Today’s Video: On a Wing and a Prayer

We'll be back over the weekend to look at several news and notes from around the Americas.

In the meantime think about the following: is Ciudad Juarez, Mexico the "most dangerous city in the hemisphere, if not the world"? This was the assertion made yesterday by William Brownfield, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

The former ambassador's remarks came on the same day as a Juarez police spokesman confirmed that five officers were shot and killed on Wednesday night. But Anthony Wayne, the U.S. diplomatic envoy to Juarez, observed that the number of homicides in the city have decreased significantly since 2010.

Juarez mayor Héctor Murguía also criticized Brownfield's views as "irresponsible" and personally invited him to visit the northern Mexican city.

If Brownfield does take up Murguía on his offer then perhaps he can visit a group of young Juarez residents who dress up as angels in order to protest the violence in their city:

Video Source - YouTube via Univision News

Online Sources - Univision Noticias, LAHT, BBC Mundo, El Universal

An ambassador's lack of clarity

The planned U.S. military expansion in Colombia has brought about plenty of criticisms throughout the region. One of the critiques mentioned at August’s UNASUR summit by Chilean president Michelle Bachelet was the secrecy behind the plan’s details. Neither the White House or Casa De Nariño have been willing to divulge the particulars of the militarization plan even though doing so would likely help get support among the region’s moderate leaders.

The U.S. ambassador to Colombia hasn’t made the issue any easier, unfortunately. His unclear remarks boils down to the following: the details don’t have to be shown, but they could be.
Ambassador William Brownfield said that the military agreement with Colombia, which allows

U.S. troops the use of seven bases, is under review for publication in both English and Spanish, reported newspaper El Espectador.

Likewise, he said the United States was not required to publish the text of the agreement because it is bilateral. However, he maintained that if one of the two countries should decide to do so there would be no problem, because in such a cooperation agreement "there is nothing hidden."

To quote some of the lyrics of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears For Fears:

I can't stand this indecision

Married with a lack of vision

Image- BBC Mundo (Colombia’s Palanquero air base could soon see an increased U.S. military presence)
Online Sources- El Espectador, Colombia Reports, The Latin Americanist, sing365.com