Plan Colombia no longer necessary according to VP Santos

romy says on Mar 15, 2009, 16:15:

hard to think that Colombia is ready to get up off its knees... seems like a way to push for FTA

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Atrevido (☼Travelguide writer) says on Mar 15, 2009, 16:31:

romy says on Mar 15, 2009, 16:33:

This was Francisco Santos, not Juan Manuel Santos

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romy says on Mar 15, 2009, 19:53:

Plan Colombia must continue according to Casa de Nariño... (http://www.caracol.com.co/nota.aspx?id=778507)

malditos corruptos se pelean lo que van a poder robar

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Patricio says on Mar 16, 2009, 06:53:

Legalize and tax, get this business away from the crimenals. Consumption has not slowed down and won't. People die every day for no reason because of the illegal drug trade

Patricio.

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Mar 16, 2009, 09:27:

gimmedub says on Mar 16, 2009, 18:40:

I agree with Patricio - Plan Colombia is a way for the American Gov't to get contracts to American companies under the disguise of 'helping the war on drugs'... I hope Obama's new drug czar realizes it's time to legalize.

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JGD (☼Travelguide writer) says on Mar 16, 2009, 19:08:

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Mar 17, 2009, 05:32:

Whooa, CG, considered a buffoon in the eyes of whom? This so damn TYPICAL of the Uribe's government; just because Pancho is not so keen on bombing and killing and kissing asses like his squinty-eyes bastard of a cousin and has fallen a little in the disfavour of Uribe and the bunch of ruffians that he calls his advisors he's been discredited, slammed and ridiculed by Uribistas and Uribe's followers in the media.

Pancho Santos may not be perfect but he's still TWICE the man than the minister of defense. I certainly HOPE that Juan Manuel Santos runs for president it would split the Uribista vote and ruin the chances of any of his nearest people (like the little oligarch minister of agriculture) getting into Casa de Nariño.

There are other people, GOOD people for the job.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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La_Huella says on Mar 17, 2009, 05:36:

Well, you can't expect them to react any differently. He may be telling the truth, but it's a real painful truth, and it strikes at the heart of what they have been saying all along.

As most people probably know on here, I have been saying the same thing for years. Fuck Plan Colombia. And unlike most of you, I have the testicles to be LIVING here full time and earning pesos for a living. I'm not in the slightest bit afraid of what would happen if Plan Colombia would end, I think Colombia would only end up better for it. I DONT think they need outside help fighting the FARC, nor do I think that's what Plan Colombia is REALLY about, despite the way it's painted in the media.

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billyb says on Mar 17, 2009, 06:55:

"squinty-eyes bastard of a cousin "

Desi, I thought you said you didn't use hyperbole? Or does that only apply to the FARC?

"All I want to know is where I'm going to die, so I never go there" Unkown (at least to me) wise man.

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Mar 17, 2009, 08:31:

Billy, I wasn't. I was holding back. If you really really tried do you think you could talk to me without bringing the FARC into the picture?

I think it was pretty courageous of Santos (Francisco) to say that. It doesn't make him any more popular in the eyes of most Colombians that have swallowed the official propaganda fed to them daily by the media of how important it is to Colombia to have that help from the gringos. I think it's embarrassing how Colombia has become so totally USA's bitch and does whatever is needed to keep the good working relation with the leaders of the big brother in the north. I'm not saying that they shouldn't be good neighbours, have good, normal realtionship and still remain their pride and dignity, say like for example Brasil, Argentina and Chile do.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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Tinto (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Mar 17, 2009, 08:42:

I don't know the whole context of Santos' statement, but the part about "losing dignity" ... boo-f'in-hoo. Cry me a river.

If he and his boss didn't drag out the Trade Agreement negotiations far longer than most similar-sized countries, and if the military run by his boss and cousin didn't have more than a rare bad apple problem with civilian murders, and if his boss wasn't so in bed with the paras, maybe he wouldn't be making so many degrading trips to Washington to beg for more money. Sum it all up and I think the Trade Agreement and/or "firm" funding for a multi-year extension of Plan Colombia could have been approved long ago, but Santos and Uribe made some bad political calculations.

I wanted access to health care, housing and education, but, no, I get potholes, trash and silicone tits instead. -Desi.

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Mar 17, 2009, 08:47:

Heyyy, tinto is not holding back either:)

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

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makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Mar 17, 2009, 08:53:

makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Mar 17, 2009, 08:59:

Tinto (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Mar 17, 2009, 08:59:

Uribe is not the devil nor is he the messiah, but he's had a big chink in his armor (in my estimation) ever since the rotten demobilization discussions started. Elevating María Consuelo Araújo, from a known para/criminal family to the foreign minister position, from which she was forced to resign in disgrace, is another example. Or consider the DAS of late -- Uribe's hand-picked cronies have run its reputation into the ground.

I wanted access to health care, housing and education, but, no, I get potholes, trash and silicone tits instead. -Desi.

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makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Mar 17, 2009, 09:06:

Tinto (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Mar 17, 2009, 09:10:

Uribe got the Army off its ass and made them accountable (relatively speaking). Yes, Colombia is a far better place than six or seven years ago, but I'm hesitant to shower too many accolades on a man or an institution that are simply doing what every constitution in the world says is Job No. 1.

I wanted access to health care, housing and education, but, no, I get potholes, trash and silicone tits instead. -Desi.

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Mar 17, 2009, 09:14:

Simon says on Mar 17, 2009, 12:19:

I hope they do away with Plan Colombian soon. It's been a great help but I think it's time to move away from it. It has made Colombia so subservient to the US it's embarrassing.

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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