United States president-elect Barack Obama will continue to support
Plan Colombia. This was confirmed by his Secretary of State-to-be
Hillary Clinton in reply to written questions from senator John Kerry.
Clinton did add that the plan requires some adjustments in order to fight against drug traffic from Colombia into the United States.
Plan Colombia is the popular name of US legislation that allows to invest in Colombia’s war on drugs. The plan was created between 1998 and 1999, with president Andrés Pastrana on one end and Bill Clinton on the other.
George Bush expanded the program upon taking office in 2000, but until now it was not certain whether it had a chance of surviving with Obama in charge.
While Plan Colombia appears to be safe, this can’t be said of the much debated Free Trade Agreement (FTA). While Bush may have been in favor of this agreement, Obama and Clinton are not.
The two claim that Colombia should work harder to protect the rights of union members and other civil leaders, before wanting to consider a FTA. Clinton states to be available to work with congress to find a way for the US to contribute and end violence in Colombia.