Charlie Rose

George Soto  11/09/2008 11:41 PM Report

The ignorance of many people writing comments about Colombia and its government and institutions is deepened by the lack of personal experience of having lived in that country. You should be smarter by avoiding making comments based only on theoretical issues and without having experienced and participated in the life of the country as well as in the development of the achievements of president Uribe during his 7yrs of government. Think, experience, reflection and then write.

Juan Johnson   11/09/2008 11:35 PM Report

I am surprised by the lower standard that Charlie Rose showed in this interview with Mr. Uribe. Colombia’s president unveiled his begging style and incapability to answer any question straight. Mr. Uribe talked with empty persuasion without any substance. His outrageous assumption that Charlie Rose is going to lobby for him in Congress is not just inappropriate and abusive, but plain disregard of journalism ethics and alarming ignorance of the mechanics and culture of Congress. Mr. Uribe is accustomed to have Colombian journalists as publicists of his politics, one reason of his popularity on the Colombian media, and of the exodus of journalist to protect their profession and their lives.

Mr. Uribe’s mediocre performance and vague mind set illustrate the kind of banana republic personality admired for the majority of his followers raised among violence, crime and very low standards.

Colombia’s president is an injection cosmetics specialist in security and economy. His Botox politics and his begging stile has hypnotized his fellow country citizens, but not international organizations that follow human rights crimes, government transparency, respect for the rule of law, infancy protection, public health, literacy and education, and narcotrafficking. To sweep Colombian problems under the carpet is the other cause of his popularity.

Mr. Uribe’s self proclaimed resolved has provoked Colombia’s division between Uribists, his followers, and terrorists as he calls everyone who doesn’t agree with his policies. Mr. Uribe carries seven years of restless day and night battles with FARC to only show few winning battles and the spectacular and questioned “Jaque” Operation. But, the war goes on without any hint of ending.

The paramilitary politics of his coalition parties controls congress, although 20% of their leaders are in jail for conspiracy crimes against humanity.

It was a pity that Charlie Rose did not ask key questions to Mr. Uribe, but Mr. Uribe’s body language and evasiveness were eloquent enough to show all of his disingenuous traits.

ColombianoNY  10/01/2008 10:52 PM Report

Charlie Rose did a gross disservice to the world last night by not grilling his guest. Mr. Uribe got away with murder. While it's a step in the right direction the fact that FARC is being tamed, more questions about Uribe's own right-wing mafia state are yet to be answered.

Here are a few questions Charlie should have asked Mr. Uribe last night:

1. Why chain-saw, mass-grave massacres of thousands of peasants, carried out by his right-wing militia backers throughout the 1990's up to now, are not being investigated? Talk about his government Human Rights Violations record, one of the worst in recent Colombian history.

2. Why is one-whole-third of Colombian Congress members (of his own party) being investigated by the Supreme Court for links w/ these right-wing militia groups formed by Uribe himself in the 1980's?

3. Why does he stifle dissent (NGOs, independent media, political opponents,Supreme Court) by labeling them "terrorist" and left-leaning communists?

4. Why does he continue to meet (up to very recently) with right-wing outlaws inside the Presidential Palace?

5. Explain how right-wing militias coerced the population to elect/re-elect him as President, and why he coerced members of congress (with money, land and posts) to change the constitution to be re-elected?

6. Why does he undermine Colombian democracy & independence of the Supreme Court, labeling it terrorist-sympathizing because it is in the process of investigating Congress members of his party?

7. How come 5% of Colombians own 95% of the land? How come poverty levels are still very high?

8. Why unemployment rate is one of the highest in the region despite investment is "record-high"

9. Why does he not ask the US to curb voracious appetite for drugs so violence stops in Colombia?

It's clear that Charlie Rose's Show is in decadence as the host does not ask hard, well-researched questions. His show is being used as a mouthpiece for any guest who wants to further his/her agenda.

STOP Colombia's RIGHT-WING MILITIA STATE! NO MORE FARC!

