Brazil - Brazzil Mag - After US Agreement Colombia Wants Military Rapprochement to Brazil

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Brazil and other South American countries are being welcomed by Colombia to increase military ties with that country. That's what Colombians President Alvaro Uribe made clear on Friday, August 14, after the Foreign Affairs ministry announced it had completed talks with Washington on allowing US troops to use seven Colombian military bases.

We would like the accord with the United States to be projected throughout the continent," Uribe told a business conference in the city of Medellin.

"We would like to have it with Brazil," he said. "I do not see this pact with the United States as incompatible with having pacts with other countries as well."

Under the deal, the US military will be able to operate on Colombian soil to tackle drug-trafficking and terrorism. Colombia's foreign ministry said that Bogotá had agreed the text of the deal with Washington: "this agreement reaffirms the commitment of both parties in the fight against drug-trafficking and terrorism".

A number of South American countries, mainly Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia, have condemned the plan as a threat to regional stability, others have supported Colombia's "sovereign" decision (Peru, Chile, Paraguay); Argentina stated the bases are "not helpful" and Brazil called for a meeting between President Obama and regional leaders.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said that "the climate of unease disturbs me" and he also supported that the controversy be debated in depth by the Union of South American Nations, Unasur, which is scheduled to hold an extraordinary summit at the end of August in Bariloche, Argentine Patagonia.

Brazil, South America's biggest country and largest economy, is building up its armed forces as part of a push to increase its role on the world stage.

Washington has given billions of dollars in military assistance to Colombia, helping Uribe put the insurgents on the defensive. But the country remains the world's biggest producer of cocaine.

The US has been forced to look for a new base to counter drug trafficking and terrorism operations after Ecuador refused to renew the lease on its Manta base, which the US military was using.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the Colombian move would amount to preparation for an invasion of his country by US forces. Mr Chavez warned that "the winds of war were beginning to blow" across the region.

Last week President Uribe visited several of his South American neighbors to try to calm fears over the proposed deal with Washington.

João
written by The Guest, August 16, 2009

Here is a president who had the Columbian constution change in 2004 so that he could get a second term. There is rumors that he would like a third term when the current one ends in 2010. In his case, I guess that it would be alright since he has the military on his side and his political persuasion is on the right.
If it looks like a dictatorship and smells like a dictatorship then it is dictatorship no matter what the political persuasion, even though the ballot box is used to achieve the goal. let us see what next year brings.

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the differance from chavez and uribe
written by asp, August 16, 2009

is that chavez is making a serious effort to shut down the opisition , in classic fidel marxist style...

and, chavez is activly supporting farc and sending suitcases of cash to try to determine the outcome of elections in other countries...the classic form of imperialism the usa gets raked over the coals for doing...

yeah , too bad brazil wont help send troops to colombia, but, tarso genro sais that farc isnt a problem for brazil (?!!)....and why would correa, or chavez help fight farc when they are benaficiaries of farc cocaine business.

lots of hypocritical winds blowing hard over south america...

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of course, farc is uribes opisition....doh
written by asp, August 16, 2009

but, he isnt going after radio and tv stations , closing them , laying down that marxist mandate that starts telling people what they can say or do and what they cant say or do...he isnt passing laws that are going to tell young people what they have to think , like chavez is, ala fidel...

fidels educates everyone, and tells them capatalism is bad and marxism is good..he really is preparing the young cubans on how to deal with the real world....even his communist buddies in china are major capatalists now

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increase military ties with ..........
written by ch.c., August 16, 2009

Lets see now in the months ahead what is the acction, not the words, of Brazil !

Brazil, in contradiction with what was written in the article, highly criticized Colombia and U.S. agreements not later
than about 7-10 days ago !

About Presidential terms :
Brazil should not forget that Robbing Hook was in DISFAVOR of a second term....WHEN NOT President !
Funnily not so against anymore WHEN President !

About Dictatorships :
- Ecuador Correa is also thinking to change the Constitution
- Is Brazil not a Dictatorship...disguised in a Democracy ? I think it is ! In a country where vote buying, corruptionssss, Impunity, Injusticesss are common and daily practices, for me it is Dictatorship...disguised in a Democracy !

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The Guest
written by João da Silva, August 16, 2009

Here is a president who had the Columbian constution change in 2004 so that he could get a second term. There is rumors that he would like a third term when the current one ends in 2010.

Some weeks ago, I was reading an article in a National Newspaper about the history of "Constitutional Changes" in Latin American countries. Unfortunately I forgot to book mark the page or to send the link to our friend Augustus who is an amateur historian for his analysis. So what happened in Columbia, Venezuela, Bolivia, etc; is not too uncommon. In my opinion, the year 2010 is going to be a very interesting year for several reasons.

