bhr colombian free trade politics

8/14/2019 BHR Colombian Free Trade Politics

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SDI 08-09Malicious Lemons

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COLOMBIANFREETRADE

**Bush Bad**

colombian free trade ............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... ..... ...1 bush bad 1nc .............................................................................................................................................................................................2 bush bad 1nc .............................................................................................................................................................................................3COFTA wont pass .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. ....... ...... ...... .....5COFTA wont pass .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. ....... ...... ...... .....7COFTA wont pass (damn hippies) ............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. ......... ...... ...... .....8concessions key to agenda ext ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .....9human rights ext ....................................................................................................................................................................................10human rights ext ....................................................................................................................................................................................11at: colombian govt reformed ................................................................................................................................................................12COFTA -> terrorism ...............................................................................................................................................................................13

COFTA -> disease ...................................................................................................................................................................................14COFTA -> harms us econ ......................................................................................................................................................................15COFTA -> environmental degradation .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. ...... ..... ......16 bush good 1nc ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... ............. .17 bush good 1nc ............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. ...18 bush good 1nc ............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. ...19will pass ...................................................................................................................................................................................................20will pass .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. ......... ...21at: wont pass (damn hippies) ............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ..... ..... ..... ....21 bush push ................................................................................................................................................................................................22 bipart key to agenda ext .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... ........... ..23democracy link ext .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. ....... .24democracy link ext .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. ....... .25democracy impact ext econ .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. ..... ..... ..... ...26democracy impact ext environment ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. ....27cofta helps us econ impact (1/2) ............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. ........... .....28cofta helps us econ impact (2/2) ............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. ........... .....29exports key to econ ext ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. ......... ......30econ impact ext china us war ............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. ...... ...... .....31cofta -> econ growth ext .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ....... ..... ..32cofta -> econ growth ext ............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ....... ..... ..33at: cofta harms us economy ..................................................................................................................................................................34AT: ft exports jobs/harms econ ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. ........... .....35

at: human rights impact ........................................................................................................................................................................36AT: Other FTAs come first ....................................................................................................................................................................37

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BUSHBAD 1NC

A. Dems will block COFTA organized Colombian labor violence and US job lossesAP 7/21/08(Russ Bynum, writer for the Associated Press, Commerce chief pushes trade deals at Georgia port,Associated Press . 21 Jul. 2008. )

SAVANNAH, Ga. - U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez pressed Congress on Monday to approve three free-tradeagreements backed by the president, saying legislators are costing exporters millions of dollars. "Every day that goes by is a missedopportunity," Gutierrez told reporters in a dockside news conference at the Port of Savannah, the nation's fourth largest. President Bush has beenlobbying Congress to approve free-trade pacts with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. Congress hasn't complied,saying such deals could hurt U.S. workers - particularly during lean economic times. Gutierrez said that by blocking the tradedeals, Congress is slowing expansion of American exports - which accounted for 40 percent of economic growth last year - and causing U.S. businessesto pay unnecessary tariffs. "We signed the Colombia agreement over 600 days ago," Gutierrez said. "In that time period, our exporters have paid $1.1

billion dollars in tariffs that they wouldn't have to pay if that agreement were approved." In blocking the pact with Colombia,

congressional Democrats have cited violence against organized labor in the northwestern South American country anddifferences with Bush over how to extend a program that helps U.S. workers displaced by foreign competition.

B. Link

1. [plan popular]

2. Concessions to democrats key to agenda

Deans 04 (Bob Deans, Austin American-Statesman (Texas) 11-8, 2004)

"If there's going to be any reconciliation, it has to be at a symbolic level," said Shanto Iyengar, chairman of the

communications department at Stanford University. "Given the way the vote split, particularly on cultural issues, I see nopossibility of that occurring." History -- and common sense -- suggest, however, that Bush's political capital might gofarther if he can replace animosity and gridlock with cooperation and compromise. "He has a golden opportunity now,"said Cass Sunstein, professor of political science and law at the University of Chicago. "He's in a position of strength, butnot omnipotence."

