Matt Fine
Lauran Cario
Joe Torlucci
Christina Petrillo
Combination of civilianairport and military base inEcuador
1999: US and Ecuador sign10 year agreement to allowup to 475 militarypersonnel at Manta rentfree
About 100 missions permonth flown by US lookingfor drug running boatsdeparting Colombia
2008: Air attack on FARC rebel camp inEcuador
Raúl Reyes (FARC spokesperson) and 24 otherpeople were killed in the bombing
Speculation that US (via Manta) was involved
"Since Plan Colombia waslaunched in 2000, a strategicalliance between the UnitedStates and Colombia hastaken shape, first to combatthe insurgents and later toinvolve neighboringcountries in that war, whatis happening today is aconsequence of that." -- highlevel Ecuadorian militaryofficial who preferred toremain anonymous
The Manta air base lease clearly stipulated thatthe base could only be used for counter-narcotics operations
Ecuadorean Foreign Minister María IsabelSalvador said she had had "a conversation with(U.S.) Ambassador Linda Jewell who ensuredus that the planes (at the base) were notinvolved in any way" in the bombing of theFARC camp
Ecuadorean DefenseMinister Sandoval declaredthat "equipment that theLatin American armedforces do not have" wasused in the March 1bombing.
"They dropped around five 'smartbombs'," the kind used by the UnitedStates in the First Gulf War (1991),"with impressive precision and amargin of error of just one meter, atnight, from planes travelling at highspeeds.”
William Brownfield (US ambassador toColombia) stated that the air base would bemoving from Manta to somewhere inColombia on April 14, 2009
The last U.S. military anti-narcoticssurveillance mission from Manta was flown onJuly 17, 2009
120 miles north ofBogotá.
Speculation thisis location of newAir Base
“Without a doubt, there are possibilities inColombia. Our government could propose and thehost would decide if this type of collaboration ispermitted.” --William Brownfield
“We will continue to do everything possible tostrengthen the help of the United States in the effortto defeat narcotrafficking. We have not talked abouta military base, we’ve talked the way we always do .. . about ways to strengthen cooperation.”-- ÁlvaroUribe
1994-1998
Cali Cartel
Money received for campaign
United States revoked his visa
1998-2002
Improved relations with the United States
United States pledge- military support tocombat the drug issue (1 billion dollars)
2002-2010
2000-2004- 2.5 billion more dollars
Big supporter of Plan Colombia
He was concerned about Obama’s 2011 budget
Cut funding for Plan Colombia
by $50 million
Experts say this is a sign of PC
being phased out
2010-present
Under him, Colombia has been financing moreoperations over the US
Walid Makeld
US support is no longer in the form of aircraftand weapons
“We would like to stop being a
simple country that begs for
help every year”
Plan Colombia:
-developed during theyears of 1998 and 1999
-implemented by formerPresident Pastrana (1998-2002)
-6 year plan to endColombia’s drug traffickingand promote economic andsocial development
The Andean Counterdrug Initiative(ACI):
-Primary U.S. program that supports PC
-From 2000-2005: PC received $2.8 billionfrom ACI
Foreign Military Financing (FMF)
-U.S. government program thatprovides grants and loans
-supports regional stability
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
-When FMF & DOD assistance isincluded, total U.S. support to Colombiais about $4.5 billion
U.S. vs. COLOMBIA
Elected in 1998
Promised to end 40-year conflictin Colombia
Committed to promoting peacein Colombia
Went to the U.S. to promote hisPlan Colombia
Clinton administrationsupported a peace processin Colombia initially
claimed it was too vague andnot linked to the mainconcerns of U.S. politicalagenda
Drug Flow into US
Cultivation of Drug Crops
Violence and Crime
Armed Conflict
Economic Development
Promotion of Democracy, Law an HumanRights
Regional Stability
US Disengagement
Cocaine and Heroin availability, price andpurity has remained stable.
90% of cocaine entering US comes from Colombia
Higher prices would mean decreased supply
Prices fell in 25 US cities
US officials argue that drug interdiction takestime
Also say that traffickers can absorb the increaseof cost
Office of National Drug Control Policy sayscocaine purity as of 2005 is the same it was in1980’s.
Heroin purity is has increased since the 1980’s.
The US State Dept and UN report a decrease inacreage used to grow drugs in Colombia since2001.
The Manual and Aerial eradication effortsappear to be working
ONDCP estimates a decrease from 460 to 430 metrictons since new plants are less productive
More and more Colombians have been takingpart in US funded programs to grow cropsother than coca.
Critics claim coca production has beendisplaced to neighboring countries such asBolivia.
Also say spraying efforts not 100% effective sincecrops can be replanted and doesn’t always kill theplant.
US figures say cultivation acreage dropped 7%;UN says it dropped 50%.
Public safety has improved
Police once again have a presence in every town
Colombians have more confidence in travel now
Increased number of officers
Decreased number of kidnappings; howeverColombia still has the highest rate in the world
The FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) heavily involved in drug trade
The Colombian Army launched “Plan Patriota” torecapture FARC controlled territory.
Viewed as a success, reduced members of the FARC from18,000 to 12,000 in one year (according the Colombian Military)
Destroyed 400 FARC camps
Critics say that because of very difficult terrain, it maybe impossible to completely destroy the FARC.
They also say the military is too involved in intra state affairs,acting like a police-like org.
This would never be allowed in the US
Greater security has led to greater confidencein the Colombian economy.
In 2004, Colombia had the best performingstock market in the world
Oil production accounts for 28% of exports
It decreased recently because of armed conflict andattacks on pipelines
Oil exploration has been hindered by attacks and thelack of security in areas
US State Dept says some progress has beenmade, but many serious problems still exist.
In 2004 there were between 3,000 and 4,000civilian deaths
The judicial system is “inefficient and subject tointimidation and corruption by terrorist groupsand common criminals
Although the military was still controlled bycivilians, there were still instances of humanrights violations and cooperation withparamilitary groups.
Do you think that U.S. involvement inColombia has helped or hindereddemocracy and social development?
What will the relationship be between theUnited States and Columbia in theupcoming years?
Has Planned Colombia really beenbeneficial to the Colombia citizens?