Clara  09/30/2008 10:46 PM Report

Good interview. It was nauseating to see what a weak, mediocre brown nosed puppet that man is! No pride.

Dan Whitesell  09/30/2008 10:40 PM Report

Response to post by Bill on Saturday, Sept 27. As Governor of the Department of Antioquia from 1995 to 1997 Uribe himself vehemently promoted the formation and proliferation of Convivir units (paramilitaries); just during his term as governor 70 Convivir groups were created. At the same time human rights organizations expressed their concern with the dangerous linking of the civilian population to the armed conflict (between the Colombian Army and the FARC guerillas). For example, Human Rights Watch discovered that the government had provided Convivir units with weaponry that only the Armed Forces had authorization to use. After the 1996 Human Rights Watch visit to then-Governor Uribe in 1996 to inquire about the activities of Convivir in Antioquia, the Governor told the media that the NGO had found “nothing irregular,” a statement contradicted by Human Rights Watch at the time. Towards the end of 1997, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that Convivir groups were linked to more than 35 criminal investigations in cases involving homicide, torture and other serious crimes. Further, Convivir vigilantes were connected with other types of crimes such as the “social cleansing” of street indigents. In August of the same year, President Samper suspended the creation of new Convivir units. So this idea that Uribe is the good president riding in on a white horse to save Colombia from the AUCs is just a fabricated myth. As Governor or Antioquia he played a central part in promoting and defending the paramilitaries, whether they were technically called AUC yet or not. Likewise, to say that today under Uribe "all the AUC are in prison" is misleading. If none of the paramilitaries still operating in Colombia now designate themselves as "AUC", it does not mean that they are not regrouped, rearmed and still committing terror on the population (just under a different name). Once again, Amnesty International has recently stated "Despite government claims to the contrary, paramilitaries continue to operate and to use violence to further their economic and political objectives..." (21 July, 2008). Another blatantly false statement is this one: "..., it is a fact that one of the opposition parties - Liberal Party has the largest number of members of congress under investigation for Para connections". Those under investigation or in jail for their ties to the paramilitaries are overwhelmingly supporters of Uribe. About 85% of the Congress members elected in 2006 and who are involved in the parapolitical scandal are Uribe supporters. In fact this percentage is so high that the Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo recommended earlier this year that parties supporting Uribe be dissolved! Also, it should be pointed out that the Liberal Party experienced an internal rift in 2002 in reaction to Uribe's election: some supported Uribe and some did not. So if a former Liberal Party member split with his/her own party to support Uribe after 2002 and then was implicated in the parapolitical scandal, the affiliation is still clear: they supported paramilitarism and therefore wanted to support Uribe. As far as the investigations that have been undertaken under Uribe's presidency, Uribe is not the one that instigated these investigations. In fact, he has a history of obstructing the justice process, and for good reason: because it leads to him. As for Transparency International, they have been exposed for what they are, an ideological front group. According to a report in the Guardian (British newspaper), "TI's Venezuela bureau is staffed by opponents of the Venezuelan government. The directors include Robert Bottome, the publisher of Veneconomia, a strident opposition journal, and Aurelio Concheso of the Centre for the Dissemination of Economic Knowledge, a conservative think tank funded by the US government. Concheso was previously a director of the employers' organisation, Fedecamaras. The president of Fedecamaras, Pedro Carmona, led the failed 2002 coup and was briefly installed as Venezuela's dictator." So it's no surprise at all that they concoct a report that casts Venezuela and Ecuador in a bad light and Colombia in relatively better one.