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http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/07/21/ap5237149.htmlhttp://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/07/21/ap5237149.html


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BUSHBAD 1NC

C. Impact1. Ratifying COFTA justifies ignoring human rights tragedies the US should reject Colombias perpetual

and tolerated violence

Haugaard 08 (Lisa Haugaard, So Far to Go: Human Rights in Colombia, Latin America Working Group Education Fund,April 2008. )

As the debate on the free trade agreement for Colombia heats up, the true human rights tragedy that is still taking place inthat country should not be ignored. It is essential for the United States to insist upon improvements in human rights inColombia, not to paint a rosy picture to secure a trade agreement. U.S. policy must take responsibility for the behavior ofsecurity forces trained with U.S. taxpayer dollars; take into account the continued suffering of the civilian population inthe midst of an ongoing conflict; and support the rights of victims to truth, justice and reparations after a decade of

atrocities. Here is a summary of recent human rights concerns. Extrajudicial executions of civilians by the Colombianarmy are increasing. While over 31,000 paramilitary members went through demobilization ceremonies, new groups,rearmed and undemobilized paramilitaries continue to use threats and violence against the civilian population to exertcontrol over territory and the drug trade. Victims, witnesses and human rights defenders are threatened and killed fordenouncing paramilitary violence, limiting freedom of expression and assembly. The Justice and Peace process, under which theworst paramilitary abusers were supposed to receive at least token sentences in exchange for revealing their crimes, is so far offering little in the way of

justice. As it becomes clear that few paramilitaries will pay even reduced sentences for crimes, the full scope of paramilitary atrocities is starting to berevealed. The progress in investigating politicians ties to paramilitaries, driven by the Supreme Court rather than the executive, is a positive first step

but the armed forces role in aiding paramilitary violence has barely even been broached. More people were internally displaced byviolence in 2007 than the year before, and the total number of people internally displaced in Colombias conflict now tops4 million. The number of kidnappings is declining, although it is still a very serious problem, and kidnap victims suffergreatly in captivity. Guerrilla groups continued to kill, threaten and displace the civilian population. Violence against

trade unionists continues at extremely high levels; the vast majority of cases of assassination of trade unionists remainunsolved. 1. Extrajudicial executions of civilians by the army are increasing. Colombias major human rights groupsdocumented 955 extrajudicial killings allegedly committed by the Colombian armed forces between July 2002 and June2007, compared with 577 over the previous five-year period, a 65 percent increase. The Colombian Commission of Jurists documents 13cases in the first month of 2008. These cases, which are deliberate rather than cases of civilians caught in the crossfire, typically involve groups of soldiersdetaining a civilian, who is seen by witnesses, and who later turns up dead, dressed in guerrilla clothing and claimed by the army as killed in combat. TheWashington Post cites Colombian government figures that confirm the nongovernmental groups estimate of the number of these incidents (the Attorney Generalsoffice is investigating 525 killings, with another 500 cases yet to be opened; the Inspector Generals office has disciplinary cases that could involve as many as 1,000victims). (Juan Forero, Colombian Troops Kill Farmers, Pass Off Bodies as Rebels, Washington Post, March 30, 2008) The Jesuit research center CINEP reported128 extrajudicial executions allegedly committed by members of the armed forces in the first six months of 2007, compared with 92 in the same period the previousyear. (cited in the State Department human rights report for 2007) The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights office in Colombia asserted in2004, 2005, and 2006 that the number of allegations of extrajudicial killings by members of the Colombian armed forces reported to its office increased compared tothe previous year. The 2007 report did not estimate changes in number, but noted that in most cases, these executions followed the same pattern observed inprevious years: the victims were civilians who were presented as members of the guerrilla groups or other illegal armed groups, reported as killed in combat. For

example, In Riohacha, La Guajira, members of the Cartagena Battalion were allegedly responsible for the death of a peasant farmer affected by mental disability.On 2 May 2007, in Hato Corozal, Casanare, there was the death of a community leader, in events attributed to members of the Counter-Guerrilla Battalion No. 65.On 13 May, in Pueblo Bello, Cesar, a murder was allegedly perpetrated by soldiers of Brigade 10. In Orito, Putumayo, members of Mobile Brigade 13 were

allegedly responsible for the death of three civilians on 9 September. (UNHCHR 2007 report, Annex, points 1-3) European and U.S. human rightsexperts in October 2007 listened to witnesses, relatives and lawyers in 130 cases and observed, In a large number ofcases, victims are illegally detained in their home or workplace and taken to the place where they are executedThosewho are killed or disappeared are generally peasant farmers, indigenous people, labourers or very impoverished people.