There is a commentator who comments occasionally in this Magazine and goes by the name of "Lloyd Cata". An extremely well informed person and I am reproducing his comments:

Oil, Guns, & DRUGS...Africa, South America, & MONEY !!!
written by lloyd cata, August 15, 2009
...if you went to school, you sure did not learn much. All are connected and all have common connections. 600 years later and fools still follow at their masters heel. Their only chains being their ignorance fed by the media propaganda.

Recommended reading -
Oil - the rise and fall of the PETRO-DOLLAR
Guns - the IRAN-CONTRA affair
Drugs - the OPIUM WARS
Africa - the PROFIT IN CHAOS and Instability
South America - the LAST PLANTATION
Money - "In GOD We TRUST"...and that's all you need to know, so don't ask what it is really worth.
Just understand that, "He who has the money makes the rules!"

If you cannot defend it, then it doesn't belong to you...

Though I haven't read any of his recommended books, the title of the one on South America sounds quite appropriate!!!!

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at least the north of brasil will be safe ????
written by FORREST ALLEN BROWN, August 16, 2009

That is if lula comes on board for the game to keep the farc from doing business in the amazon of brasil

but stupid will prevale and they wont let it happen no matter how much it would help the brasilian people
as lula in 2004 said war is not the answer to terror?????????/

and in the same year he said Globalization of Justice Would End Terror two things lula

where is the justice LULA in brasil lula
we see how it is working with chaves and his law

look at how much coulmbia has grown with its president stoping the farc and going after courpt politicans , police and the like 8% a year

more tourtist , more outside investment money

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João
written by The Guest, August 17, 2009

".....what happened in Columbia, Venezuela, Bolivia, etc; is not too uncommon."

I agree, unfortunately most of the countries of South and Central America have a propensity for continous upheaval. I know quite a bit about the history of all the countries. Since the end of colonialism in all the countries of South and Central America only three have not been under military rule, Guyana, Belize and French Guiana which is actually a territory of France. Notice that none of them are spanish or portugese language countries. The only country in that part of the world to go down the path of military rule but does not share the languages is Suriname.
One country, Costa Rica, broke the curse of military dictatorship by abolishing the military in 1949, and it is the only one that has a vibrant democracy.

"In my opinion, the year 2010 is going to be a very interesting year for several reasons. "

Here I agree also. Let us see which direction the wind blows. I have not read any of the books either. You are right the appropriateness of the title for the one on South America. I will see if I can aquire it.

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ASP
written by The Guest, August 17, 2009

"....even his communist buddies in china are major capatalists now."

If you really believe the above statement, then I have a bridge in Rio de Janerio that I would like to sell to you. Do not confuse the chinese way of doing business with capitalism. Ask the Australian miner Rio Tinto and anyone else who ran afoul of the "communist buddies in china" about capitalism. I hope Vale, Petrobras and the brazilian government plus all the african countries who are in bed with the chinese are paying attention.
As for Chaves and Uribe, the road to hell is paved with good intensions. Ask the people of Chile and El Salvador, two countries out of many in South and Central America that experienced the hell.

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Second ASP WORDS - no comparison
written by AUGUSTUS SEVERUS, August 17, 2009

Whereas URIBE stands for tolerance and pluralism, CHAVEZ represents oppression, repression and TOTALITARIANISM

While it would be totally unrealistic and unwise - AT THIS POINT in time - IF I were to have my way (in an IDEAL situation where everything else would be OK), I would have loved to see Venzuelan invaded and have that CHAVEZ executed in some public square!!!
With Chavez gone, there would be no further issues with Ecuador, Bolivia, Honduras and Nicaragua... They would fall off the map without their benefector around... Even Cuba would eventually get rid of its totalitarian structure... The only reason it has not yet fallen is because Chavez has been bankrolling them from complete bankruptcy...

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The Guest
written by João da Silva, August 17, 2009

I hope Vale, Petrobras and the brazilian government plus all the african countries who are in bed with the chinese are paying attention.

Your hopes are in vain!! We will feel the impact of this "Namoro" in 10 years time, if not earlier.

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Augustus
written by João da Silva, August 17, 2009

I would have loved to see Venzuelan invaded and have that CHAVEZ executed in some public square!!!

Now, now,........... You have become blood thirsty lately, Milord.

To calm you down, I suggest you read the books recommended by Lloyd Cata, instead of reading Ken Follet. smilies/wink.gif

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RA what do you and CH.C think about this
written by fORREST ALLEN BROWN, August 17, 2009

Petrocaribe, an alliance created by Venezuela with Caribbean nations, may establish a "unique" rate for its internal oil deals that wouldn't be based on the often volatile global price for crude.

In a statement sent over the weekend, Petrocaribe said such a plan could "reduce the percentage amount of cash payments" member nations have to pay under the current agreement at current oil prices. It said whatever changes are eventually made "will benefit the member countries."

