Venezuela's Peace Initiative Vs. U.S./Colombia War-Making

[justinaforjustice]

Venezuela Asks UNASUR to Establish Peace Zone in South America.

While the U.S. is building seven new military bases in Colombia, one right on Venezuela's border, and sending troops and war machines into Costa Rica, as well as sailing its Fourth Fleet of ships off Venezuela's coast, Venezuela seeks to have South America declared a "Peace Zone".

"I think it is appropriate that this should be done this way, because peace in Colombia represents peace in Venezuela and the region," Ambassador Marquez stressed, noting that the proposal will have an open agenda that seeks to consolidate UNASUR as a political mechanism, whose effectiveness is possible thanks to the will of each member state...

UNASUR "is the natural setting to discuss our problems and to make South America a peace zone, where diplomacy, understanding and the mechanisms for creating transparency in our relationships should prevail."

Marquez stated that there's a clash of two visions: A war-like vision reflected in the attitude of Colombia’s outgoing Foreign Minister, Jaime Bermudez ... who flatly rejected the proposal ... and the prevailing conception in Latin America, which seeks peace, respect for human rights and the deepening of democracy. He recalled that only negotiated solutions and peace agreements had brought about the end of decade-long conflicts in countries like El Salvador and Guatemala.

Ambassador Marquez expressed the belief that the government of Alvaro Uribe seeks to support the campaign promoted by Washington regarding alleged Venezuela protection of guerrillas and drug traffickers to create conditions for an eventual intervention in Venezuela. He noted that, towards that end, Bogota filed a complaint last week with the Organization of American States (OAS) as to the alleged presence in Venezuela of members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) ... an accusation which forced President Hugo Chavez Frias to break diplomatic relations with the neighboring country.

Marquez described what happened at the OAS as a "show made in the USA," which sought to support the complaint with pictures and videos lacking evidentiary value: "This is a new hoax designed to divert world attention. We respect the sovereignty of the Colombian people and State, but this is an issue that concerns the entire region."

Marquez also pointed out that the attack on Venezuela occurs in the context of the US State Department’s building of a theater of war in the region, which includes the installation of military forces in Costa Rica ... with 46 warships, more than 7,000 troops, two submarines and 10 aircraft. "There is no explanation for this."

"It seems to be kind of threat ... a warning ... a pressure they want to exert on Venezuela and other countries that are creating independent policies and developing transformative constituent processes. That worries the empire which has been losing ground in the region and wants to recover it through dollar diplomacy, the big stick and the Monroe Doctrine," he continued. The opening of naval bases in Panama, the installation of military bases in Colombia and the activation of the Fourth Fleet add to these facts ... "It's as if they were preparing a war zone..."

http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=94973

[EFerrari]

1. Invisible rec tor peace.

:kick:

[dipsydoodle]

2. Its fortunate

that the USA cannot attend an UNASUR meeting unlike an OAS meeting. Helps avoid the usual nose poking and interference.

[Greyhound]

3. Peace, what a dictatorial communist concept. K&R

[rabs]

4. UNASUR is in special session

In Quito as write this. It is not going well for Colombia and the outgoing thuggish president uribe.

The Venezuelan proposal has forced Colombian to REJECT the PEACE plan for the region. A diplomatic disaster for the outgoing uribe government and his U.S. backers (Hillary and company).

Brazil also has presented a five-point peace plan for the continent.

Re the use of U.S. bases in Colombia: Colombia's Constitution Court next Tuesday will begin deliberations on an opinion written by one its judges saying the U.S. military presence on Colombian bases is UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

Re the military forces in Costa Rica:

The Costa Rican Supreme Court last week agreed to take a case challenging the constitutionality of a US-Costa Rican agreement that would allow for a massive US military presence. The agreement cannot go into effect until the Supreme Court rules, thus postponing the arrival of US forces.

(Thanks to Downwinder for post in in Latin American forum:)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x39179

[sabrina 1]

6. Excellent news, thank you.

I think the days of U.S. backed dictators in South America are over.

Uribe should be charged with genocide. Hopefully he will be. Shameful that we are never on the side of people like Chavez, or peace, always on the wrong side of these issues.

But if S. America forms a union of countries to keep them safe from a return to the U.S. backed past, I have hopes that they may succeed where individually they could not.

Good news about Costa Rica also. I read about that a couple of weeks ago and thought it was a joke.

[rabs]

9. You're very welcome -- the Ven.-Col. crisis continues

The UNASUR foreign ministers' emergency session just ended five minutes ago.

NOTHING was resolved, the Venezuela and Colombian positions are too far apart.

