-Gracias, Señor Presidente-
Colombian patriot and brave national hero Alvaro Uribe has now retired from the presidential office he first took in 2002... when Colombia was nothing short of a failed state. How did he do? Besides the fact that he all but defeated the FARC rebels and numerous drug cartels over his eight years, Uribe's presidential approval rating has hovered between 60-70%... as recently as 2008 hitting an astounding 91%...
George W Bush honored his accomplishment, principles, and valor with a Presidential Medal of Freedom... while today's radical Democrats refuse to support Colombia's great strides with even a free-trade pact. But as a thankless Obama chums-up to anti-democratic enemies at Colombia's expense, Uribe can rest assured that history will treat him and his nationalist/pro-victory/free market record well... very well.
Faced with a pugnacious Hugo Chavez providing cover and support for Colombian FARC commie/drug cartel rebels just over the Venezuelan border, Alvaro Uribe displayed admirable restraint too... much of South and Central America could have been drawn-in and split into to camps -creating permanent rifts- if Comrade Hugo had succeeded in baiting Colombia into an all-out war.
Just this last Sunday, Uribe -clearly sick of relentless Chavez insults- dismissed the red-shirted Marxist clown as a "coward" on Twitter... as Colombian victims of FARC violence now pursue remedy against Venezeula through legal means.
IBD provides some background on the towering success of this truly great leader and good friend to the United States...
Presidente Alvaro Uribe:
George W Bush honored his accomplishment, principles, and valor with a Presidential Medal of Freedom... while today's radical Democrats refuse to support Colombia's great strides with even a free-trade pact. But as a thankless Obama chums-up to anti-democratic enemies at Colombia's expense, Uribe can rest assured that history will treat him and his nationalist/pro-victory/free market record well... very well.
Faced with a pugnacious Hugo Chavez providing cover and support for Colombian FARC commie/drug cartel rebels just over the Venezuelan border, Alvaro Uribe displayed admirable restraint too... much of South and Central America could have been drawn-in and split into to camps -creating permanent rifts- if Comrade Hugo had succeeded in baiting Colombia into an all-out war. Just this last Sunday, Uribe -clearly sick of relentless Chavez insults- dismissed the red-shirted Marxist clown as a "coward" on Twitter... as Colombian victims of FARC violence now pursue remedy against Venezeula through legal means.
IBD provides some background on the towering success of this truly great leader and good friend to the United States...
Presidente Alvaro Uribe:
Leadership: Colombia's Alvaro Uribe leaves office as one of the hemisphere's most successful leaders, courageously transforming a failed state to a rising star.
His friendship has also paid off handsomely for the U.S. As with Australia's John Howard and the U.K.'s Tony Blair, President Bush knew what he was doing when he presented Colombia's president with the Medal of Freedom, America's highest honor, in 2009.
Rarely has our country benefited so greatly from an alliance. Before Uribe was elected in 2002, Colombia was one of our biggest headaches. A rural, underdeveloped society, it was unprepared for the first wave of the global drug trade, and its name had become synonymous with cartels. Corruption stretched from the lowliest slum dwellers to the presidential palace and seemed incurable. The cartels then turned into guerrilla groups that by 1998 almost claimed victory in the drug war.
But as sometimes occurs in times of crisis, a real leader stepped forward. Uribe focused on just two things: human rights and development. He called his plan "democratic security." He marshaled the best in his people and cultivated an alliance with America.
And contrary to what the past suggested, it worked. Colombians detested chaos and were willing to make sacrifices to create something new. Uribe's leadership brought out the best in a society whose roots were still intact. Thanks to a strong work ethic, Colombia's economy grew every year but one.
And unlike other Latin American states, it kept its word and never defaulted on debt. This made it possible for the U.S. to help. The $7 billion spent on Plan Colombia is one of America's biggest foreign-aid success stories.
As Uribe leaves office with a nation better off politically, socially and economically, the U.S. has learned some important lessons of its own: * The wars we fight these days against extralegal and extraterritorial groups motivated by ideology can be won.
