WOLA Report – Protecting the Pipeline: The U.S. Military Mission Expands

The U.S. government has recently provided $99 million to help protect an oil pipeline in Colombia. The Bush administration’s request for fiscal year 2004 includes an undetermined amount, up to $147 million, to provide munitions, equipment, and training in order to continue the program. The pipeline protection program is the most concrete manifestation thus far of the Administration’s desire to expand U.S. commitments in Colombia beyond counter-narcotics programs to include
counter-insurgency operations and the guarding of strategic physical infrastructure.

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