Cablegate: Media Reaction: Detained American Servicemen
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
301154Z Aug 05
UNCLAS BOGOTA 008157
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC PREL SNAR PGOV CO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: DETAINED AMERICAN SERVICEMEN
Leading editorial in weekly Semana (8/29) entitled: "A Happy
Ending For The 'Narcosoldiers'," states:
"Taking advantage of their presence in Colombia... the
(American) soldier and the three sergeants... had built up a
cocaine distribution net. Ironically, they trained Colombian
soldiers to fight against drugs... In contrast, the
Colombian " mules" who arrive in civilian airplanes, usually
with smaller amounts (of cocaine) and without criminal
records, receive an average of 12 years of jail in the
United States... That is what is so discouraging about this
case. It is obvious that the crime of the American soldiers
is more serious than that of the Colombian civilians."
WOOD