Lochness_hunter Posted November 27, 2004 #1 Share Posted November 27, 2004 (edited) By Hugh Bronstein BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) was targeted for assassination by Colombia's biggest Marxist rebel group this week when he visited the Caribbean port city of Cartagena, a top Colombian official said on Saturday. According to informants and various sources, we had information indicating that various members of the FARC had been instructed by their leaders to make an attempt against President Bush," Defense Secretary Jorge Alberto Uribe told reporters. He would not be drawn out on the details of the threat. The White House had no immediate comment. The U.S. Secret Service, which protects the president, said it "does not comment or release information regarding our protective intelligence and protective methods." "We do not discuss any alleged threats to our protectees," said Jonathan Cherry, a Secret Service spokesman. The 17,000-strong Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, fighting a 40-year guerrilla war against the state, has long accused the United States of backing business interests in this Andean country while ignoring the 60 percent of the population that lives in poverty. There was heavy security in Cartagena when Bush visited the city on Monday on his way back from the APEC (news - web sites) forum in Chile. Military helicopters packed with armed soldiers flew over Bush's motorcade while naval vessels kept watch offshore. Many shops were shuttered. The FARC has made many attempts against the life of President Alvaro Uribe, one of few conservative South American presidents with strong ties to Washington. Uribe, whose father was killed resisting kidnap by the FARC in the 1980s, narrowly survived a car bomb attack by the FARC during his 2002 presidential campaign. The last U.S. president to visit Colombia was Bill Clinton (news - web sites), whose trip to Cartagena was marked by the seizure of bomb-making materials from a house six blocks from a building Clinton was visiting. Bush used his four-hour trip to solidify his alliance with Uribe, whom he considers an ally in the effort to curtail the illegal drug trade and fight terrorism. Colombia produces about 90 percent of the cocaine consumed in the United States and 50 percent of the heroin. Washington has paid out more than $3 billion over the past four years for Plan Colombia, a security and anti-drug program developed by Clinton and former Colombian President Andres Pastrana. Bush has promised more support. Colombia's economy is expected to grow by 4 percent this year and next as it takes advantage of a reduction in violence in its war involving the FARC and far-right paramilitaries, both of which have links to the country's huge cocaine trade. where i got it fromhere Edited November 27, 2004 by Lochness_hunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whom_God_Loves Posted November 27, 2004 #2 Share Posted November 27, 2004 Well if thy'd kill a soccer player for scoring an Own Goal nothing suprises me about the Colombians Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings of Selkhet Posted November 28, 2004 #3 Share Posted November 28, 2004 pity they didn't succeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bathory Posted November 28, 2004 #4 Share Posted November 28, 2004 (edited) Wings of Selkhet in reference to fallujah Maybe I'm naive in the fact that I fail to understand why the elimination of a human life is moral in ANY circumstance. Wings of Selkhet in reference to the alleged assasination plot against G.W pity they didn't succeed. I don't think i have to say anything else 375333[/snapback] *edit* removed an offensive comment directed at Wings, replaced with something much juicier Edited November 28, 2004 by bathory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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