Albright Offers S.A. Countries Bribes, Bravado For Colombia War Support http://abcnews.com/wire/World/ap20000819_155.html [You'll note that the four nations Albright finds to be "saddled with social and political problems" and where she feels the divine calling to "strengthen democracy" - Colombia, Nigeria, Indonesia and Ukraine - all happen to possess vast petroleum resources. Coincidence, no doubt.] WIRE:08/19/2000 00:56:00 ET Albright in Latin America: Marshaling support for Plan Colombia BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) _ Secretary of State Madeleine Albright traversed Latin America this week, championing democracy and seeking support for a U.S. drug-fighting effort in Colombia that has prompted regional concern. On Friday, Albright wound down a five-day, five-nation visit to the region. While she talked of trade and maturing democracies throughout the whirlwind tour, at each stop she expounded on what she sees as the immediate threat to democracy in the region: the increasing troubles in Colombia. Her trip comes ahead of a scheduled one-day visit to Colombia by President Clinton on Aug. 30. That is sure to be a defining moment for the massive $1.3-billion aid package to strengthen Colombia"s fight against drugs, known as Plan Colombia. In a region where U.S. involvement, whether military or political, is often viewed as meddling and intrusive, some in Latin America express less than full-throated support for the plan. Following a meeting with Albright in Brazil on Tuesday, Brazilian Foreign Minister Luiz Felipe Lampreia said Brazil, the region"s economic giant, was worried about possible spillover effects from Colombia. "Brazil has made it very clear that it does not want to get unilaterally involved in Plan Colombia," said David Fleischer, a political scientist at the University of Brasilia. U.S. and Brazilian officials later downplayed the apparent disagreement, and in Santiago on Thursday, Albright said Brazil was supportive. During stops in Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador, Albright made clear she was seeking political support _ not financial backing or military assistance for the plan. And she received just that from the countries farthest removed from Colombia"s 36-year civil war between the government and leftist rebels. Argentina, the strongest U.S. ally in the region, agreed to provide technical assistance. Neighboring Chile said it "strongly" supported the plan, and Foreign Minister Solded Alvear said the plan represented an effort "to restore peace and fight drugs." While in the Argentine capital, Albright said the increased focus on Colombia was part of an effort to strengthen democracy in four countries saddled with social and political problems _ the others being Indonesia, Nigeria, and Ukraine. "All of them are complicated and all of them are very important to the national interest of the United States as well as their regions," she said. Under the initiative, about 100 U.S. military personnel are training Colombian army anti-narcotics troops. Armed with U.S.-supplied weapons and helicopters, the Colombians are to seize drug crops from leftist guerrillas and other armed groups, paving the way for subsequent eradication by crop-dusters. But even as Albright shuttled between Latin American capitals, some in the region say they are concerned that the counter-drug offensive will mean increased problems for them. Along Colombia"s southern border, Ecuador is already a popular rest and resupply point for Colombian rebels. And as the conflict heats up, there is sure to be an increase of displaced Colombians wading across the river into Ecuador. Clinton administration officials say the plan includes significant funding for Colombia"s neighbors. At least $20 million in aid has been earmarked for Ecuador, officials said. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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