The United States Government 'Has No Friends'

The Colombians were led to believe that camaraderie between President Bush and Colombian President Uribe would lead to a better trade deal for Bogotá. But according to this article from Colombia's El Tiempo newspaper, it hasn't, and the Colombians are not only disappointed, they fell mistreated and betrayed.

By Camilo Durán Casas

Translated By Richard Hauenstein

November 30, 2005

Original Article (Spanish)

In the face of our poverty, the United States offers us only arrogance and indifference.

The negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Colombia and the United States have resulted in disappointments for our country, and have left us with an important lesson that we ought not forget: the United States government has no friends.

The entire world seems to be in agreement that the deal between Colombia and the United States has come at an extremely opportune time. The support of the Republican Party for the continuation of "Plan Colombia," the visit to Cartagena by President George W. Bush, and the reception Bush gave our president, even including a ride in his personal jeep when President Uribe visited Bush at his ranch in Texas, had led our government to believe that they may count on the support and the friendship of the White House.

In fact, Colombia’s diplomatic support for the invasion of Iraq was, in large part, a quid pro quo for these supposed declarations of appreciation for and confidence in our nation.

However, reality shows us something else.

In this momentous time for our country, when we have the historic opportunity to sign a free trade agreement with the richest and most powerful nation on Earth, a nation that is also seen as our "friend," our Government should have been able to assume that such friendship would be shown in eloquent form. But what a surprise we got!

The only things we have gotten are extreme positions, indifference to our poverty, and unilateral and arrogant demands that sooner or later, we are going to have to accept. This is because in order to negotiate equitably with the United States, we are to be required to adopt economic institutions and practices that we are very far from having.

Has it been worth it - the immense ecological damage to our forests, our air, our ecosystems resulting from the spraying of our fields with herbicides, so that in return, the Washington negotiators could respond to our concerns about our agricultural industry with the indolence and indifference that they have shown?

Is our "friend" a government whose only interest is for us to help them resolve their problems of drug consumption, with no concern for our future?

Is the very low buying power of the huge majority of our countrymen of any concern to the White House, the Commerce Secretary, or Mrs. Regina Vargo [Chief U.S. Negotiator].

Of course not.

For the United States, business with Colombia represents scarcely 0.5% of their international commerce, while for us it represents almost 50% of our foreign trade. Was this not the opportune moment for their government to move from word to deed, and treat us like a friendly nation?

Will the United States economy suffer if, as a part of the Free Trade Agreement, preferential tariffs are re-established which otherwise next year will harm a people that have offered thousands of lives and vast economic resources, to fulfill their commitment to fight the sale of a drug [cocaine] whose demand is each time greater than before?

Does our country not deserve favorable treatment from a treaty which can mean true economic growth, and whose consequences may offer our poorest and neediest people the chance of living by way of lawful occupations?

I think we not only deserve this, we have the right to demand it.

But Mr. Bush no longer has friends. Perhaps occasional allies or partners with common interests or problems. Events of the last few years have shown us this.

They impose their will on their friends as mush as they do on their enemies. If the United Nations fell apart, we could expect no less for ourselves. It’s a pity to allow an opportunity like this to pass, in order to examine the clumsiness with which most U.S. governments have traditionally managed their relations with poor countries which are supposed to be their friends.