Bill  09/27/2008 03:26 PM Report

In response to comment by Dan Whitesell:

Before Uribe's government, the AUC (Para-militares)operated throughout the country and there was not a single leader arrested by any of the prior governments like - Barco, Gaviria, Samper and Pastrana. Under Uribe's security agreement, all of the AUC are in prison and that is a fact. Many of them are in the US to face additional charges. Let's not forget that it was the Polo party and the Liberal party (both parties oppose Uribe's government) whom constantly criticized Uribe for not sending (the Para leaders under arrest) to the US. Now that Uribe has done so, they criticize him for doing so. Damn if he does and damn if he doesn't. Also, it is a fact that one of the opposition parties - Liberal Party has the largest number of members of congress under investigation for Para connections. In Colombia's congress, there is about 20 parties About 4 other parties (Conservative, Radical change, Wings, Citizens convergence) have chosen to support Uribe's party - Social National Unity Party in ensuring that most of Uribe's bills get passed. It is a fact that most of those under investigation for PARA (AUC) connections are these other parties and not Uribe's own party - there is only 2 out of 49 senators and representatives. Contrast that with 11 out of 53 senators/representatives from the liberal opposition party. It is important to be aware that while the immense majority of these politicians under investigation are for affiliations/connections while under the prior governments like samper or Gaviria or Pastrana. None of these administrations chose to do anything to investigate them. It had to be under Uribe's goverment where these politicians where investigated. The reason being is that under the security agreement, the PARA leaders had to turn themselves in and provide information on others including politicians involved in the AUC. A look at Transparency International's global Corruption Index from 1996 to present, clearly indicates a positive trend to less corruption and coverups and much more investigations. Under Samper, Colombia was considered among the 20 most corrupt countries in the world. In 2008, Transparency International placed Colombia in 70th place among 180 nations. Compare that with Correa's Ecuador at 151st and Chavez's Venezuela at 158th which placed both countries among the 30 most corrupt nations in the world.

Bill  09/27/2008 02:15 PM Report

Dear Pepa Castro:

You got it right. It shows the Democratic party's hypocrisy. Both Gore and Obama have no problems with the governments of Iran, Venezuela, North Korea and Cuba. Yet with Colombia's Uribe they act like drama queens in swallowing all the propaganda sent out by the terrorist guerilla FARC's sympathizers. Uribe has an incredible approval of over 85% from colombians even after 6 years of governing. Yes, this is what the Democratic leadership led by Pelosi, Gore and Obama ignore.

Bill   09/27/2008 01:52 PM Report

Jeannette Caetes:

You misunderstood what Colombian president Uribe is looking for. It is not aid. It is the approval of the Free trade Agreement between colombia and the US. Congress has already approved FTA agreements with Chile, Canada, Mexico and Peru. The reason why it has not done is due to the Democratic party leadership and democratic controlled congress. They have fallen prey to the lies/propaganda propagated by the terrorist guerilla FARC's sympathizers. The main reason that has been given is that Colombia's Uribe has allowed the rampant killing of the union leaders. Yet, these same opposers ignore the fact that under Uribe, there has been a drastic reduction in the number of union leaders from an average of 117 per year before Uribe to less than 40 per year. Even HRW recognizes the reduction. HRW acknowledges that possibly more than half of the union leaders that are killed are by other fellow union memebers or by the communist FARC guerillas themselves whose goal of course is to make Uribe look bad and of course to prevent the FTA agreement from being signed.

Dan Whitesell  09/26/2008 06:35 PM Report

Wow! Charlie Rose's soft ball interview with Colombian president Alvaro Uribe avoided the entire death squad scandal. He didn't ask Uribe one tough question. When Uribe mentions extradition (at 08:20), Rose appears to have no idea that the most important of these extraditions (in May of this year) were done precisely to protect Uribe's administration from further and even more serious incrimination in death squad terror. Fourteen paramilitary chiefs who had just begun to give important details of joint actions that included murders, massacres and genocidal crimes were suddenly and unexpectedly extradited to the United States (May, 2008) to face lesser charges of drug trafficking, effectively killing the much more serious investigations being conducted by the Colombian justice system under the 2005 "justice and peace law". By early this year (2008) these investigations had begun to reveal more connections between paramilitaries and the government. In other words, the extradition of the 14 leaders in May was a blatant and transparent maneuver by a desperate, death squad-implicated president. Then a bit later in the interview Rose doesn't say anything when Uribe makes this unbelievable statement (at 19:12): "And today [in\ Colombia we no longer have paramilitaries because my administration has dismantled them..." This statement stands in direct contradiction to Amnesty International's assessment of the situation: "Despite government claims to the contrary, paramilitaries continue to operate and to use violence to further their economic and political objectives. Many paramilitary groups operate on two distinct, but inter-related levels: they pursue criminal activities linked to the drugs trade while at the same time supporting the security forces' counter-insurgency strategy. Amnesty International has also received strong evidence of continued collusion between paramilitary groups and members of the security forces in many areas of the country" (21 July, 2008). Paramilitary terror and murder continue in Colombia as we speak. For example, the total number of trade unionists killed this year (over 40) has already surpassed the total for all of 2007.

