Colombia Considers Who It Wants More

Now that the Democratic nominee for president is clear, Colombia, the equal of many countries in the world, has begun to try to determine who they would want: Barack Obama or the Republican John McCain.

Considering the role, and realizing the agenda of the government of President Alvaro Uribe, there is no doubt that the Republican Senator from Arizona would be a better alternative.

McCain is politician whose enduring line in the fight against terror and against drug trafficking would guarantee continuation of the current strategy based in eradicating illegal production; fighting terrorist groups such as FARC and ELN, and to a lesser degree, strengthening the institutions of the State, in particular the judicial branch.

The Senator, in addition, has defended the approval of the Free Trade Agreement, which is actually opposed in Congress by the Democratic Party. Even though there is still a remote chance that it could be passed in the rest of this year, it is most likely that it will remain pending. With McCain, the country would have certainty that the White House will follow through.

The Senator, however, would have to govern a Congress with a Democratic majority, since it is presumed that they will not only retain both houses in the November elections but the actual differences might be amplified.

Given that Congress approves the funding for Plan Colombia and who whould ratify the Free Trade Agreement, with McCain there would be much better intentions but little effectiveness. However, if we ask Ong or more liberal people, the verdict is the opposite. McCain only pushes two policies: the anti-drug, which hasn’t reduced the cocaine crop, and that of fighting the guerrillas, until they will come to the negotiating table.

If Obama were to win, things are a little more complex.

For most of the campaign, the African American Senator was clear that he would not support the Free Trade Agreement with Colombia. Some believe that he will say one thing in the campaign and do another when President. And they allege that if he said he wouldn’t support it, it was to secure those sectors necessary for the primaries. It could be. But his word is in question.

On the side of foreign policy, he surprised the whole world for 15 days during a Florida speech when he said that his government supported the right of Colombia to attack terrorist groups, including if they were found in neighboring countries (a clear signal to Ecuador and Venezuela), and in addition, said he would continue to finance Plan Colombia, the fight against FARC and the dismantling of paramilitary groups.

Obama and these issues are very important. Would he work with a Congress amiable to what he says, would his initiatives pass with little difficulty, even though it takes some time?