The Pentagon's bases in Colombia

[IndianaGreen]

The Pentagon's bases in Colombia

Zach Mason explains how aggressive moves by the U.S. in Latin America are ratcheting up the conflict between Colombia and Venezuela.

November 24, 2009

RECURRING TENSIONS between neighboring South American countries Venezuela and Colombia have reached new heights in recent weeks.

The current conflict centers around the October 30 signing of a military pact between Colombia and the U.S. that gives the American armed forces the use of seven military bases in Colombia, and grants immunity to U.S. soldiers operating in there.

Colombian President Álvaro Uribe and President Barack Obama claim that the U.S. military presence in Colombia will serve only to combat narco-traffickers and leftist guerillas, not threaten Colombia's neighbors. Yet as the Venezuelanalysis.com Web site reports, this claim "is contradicted by the 2010 fiscal year budget of the U.S. Air Force Military Construction Program, which states that...the pact 'provides a unique opportunity for full-spectrum operations in a critical sub-region of our hemisphere' and 'supports mobility missions by providing access to the entire continent.'"

What's more, the agreement on military bases follows the reactivation of the U.S. Navy's Fourth Fleet, historically used by Washington to intimidate and attack countries that challenge its agenda in the Caribbean and Latin America.

For years, the U.S. has pumped money and weapons into Colombia and sent military advisers there in the name of fighting "narco-terrorism." As a wave of left or center-left governments have been elected in Latin America, military aid to Colombia has swelled, making it the third-largest recipient of U.S. military aid in the world.

http://socialistworker.org/2009/11/24/pentagon-bases-in-colombia

[Braulio]

1. It's no big deal

The US just wants to try new Predator technology on the FARC. They developed it in Iraq and Afghanistan, and want to try it out over forested terrain. It'll be mostly drones and airborne sensors coupled to radar, and other technology to detect FARC movements. The Colombians will then act to take out the FARC camps.

[Peace Patriot]

2. Sounds like a great video game. You into video games, dude? nt

[Downwinder]

3. Why launch drones in Colombia?

Didn't the US get Saddam's trans-Atlantic drone technology?

Another wasted trip.

[Braulio]

5. US Technology test bed in FARC territory

The drones I'm discussing are modern Predators. THey'll probably deploy GLobal Hawks to monitor FARC territory using infrarred sensors, then send in Predators to get close ups. When the Predators pinpoint the FARC bases, they can be attacked with laser guided bombs, followed by quick strikes using helicopter gunships. I think the FARC is toast, they won't have the ability to hide given the modern sensor technology about to be deployed.

[Zorro]

4. Hugo doesn't want the US to keep a close eye on his shenanigans in the area

That's what I think is the real reason for his tantrums.

[Braulio]

6. FARC and ELN use Venezuelan territory for R&R

For many years, both the FARC and the ELN have used Venezuelan territory for R&R. The new sensor technology to be deployed will be able to track the FARC columns as they move into Colombian territory. Once they're a few meters inside Colombia, they'll be greeted by laser bombs and other devices. This means it'll be impossible for them to have effective bases inside Venezuela. Furthermore, the Global Hawk sensors will be able to take pictures of FARC columns operating inside Venezuela. This can be used in the UN Security Council to secure sanctions against Venezuela. This is why Chavez is in a tizzy.