Matt FineLauran CarioJoe Torlucci

Christina Petrillo

Combination of civilian airport and military base in Ecuador

1999: US and Ecuador sign 10 year agreement to allow up to 475 military personnel at Manta rent free

About 100 missions per month flown by US looking for drug running boats departing Colombia

2008: Air attack on FARC rebel camp in Ecuador

 Raúl Reyes (FARC spokesperson) and 24 other people were killed in the bombing

Speculation that US (via Manta) was involved 

"Since Plan Colombia was launched in 2000, a strategic alliance between the United States and Colombia has taken shape, first to combat the insurgents and later to involve neighboring countries in that war, what is happening today is a consequence of that." -- high level Ecuadorian military official who preferred to remain anonymous

The Manta air base lease clearly stipulated that the base could only be used for counter-narcotics operations

 Ecuadorean Foreign Minister María Isabel Salvador said she had had "a conversation with (U.S.) Ambassador Linda Jewell who ensured us that the planes (at the base) were not involved in any way" in the bombing of the FARC camp

Ecuadorean Defense Minister Sandoval declared that "equipment that the Latin American armed forces do not have" was used in the March 1 bombing. 

"They dropped around five 'smart bombs'," the kind used by the United States in the First Gulf War (1991), "with impressive precision and a margin of error of just one meter, at night, from planes travelling at high speeds.”

William Brownfield (US ambassador to Colombia) stated that the air base would be moving from Manta to somewhere in Colombia on April 14, 2009

The last U.S. military anti-narcotics surveillance mission from Manta was flown on July 17, 2009

120 miles north of Bogotá.

Speculation this is location of new Air Base

“Without a doubt, there are possibilities in Colombia. Our government could propose and the host would decide if this type of collaboration is permitted.” --William Brownfield

“We will continue to do everything possible to strengthen the help of the United States in the effort to defeat narcotrafficking. We have not talked about a military base, we’ve talked the way we always do . . . about ways to strengthen cooperation.”-- Álvaro Uribe

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 to

combat 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

more operations over the US Walid Makeld US support is no longer in the form of

aircraft and weapons “We would like to stop being a simple country that begs for help every year”

Plan Colombia: -developed during the years of 1998 and 1999-implemented by former President Pastrana (1998-2002)-6 year plan to end Colombia’s drug trafficking and promote economic and social development

The Andean Counterdrug Initiative (ACI):

-Primary U.S. program that supports PC-From 2000-2005: PC received $2.8

billion from ACI Foreign Military Financing (FMF)

-U.S. government program that provides grants and loans-supports regional stability

U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) -When FMF & DOD assistance is included, total U.S. support to Colombia is about $4.5 billion

U.S. vs. COLOMBIA

Elected in 1998 Promised to end 40-year

conflict in Colombia Committed to promoting

peace in Colombia Went to the U.S. to promote

his Plan Colombia Clinton administration

supported a peace process in Colombia initially

claimed it was too vague and not linked to the main concerns of U.S. political agenda

Drug Flow into US Cultivation of Drug Crops Violence and Crime Armed Conflict Economic Development Promotion of Democracy, Law an Human

Rights Regional Stability US Disengagement

Cocaine and Heroin availability, price and purity 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 takes time

Also say that traffickers can absorb the increase of cost

Office of National Drug Control Policy says cocaine purity as of 2005 is the same it was in 1980’s.

Heroin purity is has increased since the 1980’s.

The US State Dept and UN report a decrease in acreage used to grow drugs in Colombia since 2001.

The Manual and Aerial eradication efforts appear to be working ONDCP estimates a decrease from 460 to 430

metric tons since new plants are less productive

More and more Colombians have been taking part in US funded programs to grow crops other than coca.

Critics claim coca production has been displaced to neighboring countries such as Bolivia. Also say spraying efforts not 100% effective

since crops can be replanted and doesn’t always kill the plant.

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; however

Colombia 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” to recapture FARC controlled territory. Viewed as a success, reduced members of the FARC

from 18,000 to 12,000 in one year (according the Colombian Military)

Destroyed 400 FARC camps Critics say that because of very difficult terrain,

it may be 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 confidence in the Colombian economy.

In 2004, Colombia had the best performing stock market in the world

Oil production accounts for 28% of exports It decreased recently because of armed

conflict and attacks on pipelines Oil exploration has been hindered by attacks

and the lack of security in areas

US State Dept says some progress has been made, but many serious problems still exist.

In 2004 there were between 3,000 and 4,000 civilian deaths

The judicial system is “inefficient and subject to intimidation and corruption by terrorist groups and common criminals

Although the military was still controlled by civilians, there were still instances of human rights violations and cooperation with paramilitary groups.

Do you think that U.S. involvement in Colombia has helped or hindered democracy and social development?

What will the relationship be between the United States and Columbia in the upcoming years?

Has Planned Colombia really been beneficial to the Colombia citizens?