US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA4570

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 004570 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2015 
TAGS: PTER, ASEC, PHUM, KJUS, SNAR, CO 
SUBJECT: GENERAL CRADDOCK MEETS WITH PRESIDENT URIBE 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (C) On May 11, President Alvaro Uribe discussed 
counterdrug strategy, guerrilla attacks in southern Colombia, 
the AUC peace process, and recent arrests of U.S. military 
personnel with SOUTHCOM Commander General Bantz Craddock. 
Uribe expressed concern that if the GOC did not significantly 
reduce drug production this year, public opinion would turn 
against aerial eradication and extradition.  Craddock agreed 
that it was important to win both the military and political 
battle in support of couterdrug policies and assured Uribe 
that the U.S. Congress was pleased with his administration's 
progress.  Uribe emphasized that the security forces were 
attacking all paramilitary groups that did not respect the 
cease-fire and that record numbers were being killed or 
captured.  He said he trusted the U.S. to fully prosecute 
detained U.S. military personnel found guilty of trafficking 
arms or drugs, but urged the USG to keep him fully informed 
so he could reassure the Colombian public there would be no 
impunity.  General Craddock pledged to keep Uribe as informed 
as possible.  End summary. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
Eager for Better Counternarcotics Results 
----------------------------------------- 
 
2. (C) Uribe expressed frustration that, despite ongoing 
counternarcotics operations, the price of drugs had not 
increased and the Counter Narcotics Center (CNC) had reported 
that the coca crop stayed stable in 2004.  He warned that 
public opinion and his political opponents would question 
aerial eradication and extradition if the GOC failed to 
significantly decrease drug production in 2005.  He said 
former minister and presidential hopeful Alvaro Leyva was 
already trying to form alliances with the FARC and the ELN on 
an anti-extradition platform.  Uribe reiterated his 
committment to extradition and said he would not change this 
policy to gain support for his re-election.  He urged 
Craddock to review Colombian counterdrug policies to make 
them more effective. 
 
3. (C) General Craddock said he was surprised by CNC's crop 
estimate.  He speculated that perhaps the quality of the coca 
crop had decreased or that the profit margins of drug 
trafficking were so high that the traffickers did not have to 
increase the price even though supply had gone down.  He 
assured Uribe that the U.S. Congress was impressed with the 
high volume of eradication and interdiction operations 
Colombia was conducting with U.S. support, and that support 
would continue. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Operations Continue in the South 
-------------------------------- 
 
4. (C) Uribe said U.S. helicopters had been crucial in 
transporting troops to combat recent guerrilla attacks 
against security forces and civilians in Cauca and Narino 
Departments.  In response to the Ambassador's inquiry if the 
GOC would divert resources away from Plan Patriota to focus 
on Cauca and Narino, Defense Minister Jorge Uribe said they 
had no plans to do so, but would consider it if necessary. 
General Craddock noted that Cauca and Narino could be 
considered a subset of the Plan Patriota area of operations 
and encouraged the security forces to adapt to changing 
guerrilla tactics.  He said minor setbacks were to be 
expected and that the attacks in Cauca and Narino were a 
clear indication that the FARC was feeling pressure in the 
Plan Patriota area. 
5. (C) Minster Uribe noted that killing or capturing high 
value targets continued to be a top priority.  Armed Forces 
Commander General Ospina had moved Plan Patriota troops to 
the south of the area of operations to target the FARC 
leadership.  MILGRP Commander Colonel Trombitas said the 
Embassy was impressed with Special Forces Commander Colonel 
Mejia's skill and determination to go after high value 
targets.  President Uribe emphasized that he wanted to follow 
U.S. advice on how to best combat narcoterrorists. 
 
----------- 
AUC Process 
----------- 
 
6. (C) In reaction to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 
Louise Arbour's statements about AUC cease-fire violations, 
the Minister of Defense reported on military successes 
against the paramilitaries: during Uribe's term, 9,804 
paramilitaries had been captured and 1,125 killed; in the 
last 12 months, 4,231 had been captured and 449 killed; and 
in the first four months of 2005, 1,060 had been captured and 
132 killed.  Uribe underscored that any illegal armed group 
not respecting a cease-fire would be pursued militarily.  The 
Ambassador agreed that security forces were tough on the AUC, 
but noted that the imperfectly observed cease-fire, the 
weakening of the demobilization law, and the inefficiencies 
in the military justice system, including the lack of a 
conclusion in case of the murder of trade unionists in Arauca 
Department, had created confusion about the GOC's position on 
paramilitaries. 
 
7. (C) With respect to the demobilization law, President 
Uribe explained that, from the time he began campaigning for 
the presidency, he had disagreed with different treatment for 
guerrilla or paramilitary group members.  Ideally, he noted 
that membership in any illegal armed group should simply be 
terrorism.  He said the GOC would work to create the best 
legislation possible for demobilization. 
 
8. (C) Uribe defended the Arauca trade unionists case and 
said the suspects would remain detained until a decision had 
been made.  Minister Uribe reminded Craddock that the case 
was moving at a much faster pace than was typical for the 
military justice system.  The Ambassador agreed that the case 
was going well, but said a conclusion would be help ease 
concerns about military justice. 
 
---------------------------------- 
Arrests of U.S. Military Personnel 
---------------------------------- 
 
9. (C) Uribe said he trusted the U.S. justice system to fully 
prosecute all U.S. military personnel found guilty of 
trafficking drugs or arms in Colombia.  It was important to 
demonstrate to the Colombian public that immunity for U.S. 
personnel in Colombia did not mean impunity.  Otherwise, the 
incidents would threaten support for a strong extradition 
policy.  He urged General Craddock and the Ambassador to keep 
him informed on the cases so he could show the U.S. was 
holding the guilty parties accountable.  General Craddock 
expressed dismay at these incidents and assured Uribe that 
the U.S., in close collaboration with Colombian authorities, 
were investigating the cases carefully.  He pledged to keep 
Colombia informed of developments and said he hoped to 
arrange some sort of observer status for Colombia at public 
sessions. 
WOOD