Cablegate: Media Reaction Rio de Janeiro: The U.S. Bases And

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SUBJECT: Media Reaction Rio de Janeiro: The U.S. Bases and
Intervention

The U.S. bases and intervention

Rio-based center-left daily Jornal do Brasil writes: "The
revelation made by JB regarding the doubts about the real use of
the bases... [by the U.S. in Colombia] sheds light on an old
discussion. Ultimately, what differentiates an installation for
observation versus a platform for intervention? ... Specialists
cited in the story uncover the veil that the ambiguity tries to
hide: without a clear point of reference, the argument for 'right
to self defense' could justify... a military operation in
neighboring territories. The theory of 'preventive wars' is not
new, it's been used in the Middle East for ages and the U.S. has
also used it in the two interventions in Iraq. The subtle
difference in the type of agreement negotiated between Washington
and Bogota justifies in part the belligerent speech of Venezuelan
President Hugo Ch????vez regarding the issue... Before the signing of
this agreement with President ????lvaro Uribe, the U.S. kept its
presence in the heart of South America operating from the base of
Manta... Officially, the base was used by the Americans to look for
arms and drug traffickers trying to infiltrate the country through
the Gulf of Mexico. But nothing would have kept it from being used
for logistical and operational support to the helicopters and jets
that decimated a FARC camp 13km from the country's border... The
American bases in Colombia are the American stage from which to act
in the so-called 'critical sub-region,' the South America
threatened by drugs, misery, terrorism, anti-Americanism and the
recurrence of natural disasters. Even with the government's
guarantees of a non-interventionist presence, it is hard to believe
entirely in these intentions in light of the official document
cited by the newspaper. After all, unconventional threats are the
main worries of the strategists." (Nov 22, page A8)
HEARNE

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