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No Place for Washington in Colombia-Venezuela Row
A process of South American diplomacy could resolve the Colombia-Venezuela dispute. The US should keep its distance
In March I wrote about the Obama administration's contribution to the election campaign under way in Venezuela, where voters will choose a new national assembly in September. I predicted that certain things would happen before September, among them some new "discoveries" that Venezuela supports terrorism. Venezuela has had 13 elections or referenda since Hugo Chávez was first elected in 1998, and in the run-up to most of them, Washington has usually done something to influence the political and media climate.
The intentions were already clear on March 11, when General Douglas Fraser, the head of the US Southern Command was testifying to the US Senate. In response to a question from Senator John McCain about Venezuela's alleged support for terrorism, Fraser said:
"We have continued to watch very closely … We have not seen any connections specifically that I can verify that there has been a direct government-to-terrorist connection."
The next day he recanted his testimony after meeting with the US state department's top official for Latin America, Arturo Valenzuela.
This made it clear that the "terrorist" message was going to be a very important part of Washington's campaign. Even the Bush administration had never forced its military officers to retract their statements when they contradicted the state department's political agenda in Latin America, which they sometimes did.
Unfortunately, the campaign continues. Last Thursday, Colombia's ambassador to the Organisation of the American States (OAS) accused Venezuela at an extraordinary meeting of the OAS of harbouring 1,500 guerillas, and asked for the OAS to take action. The timing was noteworthy to many observers. President Lula da Silva of Brazil noted that it "seemed strange that this occurs a few days before [President] Uribe [of Colombia] leaves office. The new president has given signals that he wants to build peace [with Venezuela]. Everything was going well until Uribe made this denunciation."
Venezuela responded by breaking diplomatic relations with Colombia. It had previously cut off much of its trade with Colombia over the past two years, in response to Colombia's agreement with Washington to expand its military presence at seven US military bases in Colombia. Since Venezuela had been Colombia's largest trading partner in the region, it is possible that the new president, Juan Manuel Santos, was looking to improve relations for business reasons if nothing else. He had invited Chávez to his inauguration.
Of course, Uribe does not necessarily take orders from Washington, but it would be naive to assume that someone who has received more than $6bn from the US would not check with his benefactors before doing something like this. The fact that the US state department immediately took Colombia's side in the dispute is further indication that they approved. Even Washington's (rightwing) allies in the region did not take sides, with the government of Chile, for example, issuing a neutral statement; this would have been the normal diplomatic protocol for Washington too, if this were not part of a political and public relations campaign against Venezuela.
Other governments clearly saw Colombia's action as a political move, and were upset with what looked like the OAS being manipulated for these purposes. President Lula was cited in the Brazilian press saying that the venue of the dispute should be moved to Unasur, because the US would tilt the negotiations toward Colombia and against Venezuela. Ecuador's foreign minister, Ricardo Patiño, strongly criticised the head of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza, for not having consultation before granting Colombia's request for a meeting of the OAS permanent council. Patiño said that Insulza had shown his "absolute incapacity" to direct the organisation and to "look for peace in the region". Bolivia's president, Evo Morales, had even harsher rhetoric for Uribe, calling him "a loyal representative of the US government, with its military bases in Colombia designed to provoke a war between Venezuela, Ecuador and Nicaragua."
This dispute highlights the importance of the institutional changes that the left-of-centre governments in Latin America are trying to make. The increasing importance of Unasur, displacing the OAS, has become vital to Latin American progress and stability. For example, because of the influence of the US (as usual, with a handful of rightwing allies) in the OAS, it failed to take stronger action to restore the democratically elected government of President Zelaya of Honduras last year.
When Bolivia was having problems with attempts by the separatist, extra-parliamentary opposition – including violence and de-stabilisation efforts – it was Unasur that met in Santiago in September 2008 and threw its weight behind the democratic government of Evo Morales. When the US decided last fall to expand its presence at the military bases in Colombia, Unasur reached an agreement – which included Colombia – that prohibited these bases from being used for any actions outside of the country.
As to the substance of Colombia's latest claims, guerillas and paramilitaries have been crossing the 2,000km border with Venezuela – much of it dense jungle, mountains and all kinds of difficult terrain – for decades. There is no evidence that anything has changed recently, and nothing to indicate that the Venezuelan government, which has extradited guerillas to Colombia, supports any armed groups – as General Fraser testified before he was apparently forced to take it back.
On Tuesday Insulza – perhaps feeling like he had gone too far to please Washington – told CNN en Español that "the guerrillas come and go, and it is quite difficult to ask just one country to control the border … Uribe says he doesn't know why Venezuela doesn't detain the guerillas, but the truth is that Colombia can't control them either." He might have added that the US, with all its vastly greater resources and superior technology, doesn't have an easy time controlling the flow of drugs, guns, and people across its own much more manageable border with Mexico.
On Thursday there will be an emergency meeting of Unasur, and hopefully a process of diplomacy will begin to resolve the dispute. Certainly there will be a better chance of success to the extent that Washington – and its political campaigns against governments that it doesn't like – can be kept at a distance.
22 Comments so far
Show AllLet's get real. Let's get beyond the surface analysis of what military leaders, politicians, and Colombian leaders want, assert and mean.
Let's get to the heart of the issue.
There are large corporations, international corporations, that use the U.S. to accomplish their goals. These corporations want the oil of Venezuela. It irks them that they can't just go in there and using their immense capital just buy up the oil wells, or make deals with local plutocrats to get the oil at cheap prices. Irk is too weak a word. It horrifies them Venezuela is democratic socialist and through democracy has socialized oil for the benefit of the entire people. This disgusts them to illness the same way regular people would be affected by a family of incestuous, torturing cannibals that kidnaps innocent travelers.
