To Colombia via Afghanistan

The Senate’s belated consent regarding the appointment of Arturo Valenzuela to the position of Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs is accompanied by conflicting signals about the definitive direction American policy will take in the region, particularly toward Colombia. Valenzuela symbolizes the prospect of a post-Bush era. However, he has arrived to find a machine already in motion, which has taken advantage of the void to maintain the neoconservative doctrine regarding the war on terrorism, diplomatic militarization, cooperation and the war on drugs.

At the Summit of the Americas and on multiple other occasions, Obama has announced a New Alliance, revealing the need to fortify a relationship based on promoting democracy. Hillary Clinton has talked about the end of focusing on the “war on terrorism.” However, the government’s deeds and stubborn approaches in the first months since Obama’s inauguration have been directed by the conservative bureaucracy and the so-called Doctrine of Integration. In the anti-drug war, the greatest importance was given to Mexico and the fortification of the anti-narcoterrorist strategy, which, in Colombia, takes the form of CCAI [Center for the Coordination of Integrated Action] and “fusion centers.” Plans for mobility and intelligence are activated by the United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) with the scheme of maintaining bases in Colombia and Panama, as well as the operations of the US Fourth Fleet. In Honduras, the position of the far-right Republicans was evident.

What we perceive in the pacifist NGO delegation that visited Washington and New York during the first days of December is that, within Obama’s administration and the institutions of power, there is a strong confrontation between reformist Democrats and the neoconservative Democrats spoken about by Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman. With respect to the agenda in Latin America, there are opportunities to rethink — or at least for a useful dialogue —, with the formation of the Evaluation Commission for anti-drug policy. The Commission reflects progress for those who believe the military strategy has been a failure in the region and that efforts to combat drug use must switch to focus more on social and preventative measures, and police action against organized crime.

The charter, established by 34 delegates who asked for the reorientation of Plan Colombia and the U.S.’s cooperation with Colombia, is another indicator in favor of the still ethereal New Alliance promised by Obama. The charter indicates that they are very determined that the axis of international politics be multilateral, that democracy and human rights in Colombia are strengthened, that the charter passes authoritarian confrontation, including “para-politics,” re-election, paramilitaries and false starts.

Congressional Democrats and centers such as CIP [Center for International Policy], WOLA [Washington Office on Latin America] and LWG, provide a good summary of the pending agenda with Obama’s administration and the recently confirmed Valenzuela. The agenda consists of the demilitarization of foreign affairs, accentuating civil coordination, reconsidering Plan Colombia with a social emphasis, rethinking the strategy of new bases and placing the highest importance on dialogue for the New Alliance, including consultation with communities and civil society. To put it better: refusing the idea of getting to Colombia by the same route as was taken to Afghanistan.