But Petrocaribe's press release comes amid growing concerns by the nearly 20 member nations that the changes being proposed by Venezuela would hurt the cash-strapped, oil-importing countries and only help Venezuela. Some members have reportedly said Venezuela wants upfront cash payments in full on oil deliveries, rather than the current partial payments.

Petrocaribe's statement seemed to deny this. It said the proposed changes do not include any modification of payment schedules "nor an increase in the percentage of the bill that must be paid in cash."

It said an option being studied would untie the cash payment obligations for oil "from the [global market] price of oil through the creation of a unique rate that eliminates the exposure of such payments to price volatility."

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez created Petrocaribe in 2005, offering to provide oil at attractive terms to his oil-thirsty neighbors in Latin America that he's friendly with. Chavez offered lengthy repayment schedules and ultra-low interest rates and accepts a portion of the payments to be made with bananas, rice, sugar or other products.

Most Caribbean nations, as well as several countries from Central America and South America hurried to sign up.

Petrocaribe worked while oil prices were rising. The small, oil-importing nations were able to secure their crude oil needs at a discount, while Chavez gained some political points from his neighbors as he does battle with the U.S. over that country's influence in the region.

But as oil prices began dropping in 2008, Venezuela has been hit hard, as it relies on oil sales for half its budget. That could be leading Chavez to be less generous on his Petrocaribe dealings.

The statement from Petrocaribe did not indicate when any new proposals might be passed or implemented. Officials at Venezuela's Oil Ministry were not immediately available.

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if pemx had stayed free of government in the 80 and not screwde several large oil compaines they would be much better off now
written by fORREST ALLEN BROWN, August 17, 2009

and would not be asking brasil for help

The creation of an oil "alliance between Mexico and Brazil, as well as to increase the productive capacity of both countries" was proposed Sunday by Mexico President Calderon, on an official visit to Brazil.

Earlier, President Calderon proposed checking into the creation of a free trade agreement between what he called "the two biggest and strongest Latin American economies."

"It is in the Mexican government's interest to strengthen the mechanisms of scientific, technological, academic and operational cooperation between Petrobras and Pemex as well as for the Mexican and Brazilian governments to lay foundation for a long-lasting alliance and cooperation," said Calderon.

This alliance will be beneficial to the peoples of both countries as well as to the region, Calderon said on a visit to the Research and Development Center of Petrobras.

Pemex will be able to learn from Petrobras' experience, technology, development capacity and production rate of 2.7 million barrels of oil per day.

The president of the Brazilian company, Jose Sergio Gabrielli de Azevedo, explained that five new refineries are under construction and will be completed by 2013. Furthermore, the company is present in 22 countries, has 1, 600 researchers and a goal to reach 5.7 million barrels of oil a day by the year 2020, said Gabrielli de Azevedo.

Ten years ago Pemex produced 2 million barrels a day while the Brazilian company only produced 800 thousand. Pemex can learn from the radical transformation Petrobras underwent, said Calderon.

Over the last 6 years, Petrobras has tripled its daily oil production while Pemex reduced daily production by 600 barrels.

Calderon said that his government is committed to making profound changes to the global oil business and to make Pemex into one of the biggest companies in the world.

It is "paradoxical" that Petrobras is drilling 10 thousand feet deep in the Gulf of Mexico, while Mexico only has the organizational and operational capacity to drill three thousand feet, said Calderon.

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Forrest
written by João da Silva, August 17, 2009

Earlier, President Calderon proposed checking into the creation of a free trade agreement between what he called "the two biggest and strongest Latin American economies."

Hey Forrest, IMHO, Felipe Calderon is another lost soul. If Mexico is such a strong economy and a "democratic" country, why is he having so many problems with the drug Lords at the border and thus put the police departments of several cities under the control of the Army?

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Joao
written by FORREST ALLEN BROWN, August 17, 2009

that is simple !!!

He like the others before him put it off till it got out of hand know they are trying to find a way to put all that shit back in the horse

government never solves a thing just shifts a dricition of the peoples views

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CIA payroll
written by titan, August 18, 2009

Since Uribe of Colombia is in the CIA payroll, how much is he making per year?

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Speculating on Titan // Comment about Calderon (Brazil's future?)
written by EPSILON ERIDANI, August 18, 2009

Since Titan is so adamant that URIBE would be on CIA payroll, I will counter that Titan appears to be on the payroll of either the Venezuelan or Cuban secret services…

As for Joao’s view on Calderon

Felipe Calderon is another lost soul. If Mexico is such a strong economy and a "democratic" country, why is he having so many problems with the drug Lords at the border and thus put the police departments of several cities under the control of the Army?

