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Uribe Falls to Earth

Uribe Falls to Earth

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/07/03/uribe_falls_to_earth

Colombia's president is used to being wildly popular. But now, his flirtation with a third term may be getting him into trouble.
BY ADAM ISACSON | JULY 3, 2009

A year ago this week, Colombia's President Álvaro Uribe was on top of the world. Employing a clever ruse, one of the country's elite army units miraculously (and bloodlessly) rescued 15 hostages who had been held in the jungle for years. The world applauded the operation's stealth and savvy - and the release of the rebels' top political hostage, French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, as well as three U.S. defense contractors and 11 soldiers and police.
..

Colombia, it seemed, was coming back from the edge, and the country was ecstatic. Two days after the July 2, 2008, hostage rescue, a Gallup poll of Colombians (those with telephones in the four largest cities, at least) put Uribe's approval rating at a remarkable 86 percent. Already, the cattle rancher and conservative president had been well regarded among Colombians for battlefield gains against the 45-year-old Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) insurgency, a drug-money-fueled leftist force that systematically targets civilians for murder and kidnapping. Uribe oversaw a military buildup that reduced the guerrillas' size by half and limited its range of operations. He negotiated the demobilization of tens of thousands of pro-government paramilitary militias, reducing -- though not eliminating -- those groups' murderous activity.

But what goes up must come down, and Uribe's luck has certainly done so in recent months. By early May 2009, Gallup put Uribe's approval rating at 71 - still pretty good, but its lowest in two years. A plurality of Colombians told the pollster that the country was on the "wrong track." There are bigger problems at work here than a normal come-down: Uribe's spectacular progress in security and economic matters has slowed, and scandals have taken their place in the news.

Economic decline is the most straightforward concern. With a relatively low foreign debt, Colombia is better cushioned than its neighbors, but the global economic crisis has still dealt the country a blow. Demand for its exports, especially manufactured goods to the United States, has plummeted. Prices of commodities, particularly Colombia's oil, coal, and minerals, have fallen. The country's urban unemployment rate has returned to double digits after a few years of prosperity, with an additional 30 percent of the workforce underemployed and toiling in the informal sector.

Just as the economy has begun to sputter, the security situation -- Uribe's strongest suit - also seems to have stopped improving. The FARC, under new command since March 2008, appear to be regrouping in rural areas. The group's founding leader, Manuel Marulanda, died of natural causes in late March 2008, and was replaced by Alfonso Cano, a former professor who joined the FARC in 1968. Since then, with the exception of the July 2008 hostage rescue and a battlefield victory south of Bogotá in March 2008, the military hasn't dealt any further blows to the guerrillas' leadership. FARC's ambushes, attacks, and operations aimed at local government leaders are becoming more frequent.

Murder rates have increased since 2008 in all of Colombia's major cities, especially Medellín. Here, the it's not the now mostly-rural FARC that is to blame, but drug gangs. What's happening is a sort of turf war to gain territory opened up when 15 of the top paramilitary leaders involved in trafficking were extradited to the United States in the first half of May 2008. "New" paramilitary groups, most of them more accurately described as the armed wings of drug-trafficking organizations, are sprouting up and growing quickly to fill the vacuum.

By truth or dare on Jul 3, 2009, 17:01 in Friendly Talkzone.

makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 3, 2009, 17:23:

71% is much more than 98% of all leaders. So what with this shit?

1 funny, 1 helpful.

MitchAlvarez says on Jul 3, 2009, 17:49:

black elvis i think you should double check investments in education, health, commerce and other fields under the current administration before you fall trap to the usual anti uribe propaganda.

1 funny, 2 helpful.

cstew47 says on Jul 3, 2009, 18:14:

Yes, and please speak either english or spanish. I'm not sure what idioma you are using.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

MitchAlvarez says on Jul 3, 2009, 18:16:

i use spanglish... sorry if you dont understand. But you might have to overlook my posts. After a while youll learn my spanglish jajaj

1 funny, 0 helpful.

billyb says on Jul 3, 2009, 18:21:

"I dont think that 71% represents the Colombian people. The most of the Colombian people dont like Uribe because he puts all the tax money into the military but he dont creat new jobs or social justice.
'

tone loc, you must have Colombians mistaken for foreigners like yourself. Dude slow down on the bazuko.

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

1 funny, 3 helpful.

truth or dare says on Jul 3, 2009, 18:23:

There is a link at the top. Complain to them.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gator says on Jul 3, 2009, 18:31:

"FP"is a division of "The Washington Post" group and is hardly an objective source. What polls were used. I see the article took great pains to point out only those with telephones were polled. Uribe enjoys a LOT of continuing popularity but talk on the street does not believe he will seek another term.

Black Elvis posted "I dont think that 71% represents the Colombian people. The most of the Colombian people dont like Uribe because he puts all the tax money into the military but he dont creat new jobs or social justice."

I think you are as informed as a shit house mouse but what does that prove?

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

1 funny, 2 helpful.

billyb says on Jul 3, 2009, 18:40:

"You just hear news about Colombia on CNN..."

CNN can't even get US news right, how the hell do you expect them to do any better on Colombia? Isn't this the same CNN that made a deal with Saddam's regime to give him favorable coverage in exchange for him letting them continue broadcasting from Baghdad during the Iraq war?