Our experience with Plan Colombia is an encyclopedia of lessons that can be applied to conflicts such as Afghanistan.
* Drug wars can be damped down. Colombia's experience in destroying large cartels is now Mexico's template for winning its war.
* Illegal immigration can be stopped in its tracks. Ten years ago, Colombia shipped an estimated 141,000 illegals to the U.S. Today, the numbers are so small the U.S. no longer publishes them. Uribe's freeing of his economy brought exiles — and tourists — back.
* Things can change in Latin America. Given the long arc of progress in Colombia, the cycle of populism and caudillos seems to be broken, opening more avenues to U.S. engagement.
* The U.S. has a true ally in Latin America. Until now, our relations with most Latin neighbors have been contentious. But our close ties with Colombia — despite Congress' inexcusable failure to pass a free-trade accord — suggest we can develop others.
So bravo to Alvaro Uribe, who has shown how true leadership rather than cult of personality can make all the difference in the world.
His friendship has also paid off handsomely for the U.S. As with Australia's John Howard and the U.K.'s Tony Blair, President Bush knew what he was doing when he presented Colombia's president with the Medal of Freedom, America's highest honor, in 2009.
Rarely has our country benefited so greatly from an alliance. Before Uribe was elected in 2002, Colombia was one of our biggest headaches. A rural, underdeveloped society, it was unprepared for the first wave of the global drug trade, and its name had become synonymous with cartels. Corruption stretched from the lowliest slum dwellers to the presidential palace and seemed incurable. The cartels then turned into guerrilla groups that by 1998 almost claimed victory in the drug war.
But as sometimes occurs in times of crisis, a real leader stepped forward. Uribe focused on just two things: human rights and development. He called his plan "democratic security." He marshaled the best in his people and cultivated an alliance with America.
And contrary to what the past suggested, it worked. Colombians detested chaos and were willing to make sacrifices to create something new. Uribe's leadership brought out the best in a society whose roots were still intact. Thanks to a strong work ethic, Colombia's economy grew every year but one.
And unlike other Latin American states, it kept its word and never defaulted on debt. This made it possible for the U.S. to help. The $7 billion spent on Plan Colombia is one of America's biggest foreign-aid success stories.
As Uribe leaves office with a nation better off politically, socially and economically, the U.S. has learned some important lessons of its own: * The wars we fight these days against extralegal and extraterritorial groups motivated by ideology can be won.
Our experience with Plan Colombia is an encyclopedia of lessons that can be applied to conflicts such as Afghanistan.
* Drug wars can be damped down. Colombia's experience in destroying large cartels is now Mexico's template for winning its war.
* Illegal immigration can be stopped in its tracks. Ten years ago, Colombia shipped an estimated 141,000 illegals to the U.S. Today, the numbers are so small the U.S. no longer publishes them. Uribe's freeing of his economy brought exiles — and tourists — back.
* Things can change in Latin America. Given the long arc of progress in Colombia, the cycle of populism and caudillos seems to be broken, opening more avenues to U.S. engagement.
* The U.S. has a true ally in Latin America. Until now, our relations with most Latin neighbors have been contentious. But our close ties with Colombia — despite Congress' inexcusable failure to pass a free-trade accord — suggest we can develop others.
So bravo to Alvaro Uribe, who has shown how true leadership rather than cult of personality can make all the difference in the world.
12 comments:
Perhaps he was a leader who was genuinely committed to his nation and its status as a country that SHOULD be exceptional.
Perhaps he was a leader who made people believe that their country mattered and that when people believe in their own country it is exceptional.
Perhaps it would be too much to ask but Our current administration and progressive leadership believes American sucks and that apologizing for our behaviour is a common everyday occurance.
America was exceptional until we elected a Progressive. I do not care what color he is. Perhaps we will be exceptional again in a few years. For now we must self flagulate and write on the black board 300,000,000 times. America sucks.......were sorry.
