Presidents Álvaro Uribe of Colombia, left, and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil met for more than two hours this week. Eraldo Peres/Associated PressColombia Under Fire From Neighbors Over US ‘Military Aggression’ -- Times Online
It is the cocaine deal that threatens to divide a continent. President Uribe of Colombia has brought stability to his country by crushing the Farc guerrilla movement, but much of his drug eradication effort has been a failure.
The Latin American leader has now asked Washington to step in, inviting US forces into Colombian military bases to run operations against the country’s still-thriving narcotics industry.
He is to sign a plan with the United States allowing it to use seven Colombian military bases to counter trafficking and the paramilitary activity it finances. The deal suits Washington, which wants to use Colombia, one of its few remaining allies in Latin America, as a regional operations hub.
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More News On Colombia's Decision To Permit U.S. Anti-Narcotics Agents In Their Country
Colombia President, on South America Tour, Defends U.S. Military Role -- New York Times
U.S. Plan Raises Ire in Latin America -- Washington Post
Obama denies US creating military bases in Colombia -- Reuters
Chávez rages at US plan to boost antidrug ops in Colombia -- Christian Science Monitor
Bolivia in Colombia betrayal jibe -- BBC
US bases shock Latin America -- The Age