Pepa Castro  09/25/2008 11:03 AM Report

Democrats! If you worry so much about union leaders killed in Colombia why do you keep buying things from China, where unions are illegal and workers have the lowest safety standards to produce all the crap Americans buy. Chinese who complain about their abusive working situation get killed. If the USA helps Colombia with the TLC you will bring a balance to the region otherwise Chavez will get stronger and stronger and as you have seen buying weapons from Rusia... Another Cuban misile crisis is not far away...

Christopher  09/25/2008 10:57 AM Report

What laws have Colombia enacted and enforced to reduce the mureder of union leaders and leftist politicians? Did I miss something? Every critical documentary or article I have read says that to be in the labor movement in Colombia is suicide. I thought the interview was weak and his kiss ass style was also weak. But he is always re elected, it is Colombia's choice, (as is Chavez Venezuela's, as is Morales Bolivia's, etc)

MAYO   09/25/2008 02:07 AM Report

He is so fake,i am not leaving a comment.

To the discovery channel,when you hear god bless america think of god before america.kjv

Jeanette Cates  09/23/2008 06:57 PM Report

I found it irritating and ironic that Uribe was interviewed, asking for American help, when the prior guests had just discussed the fact that no one on the international scene wanted to bail US out!

How long will the U.S. continue to gve money and troops and lives to other countries and ignore the needs of our homeland? The very people we support with our money and protection turn their back when we encounter a crisis.

Why do we feel the need to give away so much when we need more here at home? It's not buying friends and behind our back, the world is shaking their heads and asking the same thing. Charity begins at home.

Diana  09/23/2008 05:24 PM Report

I think the inteview was fairly good. It could have been better, but it was clear that Uribe was trying to show how important is the free trade agreement for Colombia; but more important is the fight against terrorism. Colombia has gone so far with this president. Uribe seems to be the only latin-american president that is worth something these days...looks like the others are just following a very bad leader :"hugo Chavez"

Tigre Hall  09/23/2008 04:31 PM Report

I just watched some of the conversation again and was struck that neither Rose nor Uribe pointed-out that Eco Petrol, the Colombian oil giant, went public on the NYSE (code EC) the same day US corporations went into a nose-dive (9/18). Not only did the stock open at a healthy rate, it has been maintaining a respectable rate of return. And it appears that many US investors are jumping all over it. There it is in stark reality, a Colombian company propping-up the US economy. Viva Colombia!

Brady  09/23/2008 04:27 PM Report

I think Uribe has done some good things, but he seems to be trying so hard to sell himself here that he comes across as fake. Maybe it's just the language barrier? It got a little better towards the end.

