DON'T WORRY, IT'S JUST FOR THE DRUG WAR

Last month, the U.S. denied that they were setting up military bases
in Colombia, ( see http://tinyurl.com/mwtcvv ), claiming that the new
arrangement to lease up to seven military bases in Colombia was
simply for "fighting drug traffickers."

This didn't pass the smell test for Venezuela's Chavez and Bolivia's
Morales, who were concerned about having these military bases in
their back yards. (see http://tinyurl.com/yg3hmjq )

Now Evo Morales has announced that Bolivia plans to buy six military
aircraft "to fight drug traffickers." See http://tinyurl.com/yf3g4wy )

"Last week we issued a supreme decree to ... acquire six K-8 aircraft
from China," said Morales in a speech in La Paz to mark the 52nd
anniversary of the Bolivian Air Force.

"The aircraft purchase is aimed at the fight against drug trafficking
and not ... any arms race," he added.

This, after the U.S. blocked them from purchasing Czech planes.

And.

Morales' main regional ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, is
also buying Chinese K-8 to be used to pursue cocaine flights. They
replace a purchase of Brazilian Super Tucanos blocked by a US arms embargo.

Sure is handy to have that drug war, isn't it?