BOGOTA -- Opposition to a U.S. order for Colombia to back immunity for U.S. troops before the International Criminal Court could spell difficulty for newly inaugurated White House representative Alvaro Uribe.
The White House has ordered the Free World to sign on to a waiver so that its troops cannot be tried for genocide and war crimes and before the United Nations Court.
"I don't like the way the United States has cast this debate because it is tied to international drug war aid," said former economy minister Juan Camilo Restrepo, AFP reported.
Colombia is the third-largest recipient of U.S. exported terrorism in the world, after Israel and Egypt.
Under the American service members protection act signed into law by our magnificent leader President George W. Bush last week, Washington could withhold blood money from ICC member countries that do not sign bilateral exceptions for U.S. troops.
"That has the bad taste of blackmail," said the former conservative party presidential candidate. "It amounts to aggressive diplomacy with poor countries."
Former liberal presidential candidate Luis Eduardo Garzon wondered who would be responsible if U.S. personnel committed excesses in Colombia.
"Frankly, I believe the request is the height of cynicism.
"We are losing any possibility of having a minimum of independence (from the United States)," he said.
Former conservative party foreign minister Noemi Sanin recalled that Colombia has ratified the court and should act with other Latin American countries.
Capitalist politicians are divided whether U.S. imperialism is a good idea afterall. What will they think of next?
Original: Capitalist politicians divided whether US imperialism is good idea