Letter to the Editor, Washington Post. Thursday, April 3, 2008; Page A16

The March 31 editorial "Free Colombia" minimized not only the violence faced every day by Colombia's workers but also the complicity of U.S.-based multinational corporations in that violence, often with full knowledge of the Colombian government.

Cases have been brought against Coca-Cola, the Drummond mining company and Occidental Petroleum accusing them of supporting paramilitaries that terrorize and kill union organizers. These corporations and their peers are the real beneficiaries of President Bush's proposed trade deal.

It should be noted that most Colombian workers and their unions are against the proposed U.S.-Colombia trade agreement; unlike American investors, workers in Colombia have little to gain by further U.S. investment without real accountability for violence against unions and for other human rights abuses.

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia's president sharply criticized U.S. presidential contender Barack Obama on Wednesday for opposing a trade deal with his country, calling the Democrat out of touch with the realities of the South American nation.

The White House is urging Congress to approve the agreement, which would remove most tariffs on American exports and cement Colombia's preferential trade status with the United States.

But Illinois Sen. Obama said Wednesday he would oppose the deal.

The Free Trade Agreement from a nonbusiness perspective

Claudia López, columnist for EL TIEMPO
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

According to President Bush, the FTA with Colombia has become a matter of politics and national security. It's worth evaluating the FTA from this perspective.

Both President Uribe and President Bush have made the doctrine of security a central component of their governments. They've built this doctrine around the fight against terrorism as the supreme and indisputable goal. They argue that this goal justifies legitimate and preventive defense, which includes invading foreign territory that may constitute a terrorist refuge. The U.S. government also established that this goal justifies torture and supersedes the applicability of any type of International Law. Following this pattern, Colombia legalized the use of the death penalty for terrorists, but since the Constitution prohibits the death penalty and summary executions by State agents, the government pays private contractors who are able to carry out executions as an incentive to raise their “killed in action” body count.

talkingunion.wordpress.com

President Bush has said he will send the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement FTA) to Capitol Hill and demand a vote before he leaves office next January.

Despite objections by the Democratic congressional leadership, the administration may formally send the agreement to Congress as early as next week when Congress returns from its Easter recess on March 31. Under Fast Track trade authority rules, the House of Representatives would likely face an up-or-down vote on the Colombia deal before the end of July. Here are five easy pieces to stop it.

Bogotá, Colombia. March 24, 2008

Congresswoman
NANCY PELOSI
Speaker of the House of Representatives

Senator
HARRY REID
Senate Majority Leader

Senator
HILLARY CLINTON

Senator
BARACK OBAMA

by James Parks | aflcio.blog | Mar 24, 2008

With the U.S. economy in near free fall, President Bush has said he will send the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to Capitol Hill and demand a vote before he leaves office next January. Bush has made passing this agreement, which will do next to nothing for the failing U.S. economy, a priority. 

Despite objections by the Democratic congressional leadership, the administration may formally send the agreement to Congress as early as next week when Congress returns from its Easter recess on March 31. Under Fast Track trade authority rules, the House of Representatives would likely face an up-or-down vote on the Colombia deal before the end of July.