Colombia blasts US Democrats on aid

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Colombia blasts US Democrats on aid
Sep 12, 2007 9:49 AM

After capturing a top drug lord, Colombia's government called on US Democrats to rethink their "irrational" resistance to funding the Andean country's anti-narcotics efforts.

Democrats who control Congress have questioned the results of Washington's multi-billion dollar aid package for Colombia, which since 2000 has aimed to slash cocaine shipments to US streets mainly by fumigating coca crops.

Colombia is the world's top cocaine producer but its government delivered a blow against the country's biggest drugs cartel by arresting its leader, Diego Montoya, one of the FBI's most sought after fugitives.

"We hope these results give them an element of reason, so they can stop with this opposition, which I consider irrational," Vice President Francisco Santos told reporters.



Read more: http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1342768

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http://www.bibleplaces.com/blog/uploaded_images/Gezer%20standing%20stones,%20bowing%20down,%20tb091405097wr-799635.JPG

Colombia, please forgive us Democrats.

[redqueen]

1. So wait... this idiot thinks arresting that guy means no one will take his place?

Is anyone buying this crap?

Pointless... frickin pointless... money down the drain, is all that aid is.

Did people learn nothing from the prohibition era? Nowhere near enough people did, obviously...

[subsuelo]

2. It is way past time to stop pretending

that those in power in the U.S. want to prevent columbian cocaine from crossing it's borders

[Judi Lynn]

3. Colombia officials blush on mafia security snafu

Colombia officials blush on mafia security snafu
Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:59pm BST


BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian authorities were left red-faced on Friday trying to explain why they picked up the wrong prisoner in a high-security transfer of a top druglord to a ship at sea in an attempt to better protect him.

Helicopters and troops mobilized to transfer suspected druglord Diego "Don Diego" Montoya along with a former paramilitary commander, Carlos Jimenez, from their prison cells to Navy ships after learning about death threats.

But instead of picking up Diego Montoya, prison authorities moved Diego "Don Berna" Murillo to Bogota from Combita jail. Murillo is another former paramilitary commander jailed under a peace deal with President Alvaro Uribe.

"I don't think we can qualify it as chaos. That would not be appropriate. But it was an error because there was an order to transfer Diego Montoya and they understood Diego Murillo," Interior Minister Carlos Holguin told local radio. "It was a mistake in interpretation."
(snip/...)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKN1419374020070914




Diego Montoya, the lump in the first circle, accused of having murdered 1,500 men. ("Don Diego")



Diego Murillo ("Don Berna")

[Judi Lynn]

4. Colombia skinhead saved years in jail, by minutes

Colombia skinhead saved years in jail, by minutes
Reuters | Friday, 14 September 2007


A Colombian skinhead saved himself up to 32 years in jail by being 15 minutes shy of his 18th birthday when he stabbed a musician to death, ensuring that he will be tried as a minor.

Javier Alonso Villamizar, an industrial design student at Colombia's National University, became, legally, an adult while being hunted by police for murdering a guitar player in local rock band "Pitbull" at 11.45pm on Saturday.

Under Colombian law, Villamizar, from an upper middle class family in Bogota, faces up to eight years in jail compared with the 40 he would face had he committed the crime 15 minutes later.

"He is being treated as a minor," a police spokesman said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4202064a12.html