their base model around the world (more than 100) and second, U.S. forces are looking for different air bases they could use to change their routes to Africa.
Since U.S. forces no longer have the Manta base in Ecuador, they want to replace it with Palanquero - Puerto Salgar, Cundinamarca, Colombia - a strategic location because it covers the complete Pacific Ocean. The Global en Route Strategy actually stated the U.S. government has already approved $42 million for this base.
Serious consequences of the use of Colombian Military bases by U.S. Armed Forces have emerged. Some weeks ago, Chavez stated publicly that he recently spent $2.2 million in new long-range war equipment, such as weapons, tanks, missiles and rockets. Moreover, he has a close relationship with Iran.
What for? Is he planning a war? During his entire stay in power, the president of Venezuela has been concerned that the U.S. wants to invade his country, and now with this access to Colombian bases it is becoming more of a possibility.
Personally, I think Chavez is concerned because U.S. technology may uncover even more evidence of his relationship and support of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
This specific case makes me feel quite relieved. However, I think this is an internal Colombian conflict; it can't be up to the United States to judge who is right or wrong in the war on drugs. Which country would be better for the first world power to kick off of the map?
In my opinion, this is a game of interests. On one hand, Alvaro Uribe wants to persuade his South American neighbors, that have been supported with the FARC, to stop doing it now that there is U.S. presence.
And on the other hand, the United States wants to be more persuasive with the South American countries that have close relations with Russia, Iran and China.
Pinzon Mendoza is a guest columnist and international student from Colombia studying journalism.
Agreements between the United States and Colombia will give the U.S. military access to seven Colombian military bases with the sole objective of putting an end to terrorism and drugs, since Colombia itself is incapable of doing so. But, they - Colombian and United States governments - have their own different interests, which makes the future of relations between the United States, Colombia and Latin America questionable.
"The use of Colombian military bases by the U.S. armed forces is not just the war on drugs and terrorism, but the U.S. imperial interest," said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Chavez based his discourse on the opinion that the real interests of the United States are bigger and more greedy than others, no matter whom the president of the United States is or the ideology of the U.S. government.
However, President Chavez is not the only one nervous about this Colombia-U.S. conflict; most South American countries are concerned as well.
Alvaro Uribe, president of Colombia, made a tour of each South American capital and has found out that it isn't a bilateral concern. The entire region is worried about what U.S. armed forces could do in Colombian territory.
Most South American presidents have disapproved of this agreement, as well as the Brooking Institutions Partnership for the Americas Commission and the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy, have called for a change in this strategy.
However, this doesn't stop the decision of the two presidents involved; the agreement has already been discussed several times and approved. The only thing missing is Uribe's signature.
There are some facts that make this accord positive to Colombia and relax some of the tensions in South American Countries, but apparently they don't recognize these.
U.S. equipment and technologies may catch any communication in real time that would neutralize and intimidate insurgent groups.
The agreement also states that the bases will be Colombian and completely controlled by Colombians. Both countries have to agree to every operation and Colombia will show their opposition if the country considers something as a violation of Colombian independence. It also ensures that U.S. forces cannot operate anywhere outside Colombian territory (other than international waters).
The Colombian Constitution of 1991 declared that any international troops can transit in Colombian territory. A statement we know, but don't trust at all. The Colombian president is used to altering the constitution whenever he wants, ignoring the opinion of the majority of Colombian society. It is the antithesis of democracy.
There are a considerably large number of things that justify the uneasiness of the United States in South America to the region and to me, as a Colombian citizen. Documents of the Air Mobility Command from the Pentagon from this year called Global en Route Strategy stated two disconcerting things.
First, U.S. forces wanted to change their base model around the world (more than 100) and second, U.S. forces are looking for different air bases they could use to change their routes to Africa.
Since U.S. forces no longer have the Manta base in Ecuador, they want to replace it with Palanquero - Puerto Salgar, Cundinamarca, Colombia - a strategic location because it covers the complete Pacific Ocean. The Global en Route Strategy actually stated the U.S. government has already approved $42 million for this base.
Serious consequences of the use of Colombian Military bases by U.S. Armed Forces have emerged. Some weeks ago, Chavez stated publicly that he recently spent $2.2 million in new long-range war equipment, such as weapons, tanks, missiles and rockets. Moreover, he has a close relationship with Iran.
What for? Is he planning a war? During his entire stay in power, the president of Venezuela has been concerned that the U.S. wants to invade his country, and now with this access to Colombian bases it is becoming more of a possibility.
Personally, I think Chavez is concerned because U.S. technology may uncover even more evidence of his relationship and support of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
This specific case makes me feel quite relieved. However, I think this is an internal Colombian conflict; it can't be up to the United States to judge who is right or wrong in the war on drugs. Which country would be better for the first world power to kick off of the map?
In my opinion, this is a game of interests. On one hand, Alvaro Uribe wants to persuade his South American neighbors, that have been supported with the FARC, to stop doing it now that there is U.S. presence.
And on the other hand, the United States wants to be more persuasive with the South American countries that have close relations with Russia, Iran and China.
Pinzon Mendoza is a guest columnist and international student from Colombia studying journalism.
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