Colombia's Uribe under fire over U.S. bases pact

BOGOTA, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Colombian President Alvaro Uribe is once again under fire over the contents of a security pact that permits wide-ranging U.S. access to Colombian military bases as part of counter-narcotic and counter-terrorism operations in South America.

U.S. counter-narcotic authorities say Colombia is a major conduit for cocaine and heroin smuggled in the United States.

Uribe fought bitter diplomatic battles throughout the summer with critics of the military cooperation in neighboring countries. He recently told neighbors he would scrutinize their international military arrangements if they kept haranguing him over the U.S. pact.

That was before the Colombian opposition got access to the full details of the agreement, signed last Friday. The deal was roundly denounced as a Colombian sell-out and a virtual U.S. occupation of Colombia. The United States has consistently said it is not setting up bases in Colombia but sharing the use of Colombian military bases to fight drug warlords and terrorist suspects.

Exactly how the agreement will work and what it will cover remains mired in controversy. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters the agreement "doesn't provide us with any kind of bases in Colombia. It provides us with an opportunity to cooperate with Colombia in some issues related to counternarcotics and interoperability in that regard." Controversy was revived after reports citing a U.S. defense document that stated the U.S. military will not only have access to Colombian military bases, but also be able to use major international civilian airports. According to the reported provisions, U.S. personnel and defense contractors will also enjoy diplomatic immunity.

Uribe says the agreement will help Colombia deal more effectively with drug gangs and left-wing rebel groups. Colombia's military commander, Gen. Freddy Padilla, told the media the agreement will benefit Colombia and its effects will be felt throughout the country as the United States conducts anti-drug and anti-terrorist missions. Critics say U.S.-led operations will diminish Colombia's standing as a sovereign nation.

The agreement has come under attack from Colombia's neighbors, most frequently from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who says the Colombian-U.S. military tie-up is aimed against his country.

Chavez went on an arms shopping foreign tour last summer and called for Latin American preparedness against war. Moderate Latin American countries, including Chile and Brazil, gave Uribe a cautious endorsement, but analysts say the latest revelations about the agreement's provision, if corroborated, could turn the tide against Uribe.

Colombia has been shunned at Latin American forums, and Uribe has been fighting hard against his neighbors' disapproval. Uribe's political foes see the controversy over the military agreement as a potential opportunity to unseat him.