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

1 funny, 1 helpful.

truth or dare says on Jul 3, 2009, 18:42:

favorable coverage?

Like what, the rope around his neck was soft? lol

I didn't hear that report. Americans will say anything to make a buck.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

billyb says on Jul 3, 2009, 18:46:

"I thought I was supposed to be a Fox News shill, but now it appears I watch CNN."

jaja, a FOX shill might be described as right wing and inflexible, but being called a CNN shill??? What's the fook is that about? I mean that is really low ;)

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

2 funny, 0 helpful.

truth or dare says on Jul 3, 2009, 18:49:

i like fox news.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

truth or dare says on Jul 3, 2009, 19:08:

cnn is coming around. they reported on that old reporter (can't think of her name) who questioned the white house about its lack of info.......lets see if i can find it on you tube....on moment....

0 funny, 0 helpful.

billyb says on Jul 3, 2009, 19:12:

Helen Thomas is her name.

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

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Chriscan (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 3, 2009, 20:42:

Easy on the newbs. A couple of years on PBH has dropped my IQ. Just because someone hasn't wasted their life complaining about every little thing on an internet forum doesn't mean they are less credible.

You're right though. Even if the polls slip a little, getting anything over 50% is big in a multi party system.

Uribe has done a lot for education.

Sure some mistakes have been made but Colombians are enjoying the best security in their history.

If Uribe would create universal public healthcare, I would get a freaken tattoo of him on my heart.

Beam me up Scotty; No intelligent life here.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

vinod says on Jul 3, 2009, 22:06:

First time in the forum for me.

I have visited Colombia a number times over the years, and have been impressed with how much the country has improved under Uribe's tenure.

1 funny, 0 helpful.

billyb says on Jul 3, 2009, 23:04:

Amen, although it still has far to go, only an idiot would deny that it has improved.

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

1 funny, 0 helpful.

makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 4, 2009, 04:10:

billyb
I garee with you, but the lefties here are blind on the eye, where you can see the progress, and they are still dreaming from a perfect world, that never will exist.

1 funny, 0 helpful.

makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 4, 2009, 04:38:

Black Elvis (newbie) says on Jul 3, 2009, 17:46: flag

Mongo dont judge on Newbies... I live here, I make business here..

What kind of buisness, in which city?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

davidslc46 says on Jul 4, 2009, 05:29:

Mongo dont judge on Newbies...

Duh! Newbes that post derogatory statements are inevitably, people who create a new handle because they cannot afford to be connected to the comments. Their comments are as valuable to PHB as their commitment to them.

David

0 funny, 1 helpful.

Gator says on Jul 4, 2009, 08:45:

Criscare, Uribe can't create Universal Health Care in Colombia-that was done by the 1991 "new"constitution and implemented by Law 60/1993 and Law 100/1993. At least 80% plus of the population is covered. Most of the poorer persons are under Entidades Promotoras de Salud (EPS) the basic benefit package .

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

1 funny, 1 helpful.

makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 4, 2009, 08:48:

EPS is for the people which have work SISBEN for the people without work, but you have to write in for it. And many people which are not covered it´s just because they don´t sign for it. Every year they are losing free health care with SISBEN because the people are to lazy to sign in for it.

2 funny, 1 helpful.

tasco66 says on Jul 4, 2009, 09:45:

71% vs 57% for the most hyped President in history after only a few months in office!

"Obama Poll Ratings Strong"

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-07-02-voa62.cfm

The trouble with free elections is, you never know who is going to win (Leonid Brezhnev)

1 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Jul 4, 2009, 10:31:

Gator says on Jul 4, 2009, 08:45 (today): flag

Criscare, Uribe can't create Universal Health Care in Colombia-that was done by the 1991 "new"constitution and implemented by Law 60/1993 and Law 100/1993. At least 80% plus of the population is covered. Most of the poorer persons are under Entidades Promotoras de Salud (EPS) the basic benefit package .
=======================================================================================

Gator--The Colombian Public Health Option sounds like a good template to use for the Healthcare dilemma we have in the USA. Colombia has some good ideas but we never seem to use them. The Transmilenio Bus System Concept is another idea under study here in Miami/Dade County to relieve the innercity Vehicle Congestion but so far "No-Go". Must be too good and simple of an idea and/or one where the Politicians and there buddies couldn't load up with a loot of graft and corruption. They like complicated projects like MIA(airport) where they can loot the Public's pocket,,,

Bésame, bésame mucho Como si fuera esta noche La última vez Bésame, bésame mucho Que tengo miedo a perderte Perderte después Bésame, bésame mucho Como si fuera esta noche La última vez Bésame, bésame mucho Que tengo miedo a perderte Perderte de

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gator says on Jul 4, 2009, 10:32:

AZUNOMAN, ALL TOGETHER NOW:
Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya

Kumbaya, the Lord, kumbaya
Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya
O Lord, kumbaya

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

0 funny, 0 helpful.

MitchAlvarez says on Jul 4, 2009, 10:40:

truth or dare thanks for the video clip. Robert Gibbs is a retard.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jdixon150 says on Jul 4, 2009, 12:22:

Great clip from truth or dare. Basically Obama is a great speaker but can't speak without a teleprompter. Uribe popularity may have sunk to 71 but when was the last time a US president had that kind of public support, especially after this many years in office.

"Life is not a dress rehearsal" Rose Tremain..

0 funny, 1 helpful.