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Uribe tries to allay fears with South America tour

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe is to tour other South American countries concerned about plans to increase the US military presence in Colombia.

Bogota said he would visit this week Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and was planning trips to three other nations.

Venezuela has expressed alarm at plans to relocate US anti-drug forces to bases in Colombia, and Brazilian officials also say they are concerned.

The US-Colombian deal is expected to be signed later this month.

While the final details of the document have yet to be published, it seems a 10-year agreement will be signed allowing US troops, aircraft and naval vessels access to at least four Colombian bases, the BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says.

However, there is very little practical change to the US presence in Colombia, which has been a fact of life since 1999 and the launch of the US anti-narcotics strategy known as Plan Colombia, our correspondent says.

He adds that there is no change to the number of troops that can be stationed in the country: a maximum of 800 soldiers and 600 defence contractors.

Washington's main base was, until 17 July, at Manta in Ecuador but US troops were asked to leave by President Rafael Correa after the lease expired and was not renewed.

In a separate development, Washington has announced that US National Security Adviser James Jones will visit Brazil to discuss a number of issues of "mutual concern".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8182697.stm

By thepieman on Aug 4, 2009, 05:50 in Friendly Talkzone.

thepieman says on Aug 4, 2009, 08:05:

"He adds that there is no change to the number of troops that can be stationed in the country: a maximum of 800 soldiers and 600 defence contractors"
that is stated in the article mr az

0 funny, 1 helpful.

ferran says on Aug 4, 2009, 08:14:

A personnel of 1.400 is nothing, what colombia needs is for USA to set up all of Area 51 complex, with them UFOs they can do miracles, sheeet they can abduct Chavez and put implants that can turn him into a transvestite, the same for Correa. As far as the FARC, just send out them Grey Aliens, hell, the FARC will be shitting in their pants, and for the drug traffickers, just realese them flying reptoids, them mother fuckers are nasty, they love to eat them drug dealers for snacks.

All truth goes through three phases. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self evident.

2 funny, 1 helpful.

thepieman says on Aug 4, 2009, 13:34:

no bad mr az..:) thanks

0 funny, 0 helpful.

thepieman says on Aug 4, 2009, 14:32:

sounds like you guys want to be friends with everyone now..:)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

thepieman says on Aug 4, 2009, 14:40:

im not sure which is scarier..lol

0 funny, 0 helpful.