United Church of Christ Action Alert
Despite promises to Congress to keep the U.S. military out of Colombia's "quagmire," Bush Administration officials have proposed to increase the number of U.S. troops and private military contractors allowed in this war-torn country. The number is currently fixed at 800 (400 troops and 400 contractors), but the Administration has proposed nearly doubling the U.S. military presence in Colombia to 800 troops and 600 contractors.
These U.S. troops and private contractors will be sent to support Colombian armed forces in the aerial fumigation of illegal drug crops and to protect oil pipelines. The impact of this presence, however, may well be to escalate Colombia's internal conflict and to fan the flames of Colombia's brutal war. Authorization of a larger U.S. presence at this time will discourage reform by the Colombian military, which has a long history of collaboration with paramilitary forces in human rights abuses -- particularly against union members, religious leaders, human rights and peace workers, and innocent Colombian civilians caught in the crossfire.
Log onto http://www.ucctakeaction.org/ctt.asp?u=6223&l=31401 to send a clear message to Congress to force a floor debate on Colombia and to oppose any increase in U.S. military or contract personnel on the ground in Colombia when Congress considers the FY2005 Defense Authorization Bill, likely in late May or early June. Ask Congress to shift U.S. assistance to social and economic development, strengthening democracy, and protecting human rights defenders.
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Now take a minute today to sign the National Petition on Colombia. You can read and sign the petition at http://www.ucctakeaction.org/ctt.asp?u=6223&l=31399. The petition is addressed to presidential hopeful John Kerry, who needs public pressure to re-think his stand on U.S. policy and aid to Colombia's military, and to clarify his policy stand on humanitarian and economic aid, as well as his policy position on drug treatment and prevention in the U.S. The goal is to deliver 50,000 signatures to members of Congress at the end of May, as they begin debate over Colombia's aid package for next year, and to deliver the petition to John Kerry the end of August.