These plutocrats in their gut feel that they have the RIGHT to use their capital to go anywhere they wish in the world and use their wealth to take over local resources and then turn them around to increase their wealth by ungodly amounts. To them Venezuela's Bolivian Movement that says "No, you can't do that here," is tantamount to STEALING. They have a rage against Chavez that is pathological.
These are the powers that be that are behind what is happening in Colombia. Uribe is the U.S.A.'s "man" and the U.S.A. government is responding to the wishes of the plutocrats. This is all about an eventual war by the U.S. against Venezuela so the corporations can go in and take what they want. Colombia is just the client state setting up the rationale.
Why else do we have troops in Colombia in numerous bases? Why else do American military analysts change their story about Venezuelan culpability? Why else does the Obama Administration pressure them like that? Why else does the American media demonize Chavez so much that even people like Bill Mahr and John Stewart echo the meme that Chavez is a "tin pot dictator" and "crazy?"
Notice all the headlines about how Chavez threatened to cut off oil to the U.S. without any mention that he said he'd do this only if there was a U.S. backed Colombian invasion of Venezuela. Do you know what that is? It's the same kind of thing Breitbart did to Sherrod. It's PROPAGANDA.
Viva Chavez. Viva Morales. Viva el Pueblo.
Thanks for this post as it is excellent. Obama and his foreign policy team are in the hands of the Oil Industry. So, too, then is our military. We will use the military as merceneries, to a greater extent than we already do, to get that energy resource. I'm with Chavez and the vast majority of the people of his country on this: self-determination is the key word.
Commondreams sounded like a site I'd like to know more about.The front page and checking into this article indicate the common dream is to agree with 1 perspective.That is no common dreams in my mind, but the common dream of a particular group. I live in Honduras and I've been to Colombia. The difference Uribe and the USA have made is nearly a miracle. Chavez has no freedom of press and less freedom outside "Chavez think" all the time.No mention of this? ''Mel'' was taking law and order out of Honduras, freedom becoming chaos.Open door drug trade changing the country.Murder and kidnapping are common now.All segments of thought and expression are open in the USA,influence from many paths common and open.Why shame and attempt to limit ''the right'' and their perspective with sounds of disgust such as this article?The author appears to want 1 common dream, that of Chavez.This article can be read in Venezuela, this comment could not.This is not the common dream I was looking for.How childish of Chavez to break relations off over this truthful comment.No mention of the billions of $$ in weapons pouring into Venezuela, advanced weapons.No comment of the influence of ALBA growing in Latin America.No comment of the take over of private business in Venezuela.No comment of the fear and abuses those who do not agree with ''Chavez think''must endure.Is this ''common dreams''?The prediction of the author is a no brainer,there is more than 1 perspective.It seems immature of the author elevate oneself in such a fools way.Chavez attempted major influence in the politics of Honduras as he does in every S.A. election.Grow up, this is normal in todays world - and necessary in a ''one world order''we all live in more and more.It appears the authors issue is some people believe common dreams are more than 1 perspective. Where is the diversity and freedom to challenge and have choice?
For better effect ardent, show mocomments how you and readbetween can spin your head 360 degrees.
Badgers! We don't need no steenking Badgers!
Moco,
Since you live in Honduras I am curious what you think about the 2009 coup and ouster of President Zelaya.
There will be no venezuela or colombia row without washihgton's craven meddling or active involvement for . The title reveals a false premise that is typical on such matters.
I regret the hardness of heart and mind I read here.Why do so many think or react with such anger at the precieved ''right''? I do you no harm and wish you no harm.It does your cause no advancement to simply attack in such hateful manners.Is this the world you desire?I can't believe that, I don't want to believe that.How can their be a common dream in this manner of relating?Do you simply want to beat me until I shut up or agree because your anger and rage is powerful?Is this the kind of power you seek?This is what I can't believe.Please search yourself and find a common ground.Is the only way destruction of my thoughts?I can't believe that.History shows this has no future for anyone.Not you either.Someone will come along with more power and rage and put your highest thoughts and dreams down.Forums like this are not allowed, would this make you feel better, have a better life, allow your children to grow and prosper as a free people?
Venezuela has been paid market prices for her oil.The only stealing to happen has been from Chavez. Please look at the fact when such force builds up, it is because there is an opposite force.Please look at Chavez and what the people of Venezuela live under him.Please look at who is behind him and how the people live in those countries.I have not seen a flux of people trying to get into Venezuela and live the good life there.I am not attempting to insult or take your expressions, but you are mine.Is this what you chose to live for?I say grow up because it is children who know no better than to think -it's all about them- and do not see beyond their immediate desires and demands.Children believe they are justified in having fits and rage.We all need to grow beyond these childish behaviors.Not just the left or the right, not just me or just you, hopefully the majority of people.The great leaders of our time have gracefully spoken and lived the truth and overcome darkness,freeing themselves and millions if not billions of souls as well. Gandi, Martin Luther,Nelson Mandela.We have been blessed with excellent examples to follow.Very effective examples to overcome wrongs of the human condition.
"Oh shut up! You do do"
Such eloquence, you inspire me ardent.
Notice that Moco makes no attempt to refute the statistics for Venezuela's social-economic development linked to in Mark Weisbrot's article (which are totally consistent with the CEPAL reports). As to people trying to get into Venezuela, well, how does he explain the nearly 2,000,000 Colombians now living in the country?
Behind all the smoke and mirrors is at least a decade of massive US military aid to Colombia. Turkey and Colombia are the top two recipients of US military aid. Don't listen to what is being said, watch what is being done.
This is a very important article with a great post by LibWingofLibWing.