Ecuador's foreign minister has called for the PRESIDENTS of the UNASUR members (12 South American nations) to meet as soon as possible to try to defuse the crisis.

Do not know if Colombia would be represented by outgoing (Aug. 7) uribe, or incoming Santos.

[sabrina 1]

15. I am very glad that it is South American nations that

are trying to resolve this. We know what would happen if it was the U.S.

Is this a new development, not allowing the U.S. to interfere and handling their own affairs without interference from the U.S.? Although I am sure there are agents attempting to influence the outcome. I do hope the U.S. has lost any influence in that region.

[rabs]

20. Not really a new development -- it flowered during the bushista years

Because the bushies largely ignored Latin America (except for Colombia) the continent moved to the left as the "pink tide" swept over country after country. So without realizing it, the bushies actually did Latin America a favor by ignoring it.

With the election of Obama, there was a wave of good will from the leftist leaders (Lula, Chavez, Morales, Correa, and others) that relations with the "norte" would improve.

Those hopes were soon dashed by Hillary/Obama tolerating the fascist coup in Honduras, the agreement with Colombia for seven military bases, the constant barrage of outright lies against Hugo Chavez and so on.

With the formation of UNASUR, 12 countries in South America have declared their "second independence." Most of the countries are now celebrating throwing off the yoke of colonial Spain 200 years ago, now they are putting the final touches to throwing off the yoke of U.S. imperialism (since around 1823 - the Monroe Doctrine).

At the UNASUR foreign ministers' meeting Thursday in Quito to attempt to resolve the Colombia/Venezuela crisis, the United States had no say. Next up (in a few days) is an urgent meeting of the UNASUR presidents to which Obama will NOT be invited. Meantime the Venezuela/Colombia crises simmers, but it is the South Americans who are trying (and probably will) defuse the situation. They will probably wait until the U.S. lapdog president uribe leaves office on Aug. 7 and the new president, Santos, is inaugurated.

Next year in Caracas, the South American, Central American and Caribbean nations will form their own version of the OAS. The United States and Canada have NOT been invited to join the organization.

So a short answer to your query: yes, the United States government has lost credibility and face in Latin America over the past decade.

:fistbump:

[EFerrari]

13. Thanks, rabs. n/t

[ceile]

21. Wow.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Which explains Venezuela huge military arms buying spree

[justinaforjustice]

7. Let's Compare the U.S. and Venezuelan Military Budgets.

Thanks to IKN LATIN AMERICA STOCKS, ECONOMICS, POLITICS AND STUFF,


The U.S.'s publicly released budget for 2010 is $663.7 billion, that is the publicly report figure at least. The CIA’s budget, also directed to war activities, is reportedly hidden in other departmental budgets, such as Energy, Transportation and Agriculture. Then, there is the vast unknowns within NASA. I would hazard that the real U.S. war budget is well over $800 billion.

Interestingly, Venezuela decreased its defense spending by 25% in 2009 as compared to 2008. Wouldn't a 25% decrease in the U.S. military budget be nice? That would sure pay for a lot of health care, repairs to schools and roads, and the like?

But, if Connecticut began building seven new military bases, one on the border with the State of New York, New York citizens might show their concern by buying a few new airplanes and tanks too.

Newspapers here in Venezuela recently reported that Venezuela will be increasing the percentage of its budget spent on social programs in 2010, not reducing them to pay for military items.

The proposed new U.S. $663.7 billion budget represents an increase in over 12% in its military spending, a budget that is already bigger than virtually all the other countries in the world, combined.

[TheWraith]

10. Oh please. Give it up.

The US is not attacking Venezuela. The US is not going to attack Venezuela. So comparing the US military budget to theirs is irrelevant, except in that it proves that if the US really had any hostile intentions--as opposed to the made up PR bull that comes out of Chavez--we could flatten Venezuela in about an hour.

[EFerrari]

12. First, Venezuela doesn't even lead the region in buys.

And second, Obama is re-militarizing Latin America. We don't have to attack. We can occupy. New bases in Honduras, Panama, Colombia, and Marines and warships to Costa Rica. Yes, that's happening.

Right now, the supreme courts in both Costa Rica and in Colombia are hearing cases regarding the spike in US presence in those countries.

[TheWraith]

14. Except we aren't building new bases.

That part is a lie. As well as, you know, most of the rest of it.

[Hugabear]

16. Are you denying that we have troops in those countries?

Do you deny that we are increasing our troop presence in Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Panama?

[EFerrari]

17. Excuse me? So the constitutional court of Colombia is deliberating

an internet myth?