I could not have agreed more, in light of the exponential growth of violence throughout Mexico, especially across its border with the USA.
Worse yet is the recognition that trends in Rio de Janeiro (and to a smaller extent also in Sao Paulo) where the levels of CRUEL crime appear to suggest the “face of things to come” in a “Mexicanized Brazil” of the near future

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What are friends for...
written by lloyd cata, August 18, 2009

Thanks for the kudos, Joao however our friends need not only do the research...but then connect the dots!!!

Suddenly Mr. Calderon has found himself a member of the Latin Fraternity (a "wise Latina woman" would know better!). Mexico being such a good and close neighbor
of the US that their great and prosperous northern neighbor with all its technological wonders has not created a better proposal for Mexican oil exploration. This is simply
another avenue for the influence of US policy in Brazil. Mexico is a happy participant in NAFTA, the precursor to FTAA(Free Trade Agreement/Americas). FTAA was soundly
defeated in South America but Washington desperately wants to influence the largest company in Brazil. If Mexico has such oil that Brazil will help with deep drilling, how come
it oil thirsty neighbor to the north does not assist in such a situation. After all, given NAFTA Mexican oil is much cheaper to export with no trade taxes? No, this attempt at 'brotherly
fraternity" is another means of influencing Petrobras and its corrupt patron, the Brazillian Senato. Before you know it the Mexican drug cartels would be using Petrobras to
launder the billions of drug profits. There are many reasons the be suspicious of this Mexican gambit. Consider if Brazil goes a 'third way' and exports through Mercosur instead of using OPEC and Texas pricing on oil. That would upset the monopoly pricing set between Western banks and the Middle East fiefdoms. Between Brazil and Venezuela the South American oil market would set its own pricing given regional energy independence.

For those who are skeptical, and even afraid of Mr. Chavez' and his energy agreements with the poorest nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, let's look at what would have happened if those nations had nowhere else to get a 'fair' price. $150/barrel oil would have them on their knees in front of the IMF and the World Bank...beggars. When have
those institutions actually helped without draconian social upheaval. Yeah, they give you the loan for oil, and then make you raise the price of bread. We have all seen this before.
Whether for friendship or influence, Mr. Chavez has allowed more people to live in dignity on their feet...and given the 'world economic crisis' he has prevented millions from
the suffering of IMF/World Bank social restructuring. Suspicion is one thing, but the reality is that noone else has or will give those who can least afford the oil a fair deal. Let's see
if Petrobras has the courage to act responsibly to its neighbors and closest customers. Certainly Pemex has had no such concerns. A perfect opportunity is Brazils responsibilty in Haiti,
the poorest country in the hemisphere.

We know the CIA payroll is classified so we can't know who is getting paid for what. What we do know is that many 'elected' leaders; Pinochet, Noriegan and others, have been pawns in drugs, murder, and torture throughout the region. What we do know is that if Fidel offers doctors and schools where there was none this is supposed to be bad. Believe
me, the sick and dying do not care that the doctor is a Socialist. Parents who want their children to read do not care if the teacher is a Socialist. Columbia would seem to prosper as the good friend and ally of the US, but remember Iraq once prospered as a US friend and ally. The military agreement calls for 800 US troops, but I tell you now that those 'troops'
are the support for hundreds of 'tourists' with military experience. "Plan Columbia" has not changed in 20 years. Until Mr. Obama can change "Plan Columbia" then US policy in Latin America has not changed. The US generals have their orders. The Columbian generals have their orders. The Venezuelan generals have their orders. It is only Brazil the players are
waiting to decide. There has never been a more important decision in Latin American history.

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Llyod Cata
written by João da Silva, August 18, 2009

Thanks for the kudos, Joao

Well deserved , though!

As usual, your comments are fascinating and thought provoking AND full of jig saw puzzles. Of course, you started your latest comments recommending everybody to "Connect the dots". Very clever and cunning on your part, I must admit. I think that you replied adequately to the questions addressed by our distinguished and eminent fellow blogger Mr.Brown to RA & ch.c.

You are in a way right about Mr.Chavez, Mr.Castro, etc;!! Also about the Brasilian Senado!!!!

For those who do not understand what we are talking about, we recommend them to read the books suggested by you!!!!! I wonder if Mr.Brown has read any of these books. I am sure ch.c hasn't smilies/wink.gif

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its not a question about the good things castro or chavez have done...
written by asp, August 20, 2009

hitler did good things for germans , too

stalin did good things for his people also, then eliminated 20 million of the opisition

its the way castro and chavez want to force a square peg into a round hole, which is what marxism tries to do. what good is it to educate your people and then leave them in ration lines and not free to inform themselves ?

what good is it to have free health care but have to go to the doctor they force you to go to and have him give you bad care ?

one of the great things about capatilism is if you dont like the business some one does for you , you can take it somewhere else...its one of the few powers the small man can have on this planet

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