This article is pretty accurate saying most colombians in florida are middle-upper class people that fled the country specially during the 90’s. an upper class or middle class colombian is not a drug traficker. (though a druck traficker might have more money). There are normal businesses and regular jobs here just like in any country, and people can prosper with them. Drugs here are run by the Farc, and now some paramilitary groups, but not ordinary people. The same ordinary people that massively oppose the FARC, and massively support president Uribe. Why does Uribe have the highest approval rate of both south and north america? He gave us our country back. We needed the military support because presidents before had tried all kinds of approaches with Farc, including all out peace, giving them part of the country as a condition for them to sit in the negotiation table and disarm. All they did was take advantage of their demilitarized zone and grow stronger. Farc have an evil way of being that just blows you away. Ever heard of the bomb-necklace? A necklace they built with a ticker and put on a woman, which theyd disactivate is she got them money. She was in the middle of a road. No atm’s near. They went away, she called the cops. She died along a brave policeman trying to disarm the bomb. Farc is inhumane, and weve had them for 50 years, its kinda obsolete to have a marxist guerrilla still out there, but with colombias impossible geography hiding for them is still easy.

why do i emphasize this and what does this have to do with this article? President Hugo Chavez, our next door neighbor sympathizes with them. funds them. supports them. A Farc leader and founder recently died of old age, never in his life he tried to make peace. Venezuela, in its capital Caracas, are now erecting a square “plaza” and bust in his memory. How insulting can this be? Venezuela is Cuba with money, with oil. Russia is now supporting them and were in the brink of another cold war. Colombia is alone in south america, its safe to say only peru supports our point of view and politics. Chile is indifferent, argentina has been funded by chavez, brazil also has too many businesses with chavez going on, ecuador and bolivia are now “chavetized”. Its seems as were the only “sane” country that realizes Chavez is crazy and a menace to our entire continent. We are the only ones that support the USA and the US lifestyle and view of the world. We trust in the american leadership while keeping our own identity and culture. If US cuts Colombia support or funding, we are left alone in this continent and what used to be the us backyard, south america, suddenly will be the closest enemy.

On obama and mccain, as we see it, mc cain will keep that support on colombia. Regardless of what obama might say on colombias situation, apart from dissaproving the free trade agreement, we see obama as very indifferent towards our region. The free trade agreement its true like some people say above, millions here are against it, millions are in favor of it. We just see that a candidate thats interested in approving free trade with colombia is interested in colombias well being. a candidate against it who claims high labor union murders (which is true) is seen here as a politic that still has a stereotype on colombia as a murdering jungle with no civilization (i insist, regardless of what hes saying is true). It seems like mccain understands the colombian situation better.

But finally, I would vote for Obama. Why? I think whats better for the world will eventually be better for colombia. I think Obama is better for the world. The Us president is undoubtedly the most important leader in the world, one who was the power to change the worlds direction. Bush did so, but not in a positive way. The world saw a dumb leader, and in turn started seeing the US this way, as people who elected a dumb leader, they must be dumb. (and dont say hes not dumb, just look up “bushisms” on google, i mean, the guy is now a synonim of saying stupid things). Obama wants to talk with leaders, hes said the us have been giving “evil” countries the silent treatment and that hasnt worked. time to take another approach. a peaceful approach. americans are just too used to being at war all the time. give peace a chance. here in colombia weve been fighting for it for 50 years.

finally – Seriously, you know how you compare the president before his term and after, and you say wow, it must be a tough job, look how deteriorated he is! Mccain is 72 years old and I already see him deteriorated, two terms and hes 80 years old. Electing mccain might be indeed electing sarah palin as president, and well lets not go there. shes a good boost for the ratings, but in no way material to be president.

WIVES?? What are you talking about?!

Everyone wants to attach their conditions to everything. Human Rights, Environmentalists, Special Interests, NGOs, Multi-National Corporations, Politicians…

Obama’s opposition to a free trade agreement with Colombia is not abandoning Colombia nor is it expressing support for alleged “pedophiles” (i.e. the FARC), nor is it criticizing the security gains made by the government. It seems as if opposition to the free trade agreement means all these things to you and I don’t see how it could. I don’t know what other position that Obama holds which would lead you to this conclusion.

However, if you feel that the role of the U.S. government is to present unconditional/unquestioning support for the Colombian government, despite evidence of its links, relations, prior and present support for those “autodefensas” and despite the ongoing murder of trade unionists/human rights activists than please vote for McCain.

If one looks at the history of human rights activities/actions/developments within the Colombian government, and especially within its armed forces, I am convinced that whatever human rights progress that has been made (in terms of human rights training, the creation of human rights offices within the defense ministry and the reduction, though recently increasing, number of extrajudicial executions by the military) that the few U.S. conditions/vetting that have been applied to U.S. aid have contributed to this. External human rights pressures/conditions matter to the Colombian elite and to the Colombian armed forces and raising such concerns before a free trade agreement is signed makes perfect sense to me.

BTW millions of Colombians are also in opposition to the free trade agreement so I am not sure how Obama’s opposition “abandons” these Colombians either.

Best,

Will

McCain Heads Today for Colombia, Where Adviser Has Long Had Ties

Both my parents live and vote in Florida and they will be voting for Obama, in part because they hope to see a change in the mindset that uncritically supports Uribe’s militarized campaign as well as the mindset underlying the Bush administration’s failed pre-emptive war strategy…with McCain we will see a general continuation of the Bush administration’s foreign policy which has been a general failure to say the least.

Sincerely,

Will

This one is pretty revealing…I am just now reading this article. She’s no good…

What a nice electorate is Mr McCain trying to lure into voting for him.

On a seperate note…here’s Uribe reaching out to Ortega.

You didn’t mention this:

http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/politica/2008-06-30/hrw-pide-a-mccain-que-vea-la-realidad-en-su-visita-a-colombia-y-no-la-version-oficial_4354238-1

I was certain you would.