US House blocks defense funds for Colombia's coca spraying
Source: Colombia Reports
by Adriaan Alsema September 24, 2021
The United States House of Representatives passed a bill that banned American defense funds for the aerial spraying of coca, the base ingredient of cocaine, in Colombia.
The bill that was sponsored by Democratic House Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez additionally bans possible US funds for arms and training of the National Polices anti-riot unit ESMAD.
Last but not least, the bill by the New York Democrat asked the Department of Defense (DoD) to inform US Congress every six months.
Ocasio-Cortez specifically wanted the DoD to inform the US lawmakers on the human rights situation in Colombia and progress made in investigations into the mass killing of anti-government protesters earlier this year.
Read more: https://colombiareports.com/us-house-blocks-funds-for-colombias-coca-spraying/
The citizens who have been suffering because of this practice will be so thankful, as they have been deeply harmed, along with the wildlife of Colombia, and livestock, pets, and of course anyone caught outdoors when it happens.
Remember Democratic Senator Paul Welstone was in Colombia to investigate this, and was sprayed by one of the airplanes, along with his colleagues, as a warning, apparently. They also discovered a bomb near where his vehicle had been going to park. They don't like representatives of the taxpaying US chumps who have been pouring billions into Colombia since 2000 to have any say about the government's policy.
Budi
(15,325 posts)Or was it a stand alone.
Be important to know what caused the down vote.
Perhaps DOD can authorize it seperately like they'll do for the Iron Dome.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)Budi
(15,325 posts)Many of these countries share a border with some of the most agressive authoritarians just primed for demolishing a democratic govt.
Ukraine is recently seeking Iron Dome assistance as Russia looms nearby.
marble falls
(57,014 posts)peppertree
(21,604 posts)Thus forcing farmers to switch to coca - which is now grown at record rates.
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/colombia-coca-crop-area-expanded-245000-hectares-2020-report-2021-06-26/