Dubya south of the border – President Bush makes a pit stop in Colombia before continuing tour in Guatemala

Best friends forever- U.S. President George W. Bush and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. (Image via El Tiempo).

Note: English-language links are in bold, while Spanish-language links are italicized.

• U.S. President George W. Bush flew to Guatemala Sunday night where activists, indigenous leaders, and other groups have been protesting all weekend long. According to the Department of State, Bush will address the issue of impunity that has led to political stagnation, and he will also concentrate on free trade. Bush will also visit the ancient Mayan ruins at Iximche which shall be “cleansed” after he departs. Bush will be in Guatemala for nearly 24 hours before moving on to the final leg of his tour in Mexico.
• President Bush became the first U.S. head of state in nearly a half-century to travel to the Colombian capital of Bogotá when he arrived there Sunday afternoon. Bush was received with honors and a red-carpet welcome by Colombian president (and staunch ally) Alvaro Uribe at the country’s presidential palace. Several topics were discussed by both presidents including free trade, terrorism and U.S. aid to Colombia. After meeting with Uribe, Bush talked with reporters where he praised Uribe’s hard line against guerillas and promised to encourage Congress to ratify a bilateral free trade pact. In turn, Uribe assured that he was “committed to defeat terrorism” though he got somewhat flustered when asked about the growing “para-politics” scandal.
• On NBC Nightly News Sunday night, correspondent Nora O’Donnell acutely observed that even though U.S. officials deemed Colombia as “significant” to South America, President Bush’s stay there was the shortest of his tour (approximately 7 hours).
• Not to be outdone by Bush’s presence, a few thousand demonstrators took to the streets in several cities around Colombia and screamed things like “go home assassin” and “down with Bush”. Unfortunately, violence broke out during a demonstration in downtown Bogota which has led to the arrest of almost 130 people and damage to several stores and businesses.
• Shock and awe? U.S. officials confirmed that U.S. soldiers participated in a joint operation with Colombian forces in the southern part of the country. U.S. military rules of engagement forbid troops from combat but do permit them to accompany Colombian soldiers and defend themselves should they get attacked. (Which for all intents and purposes is one in the same, right)?
• The joint operation took place in areas heavily-occupied by left-wing rebels of the FARC; families of three U.S. contractors kidnapped by the FARC worry that the Bush administration is leaning towards a dangerous military rescue instead of more diplomatic means.
• President Bush continues to ignore the ongoing haranguing by Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez who claimed on Sunday that the U.S. government was plotting to assassinate him and Bolivian President Evo Morales. “The embassies of the United States continue pushing assassination plans in our Latin American countries,” claimed Chavez after he visited the inundated Bolivian province of Beni.

Links- Prensa Latina, U.S. Department of State, Prensa Libre, El Periodico, New Zealand Herald, RCN, BBC News, Monsters & Critics, Scoop.co.nz, MSNBC, Guardian UK, FARC-EP, Venezuela Analysis, International Herald Tribune, Bloomberg, El Diario