-Caveat Lector-
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: REUTERS: U.S. Seeks to Help Colombian Troops Defend Pipeline
Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2002 08:50:52 -0600 (CST)
From: Colombian Labor Monitor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Organization: ?
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
________________________________________________________________________
C O L O M B I A L A B O R M O N I T O R
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For updates throughout the day visit the most
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[NOTE: Long gone are the days when U.S. military intervention
in Colombia was packaged as "counter-narcotics aid." In the
post-September 11 militaristic climate, the petroleum cartel
that runs the White House has little problem re-packaging
U.S. intervention as "counter-terrorist aid," and showing
the true beneficiaries of Washington's munificence: the oil
companies. But, then, we knew this all along, didn't we? -DG]
________________________
REUTERS
Tuesday, 5 February 2002
U.S. Seeks to Help Colombian
Troops Defend Pipeline
----------------------------
By Jason Webb
BOGOTA - The United States wants to train and equip Colombian troops to
defend a key oil pipeline, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday,
unveiling plans to turn U.S. aid more directly against rebels fighting a
38-year-old war.
Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman said the Bush
administration would ask Congress for $98 million to strengthen a
Colombian army brigade to guard the 490-mile Cano Limon pipeline, whose
oil field is operated by U.S. firm Occidental Petroleum Corp.
The aid, which would likely include helicopters, comes on top of already
massive U.S. assistance limited to wiping out cocaine and heroin
production in the Andean nation.
Grossman said helping protect the Cano Limon -- a favorite target of
leftist rebels -- was part of Washington's commitment to help Colombians
create a "terror-free democracy."
"The war on terrorism will require every bit of state policy and every
tool available to the state," Grossman told a news conference in Bogota as
he wrapped up a three-day visit by a top-level U.S. delegation.
The Bush administration sent to Congress on Monday a fiscal year 2003
budget that included funds for training a second anti-drug brigade as part
of a 14 percent increase in anti-narcotics spending in the Andean region.
Of the $731 million proposed for the regional effort, $439 million was for
Colombia.
Wary of getting dragged into a conflict that has claimed 40,000 lives in
the past decade, the United States has not granted President Andres
Pastrana's request for authorization to use U.S. anti-narcotics aid
against guerrillas and far-right paramilitaries in non-drug operations.
On Tuesday, Grossman said the new aid will be modeled on training provided
for a Colombian army anti-narcotics brigade, whose progress has pleased
Washington.
RIGHTS GROUPS CALL FOR END TO U.S. AID
Washington-based Human Rights Watch called on Tuesday for the United
States to end military aid to Colombia because its armed forces have not
cut links with paramilitary outlaws.
Grossman said the U.S. government will study the report.
Keeping Cano Limon running will help Bogota fight the rebels at a critical
time for struggling 3-year-old peace talks and provide money for funding
its own war effort. Each day the country's second-largest oil pipeline is
out of action, the Colombian government loses $2.3 million from oil sales
alone.
The 120,000-barrel-a-day duct, which is currently not in operation due to
repairs, was bombed 170 times last year and has already been bombed at
least 13 times in 2002.
It is targeted by both the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia -- known
by the Spanish initials FARC -- and the smaller National Liberation Army,
or ELN, as part of extortion campaigns. The two rebel groups are dubbed
"terrorist organizations" by the United States.
The United States also wants to ensure oil supplies in the Andean region
-- its second largest source of oil imports outside the volatile Middle
East, officials said.
Copyright 2002 Reuters
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