US-Colombia Military Base Deal Unconstitutional: Judge
Friday, 23 July 2010 14:35 Cameron Sumpter

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x38992

US Military Moves into Costa Rica
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x38784

Anger in Costa Rica over deal to ‘invite’ 46 US warships
By Daniel Tencer
Sunday, July 11th, 2010 -- 3:40 pm
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x38512


Friday, 16 July 2010
Honduran women reject US military presence

Honduras: Honduran women rejected the increased US military presence in the country and the installation of two new bases in the Caribbean Wednesday. “There are clear intentions by Washington to continue extending its operational range and to demonstrate from our territory its hegemony to wage a war that the peoples, do not want,” warned the Visitacion Padilla Movement of Women for Peace.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x38684

CAV International Wins 10 Airfield Services Contracts in Central and South America
Press Release Source: CAV International, Inc. On Tuesday July 27, 2010, 5:00 am EDT

GREENVILLE, S.C., July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- CAV International, Inc., a US Government outsourcing contractor with expertise in airfield services & logistics, announces that the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) has awarded CAV various airport operations in new multi-year contracts for Air Terminal and Ground Handling Services across 10 countries in Central and South America. CAV (pronounced as in "cavalry") is a subsidiary of Ranger International Services Group, a private equity consolidator specialized in aerospace/defense services.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/CAV-International-Wins-10-prnews-1024707361.html?x=0&.v=1

Or as the Pentagon puts it,
Southern Command strengthening partnerships
By Scott Fontaine - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jul 26, 2010 12:15:03 EDT

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/07/airforce_southam_072510/

Yeah, it is true.

[Greyhound]

22. Had enough yet?

:spank:

[EFerrari]

19. Brazil, not Venezuela, leads in arms buys.

Brazil leads the buying spree -- with $27 billion paid or contracted in 2008, according to the Loaiza report -- as it seeks to protect vast new oil and natural gas deposits found offshore and increase its control of the vast Amazon.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2009/11/01/1310373/in-latin-america-weapons-buying.html#ixzz1CY7cLln8

But "Lula's Weapon Buying Spree Endangers Region" is never going to be a headline up here. lol

[ProgressiveProfessor]

23. That does not mean that Hugo is not also buying in large quantities

small arms, AFVs, and SAMs

[EFerrari]

25. Yes. Be very afraid!

[ProgressiveProfessor]

26. Not at all, just be mindfull that Chavez does not walk his talk

[lib2DaBone]

8. Don't tell me the U.S. is supplying arms to Columbia and creating war...?

I am SHOCKED...

[EFerrari]

18. Despite the fact that the largest mass grave in Latin America was just found there.

With "best friends" like these.

Report Suggests 'Correlation' between U.S. Aid and Army Killings

by Helda Martínez

BOGOTÁ - "There are alarming links between increased reports of extrajudicial executions of civilians by the Colombian army and units that receive U.S. military financing," John Lindsay-Poland, lead author of a two-year study on the question, told IPS.

Lindsay-Poland is Research and Advocacy Director for the U.S.-based Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), which presented a new report, "Military Assistance and Human Rights: Colombia, U.S. Accountability, and Global Implications", in Bogotá Thursday.

The report, produced in conjunction with the U.S. Office on Colombia (USOC), studies the application in Colombia of the so-called Leahy Law, passed in 1996, which bans military assistance to a foreign security force unit if the U.S. State Department has credible evidence that the unit has committed gross human rights violations.


http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/07/30-6

[Judi Lynn]

27. Would like to add another quotable part from your link:

"We found that for many military units, reports of extrajudicial executions increased during and after the highest levels of U.S. assistance," Lindsay-Poland said.

The results were obtained by comparing the number of reports of such killings in the two years prior to the start of Plan Colombia -- the multibillion-dollar U.S. military aid package -- in 2000 with the number of killings after the launch of that counterinsurgency and anti-drug strategy.

It also found that reports of alleged killings of civilians by the army dropped when assistance was cut.

Thanks for posting this article.

[boppers]

11. Lost me at the first lie.

At least it's a helpful litmus test about the honesty of a piece: Do they accurately characterize agreements for US forces to use Columbian military bases, or do they create or repeat some obviously false lie like "the U.S. is building seven new military bases in Colombia"?

From there, the rest of the article can be easily judged.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

24. Iranian Shock Troops in Venezuela?

Article from Aviation Week blog that is of interest here:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a76ef8d10-aa13-4542-8fdc-e6e1f0d516fc&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

Usual qualifiers from all sides apply

[Judi Lynn]

28. Saw your information too late to register a recommendation. Thanks. n/t