May 02, 2007
Mixed Reception For Uribe
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe is under fire in his own country and on the world scene for alleged abuses of power and ties to violent paramilitary groups. But he has at least one steadfast friend in President Bush, who held a joint press conference with him this morning at the White House.
Bush did not address the controversies surrounding Uribe this morning, except to maintain that Colombia under his leadership is a model for other Latin countries to follow: "It is very important for this nation to stand with democracies that protect human rights and human dignity; democracies based upon the rule of law."
Al Gore recently gave Uribe the cold shoulder, canceling an April 20 appearance with the Colombian leader at an environmental conference in Miami. He said through a spokeswoman that recent allegations tying Uribe to death squads responsible for thousands of deaths were "deeply troubling." That same week, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., froze $50 million in military aid to Colombia.
Rumors had circulated that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would also snub Uribe as he makes the rounds in Washington this week, but Reuters is reporting that she will indeed meet with him on Thursday.
The Bush administration has never wavered in its support for Uribe, viewing him as a crucial ally in the war on drugs and in the cold war developing against the left-leaning regimes that increasingly dominate Latin America.
Bush implored Congress today to move ahead on a long-pending free trade agreement with Colombia, but Democrats are expected to demand concessions from Uribe on the issue of labor rights. (Uribe also planned to meet with House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel and AFL-CIO head John Sweeney today.)
"The President is here to speak strongly about his record, and it's a good, solid record," Bush said of Uribe this morning. "I thank the members of Congress for giving him a hearing. We expect them to be open-minded, to listen to his record."
Uribe also addressed the Council of Americas conference at the State Department today.
AP and the New York Times have more on Uribe's visit.
Photo Credit: Tina Hager
