Pubdate: Fri, 16 Oct 2009
Source: DrugSense Weekly (DSW)
Section: Feature Article
Website: http://www.drugsense.org
Author: Pete Guither
Note: Pete Guither is the author of Drug WarRant ( 
http://www.drugwarrant.com ) a weblog at the front lines of the drug 
war, where this piece was first presented.

DON'T WORRY, IT'S JUST FOR THE DRUG WAR

Last month, the U.S. denied that they were setting up military bases 
in Colombia, ( see http://tinyurl.com/mwtcvv ), claiming that the new 
arrangement to lease up to seven military bases in Colombia was 
simply for "fighting drug traffickers."

This didn't pass the smell test for Venezuela's Chavez and Bolivia's 
Morales, who were concerned about having these military bases in 
their back yards. (see http://tinyurl.com/yg3hmjq )

Now Evo Morales has announced that Bolivia plans to buy six military 
aircraft "to fight drug traffickers." See http://tinyurl.com/yf3g4wy )

"Last week we issued a supreme decree to ... acquire six K-8 aircraft 
from China," said Morales in a speech in La Paz to mark the 52nd 
anniversary of the Bolivian Air Force.

"The aircraft purchase is aimed at the fight against drug trafficking 
and not ... any arms race," he added.

This, after the U.S.  blocked them from purchasing Czech planes.

And.

Morales' main regional ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, is 
also buying Chinese K-8 to be used to pursue cocaine flights. They 
replace a purchase of Brazilian Super Tucanos blocked by a US arms embargo.

Sure is handy to have that drug war, isn't it?
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake