UNASUR invites U.S. to discuss military agreement with Colombia

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Xinhua

UNASUR invites U.S. to discuss military agreement with Colombia
2009-12-09 10:55:51

QUITO, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) invited the United States to discuss with the block the Colombia-U.S. military cooperation agreement, which allows the presence of U.S. troops in Colombia, the Ecuadorian government said Tuesday.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa who is holding the rotating presidency of UNASUR made the request to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Ecuadorian foreign ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, the dialogue is aimed at "discussing issues of vital importance for the region."

At a ministerial meeting in November, UNASUR countries reached agreement to seek a dialogue with the U.S. to discuss the guarantees it will offer to the region regarding its military agreement with Colombia, which allows the presence of U.S. troops in the country to combat drug trafficking and terrorism.

The UNASUR countries are worried that the U.S. military presence in Colombia may be used to perform spying tasks against other nations.

Read more: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/09/content_12616352.htm

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. Xinhua gets it wrong again

The updated agreement allows access to more bases in return for updating portions of the base infrastructure. There are already uniformed US military on the ground there. The agreement to allow access to more bases does not increase the limits on them.

Its not clear what additional missions they think would be carried out, given that the US satellites are more than adequate. Also tactical reconnaissance assets including manned and unmanned can stay well out of and nations national airspace and still monitor whatever is of interest.

[mudplanet]

2. Xinhua may be inaccurate, but at least it's clear

whereas what you've just said is opaque.

The recent agreement clearly is designed to formalize an agreement between Colombia and the US for the presence of US military forces on Colombian soil.

Satellites are "more than adequate"?

"tactical reconnaissance assets" can stay out of another country's airspace while monitoring it? Exactly how? By flying around in the Atlantic/Pacific/Caribbean oceans just outside of the international waters of the countries of South America? Are you suggesting that that is what they are planning to do?

It's obvious that the US is increasing it's military presence in South America and these countries are concerned, given America's history of imperialism.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. Read it again

There is already an agreement that allows for the presence of US military forces on Colombian soil. Its been in place for years and there are some troops there. The recent addition to it allows the use of additional bases. The is a limit on the number of personnel allowed and that did not change.

The cited concern "spying" is bogus. The US with satellites and standoff platforms (Global Hawk and others) can gather anything desired. There is no need for the additional bases for "spying". The question is if Correa is that dumb or Xinhua got it wrong.

I for one do not expect Obama to do anything militarily in region, and if it takes meeting with UNASUR to placate them, so be it.

[AlphaCentauri]

4. if such resources can be used, who is that dumb to use service man on the ground then?

spying might not be the main purpose of the agreement but to hand tactical support to right wing groups in the region something satellites can't do.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Depending on what source you believe the troops there are in support of anti narcotics efforts

maintain aircraft etc. IIRC US is limited to something like 500 total in country.

The "spying" claim is silly, but it makes a good sound bite.

[AlphaCentauri]

6. anti narcotics efforts arguments are silly too

soldiers in uniform can't infiltrate drug gangs and drug transportation is done mostly camouflage, surely the bases have a different objective other than drugs.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. Its described as mostly logistical support for the Colombian anti narcotics effort

Not sure I buy that, but that is the what the public is being told.