Tigre Hall  09/23/2008 04:14 PM Report

It was disappointing that Charlie failed to mention that three American hostages and nine others were rescued by the Colombian authorities in the unprecendented Operation Checkmate. Or that Uribe met with the Americans in New York where they thanked him for their rescue, or that Marc Gonsalves’ mother has been granted honorary Colombian citizenship. I have watched Charlie Rose for a long time, and know that he is very well-versed about his guests and the topics at hand, which makes these omissions all the more saddening. Although I am an admirer of Uribe and believe his strong policies and relentless pursuits have given birth to a wonderful new era of Colombian security and prosperity, I was a bit flabbergasted at his rather unctuos performance. While I understand the Free Trade Agreement is of utmost importance to him, he appeared to be rather desperate. Rather than extolling all of the things the United States stands to gain from such an agreement, he pleaded for “foreign investment” into Colombia for the sole benefit of his people. Ai Dios! Colombia is a marvelous country that has so much to offer to the world. Natural resources, technology, scientific research, food products, textiles and a vast array of culture. Why didn’t Uribe let the audience know that a Colombian doctor invented the pacemaker, a Colombian ophtamologist developed Lasik surgery, that his country is the most bio-diverse in the world? He could have reminded us that the popular singers Juanes and Shakira are Colombian. Novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez is Colombian. Race car driver Pablo Montoya is Colombian. Pro Golfer Camilo Villegas is Colombian. Artist Francisco Botero is Colombian. The list goes on and on. Instead of doing any of this, Uribe looked less like the leader of an extremely vibrant and vital country which contibutes so very much to the world, and more like what he has been accused of – Bush’s lackey. Uribe has no cause to coe down to Bush. Please President Uribe, we who follow you know all too well that you outshine Bush and either one of our Presidential candidates. Indeed, Colombia is advancing while the US is digressing. You may want the Free Trade Agreement for the reasons you stated, but in reality, it will only hurt Colombia. Especially now that the US economy is almost in a shambles. Learn from our history so that it may not ruin Colombia’s future. Your country has reached great heights without such an agreement, and will continue to soar. Besides, Colombia has entered into similar agreements with other countries. As far as Plan Colombia is concerned – the US is the world’s number one consumer of cocaine and whatever funds we contribute to fight this scourge should be viewed as reparations not as charity. We have no right to stand in judgement. Come what may, Colombia is a place that everyone who has an open heart, mind and spirit should visit at least one. Is it safe? The only danger is that you won't want to leave!

A. Perdomo  09/23/2008 01:24 PM Report

As a proud Colombian I have to recognize Uribe's great effort and great results in security, economical, social, and other aspects that surround my country. He's first and foremost the best planner and executer that Colombia had in its recent history, and these words are supported by tangible actions. Just come and see!. It is very important that the US doesn't give a slap on the face to Colombia with the free trade agreement. The world is looking at this pact not just as a trade pact but as the way the US treat one of it most loyal allies. It is true that the pact benefits both nations, maybe not 100%, but yes! it is good for the most part. For me it is amazing that Bush is more popular in Colombia than in his country, and why is this? Just because the honest, hard working, Colombians values the effort, not only in dollars but in social help, that the US is giving Colombia, and he is the head of the country. God bless Colombia and America.

angel c.  09/23/2008 01:00 PM Report

i missed your show last night, would love to watch it online.. please!

billl   09/23/2008 04:58 AM Report

Uribe has beenthe most popular president that Colombia ever had. What he has done in turning Colombia around in term of the economy, commerce, industry, insecurity, tourism, farc terrorism is nothing short of spectacular. The clear majority of Colombians - unlike its neighbors consider the USA as their friend and Americans are admired (unlike Chavez's Venezuela and Correa's Ecuador, whom hate america. As an American of Colombian origin with family in Colombia, I wholeheartedly approve of Uribe and Bush and do hope that McCain wins the next election (for the good of the US and for continued good relations with Colombia in the face of comunist enemies at its borders. Most Colombians in the Colombia and the US also are hoping for a McCain win.

Douglass Montrose-Graem  09/23/2008 02:09 AM Report

What a superb performance, Charlie! We have also learned that the prevailing idea that the USA [and Bush\ is universally disliked all over the world does not quite square with the facts. I believe deep down responsible leaders from Uribe to Sarkozy believe that the USA is the "last hope" of mankind, the sole nation which helps others in need with abundant generosity and enthusiasm. The sole nation which has NO territorial ambitions at the expense of another and the sole superpower - with a conscience and with a heart in the right place. Sure enough we screw up all too often, but Uribe's public testimony to-night makes all our well-intentioned efforts and sacrifices worthwhile. I pray that Congress will finally pass our Free Trade agreement with Columbia, and will not make an over-optimistic liar out of me. Viva Uribe!