I fully and completely agree with you here, Lee- but nobody's going to be dancing to Obummer's tune after November... in fact he's pretty much out of mojo already, imho
An unapologetic patriot will be the next president, too... that won't be taken for granted in 2012, now that Americans realize how bad it can be with an embittered Marxist in control
Uribe did a wonderful job in Colombia-- partly by not giving in and being a pseudo Marxist.
Really impressive performance, and a rare US foreign aid success story to boot
Informative post. There was a lot in here that I didn't yet know. Probably because our media isn't interested in market-based success stories.
Oh yeah, this guy's a Latin Ronald Reagan all the way, right down to the strong defense against communism
That wouldn't fit the MSM dinosaurs' narritive at all
Interesting post, RR, very informative.
Great post, RR. Too bad American leadership is so lacking in the qualities Mr. Uribe possesses.
Sorry, but being a colombian citizen and a conservative I have to differ in part with this article. True, Uribe did great things for Colombia, and he sure put a stop to Chávez Marxism, and most all the good measures mentioned here are true.
But I wouldn't consider him a colombian version of Reagan, because the later emphasized that government is the problem , and Uribe suffered from what we call "caudillismo". He didn't downsize government, rather expanded it, and more than once tried to control everythingfrom the executive office. He changed the constitution so he could be reelected, and tried to do it again just a few months ago (just like Chávez does in Venezuela), luckily the constitutional court stopped him. And just like Chávez, he has a whole personality cult going around, we now even have a "uribista" party, whose only clear ideas is to maintain Uribe in power (no true ideas such as Reagan's).
I've written a lot about it in my own blog, and will gladly discuss the subject with anyone interested. He was a good leader, but we still have to produce our version of the great Ronald Reagan.
Thanks a million for the informed input, Godopunk... much obliged
But imho he was Reaganesque in freeing up the market and being a full-blown free trader... he made many FT deals, but sadly rejected by our congress.
Also Reagan-like with the anti communism program... and victory as well.
It's a shame he hasn't truly shrunk government, but when it comes to a leader who bravely tackled problems and brought the country together, I sure am jealous... Obama just doesn't have what it takes like Uribe does... in spades.
And it seems he did little to promote any cult of personality, nothing like Chavez obviously... his swelling personal popularity is a direct product of his success.
Frankly I'm surprised you wouldn't welcome a 3rd term- I was disappointed he didn't get a chance at it, as were Colombian-Americans I know. In Colombia, the people didnt' have to vote for him... but he left office with 75% approval, seems like most would have been glad to keep him, he's made him self hard to replace by solving issues nobody thought could be done... not hard to see why he'd have such enthusiastic supporters.
Although he has great popularity, and I do praise what he has done an Uribe third term would have created a major legal loophole that would damage seriously our institutions, and you have to take in mind that one major problem in Latin America is a weak institutionality, that's why most latin countries develop dictatorships, and USA has had none (having strong institutions). Remember that the whole purpose is to have a rule of law, not people.
An Uribe third term, great! but if you think in the long term, then thanks to the loophole it would be possible to have three terms of a president from Polo Democrático Party, and if you think that the Democrat Party is close to socialist (and it's getting there), El Polo is filled with up front Chávez supporters, so imagine three terms of that crap (excuse my french).
Obama is a weakling, that's true, but remeber that Uribe asked him for an autograph (just an anecdote), but on a more serios note he tried to take charge of the medical system just like Obamacare did, so we can open a debate about that.
Back on the institutions' issue, remember one of the main ideas behind Russel Kirk's "The Conservative Mind", conservatism thinks tings clearly and uses history to make its decisions instead of jumping at any "new good thing" that may appear. So as a conservative and a politologist, I thank Uribe for all the great things, and for lifting this country from the pit it got into during the 90's, but I maintain my ground that a third term (by him or any other president) would not only have been inconstitutional, but also a direct blow to the colombian rule of law.
Thanks for your time.
Awesome, Godopunk... thanks for the input
And I can surely see your point, rule of law needs to set a little harder down there...
Post a Comment
The Reaganite Republican welcomes your comments...