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2. Dehumanization is as evil as nuclear war, environmental apocalypse and international genocideBerube 97 (Professor of speech communication, Nanotechnology Magazine June/July 1997,

http://www.cla.sc.edu/ENGL/faculty/berube/prolong.htm)

Assuming we are able to predict who or what are optimized humans, this entire resultant worldview smacks of eugenics and Nazi racial science. Thiswould involve valuing people as means. Moreover, there would always be a superhuman more super than the current ones, humans would never beable to escape their treatment as means to an always further and distant end. This means-ends dispute is at the core of Montagu and Matson's treatise

on the dehumanization of humanity. They warn: "its destructive toll is already greater than that of any war, plague,famine, or natural calamity on record -- and its potential danger to the quality of life and the fabric of civilized society isbeyond calculation. For that reason this sickness of the soul might well be called the Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse...Behind the genocide of the holocaust lay a dehumanized thought; beneath the menticide of deviants and dissidents... inthe cuckoo's next of America, lies a dehumanized image of man... (Montagu & Matson, 1983, p. xi-xii). While it may neverbe possible to quantify the impact dehumanizing ethics may have had on humanity, it is safe to conclude the foundationsof humanness offer great opportunities which would be foregone. When we calculate the actual losses and the virtual benefits, we

approach a nearly inestimable value greater than any tools which we can currently use to measure it. Dehumanization is nuclear war,environmental apocalypse, and international genocide. When people become things, they become dispensable. Whenpeople are dispensable, any and every atrocity can be justified. Once justified, they seem to be inevitable for every epochhas evil and dehumanization is evil's most powerful weapon.

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COFTA WONTPASS

The deal is stalled until democrats pass larger packages or republicans amend their strategiesCongress Daily 7/21/08 Congress Set To Clear Housing Bill, As Energy Debate Continues Apace 21 Jul.2008. < http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20080721_6074.php>)

Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus' top trade priority is TAA, which he has said must be approved before any talks onmoving stalled free trade agreements can occur. The Colombia Free Trade Agreement is the top trade priority of the WhiteHouse and Republican leaders, however, and last week Senate Minority Whip Kyl said Republicans would not allow TAAto move without assurances that Colombia would move as well. "I don't know of anybody on our side who would trustthat we would do Colombia given all of the opposition particularly in the House to it, if we let the leverage go," Kyl said.House Speaker Pelosi has made a vote on Colombia contingent on passage of a larger package of economic stimulusmeasures, including TAA but also another round of unemployment insurance benefits, aid to states, infrastructure

spending and other potentially costly items. Given all that, many observers believe the Colombia pact will likely liedormant until next year. "There's a limit, obviously, to what Republicans are willing to do to get Colombia passed, eventhough it is very, very important," Kyl said.

Democrats are blocking the Colombia trade agreement now

Reuters 7/17 (Reuters, Democrats unveil U.S. trade enforcement bill, 7/17/08. )

WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - The United States would beef up trade protections against Chinese government subsidies and punish foreign

suppliers who repeatedly violate U.S. health and safety laws under a Democratic plan unveiled on Thursday. "The American public is skepticalabout U.S. trade policy in part because the public does not believe that our trading partners are playing by the same rulesas the United States," House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, a New YorkDemocrat, said in a statement. "Our trading partners need to open their markets to U.S. exporters. They need to stop providing trade-distortingsubsidies and to stop dumping their products in our market." The legislation comes as the U.S. economy struggles in a presidentialelection year, as polls show rising public anxiety about trade and as the Democratic-run Congress resists votes on freetrade pacts the Bush administration has negotiated with Colombia, Panama and South Korea

Dems oppose COFTA labor group violence

Reuters 7/16/08 (House Republicans push for Colombia pact vote Reuters. 16 Jul. 2008. )

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans pressured U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday toset a vote on a free trade pact with Colombia, which they said would die if Congress does not approve it this year. "If the 110th Congress adjourns withoua vote in both the House and the Senate, the agreement will be well and truly dead," senior Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Rules

Committee said in a letter to colleagues. The free trade deal with Colombia, one of the United States' staunchest allies in LatinAmerica, has been in limbo since April, when Pelosi rebuffed an effort by President George W. Bush to force a vote on thepact. Bush submitted the agreement under White House trade promotion authority, a law passed in 2002 which required Congress to vote approve or reject tradeagreements within 90 days and without making any amendments. However, Pelosi pushed through a rule change allowing her to delay action indefinitely on the pact. She

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http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20080721_6074.phphttp://www.forbes.com/reuters/feeds/reuters/2008/07/17/2008-07-17T211647Z_01_N17458625_RTRIDST_0_USA-TRADE-CONGRESS.htmlhttp://www.forbes.com/reuters/feeds/reuters/2008/07/17/2008-07-17T211647Z_01_N17458625_RTRIDST_0_USA-TRADE-CONGRESS.htmlhttp://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1648117020080716?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20080721_6074.phphttp://www.forbes.com/reuters/feeds/reuters/2008/07/17/2008-07-17T211647Z_01_N17458625_RTRIDST_0_USA-TRADE-CONGRESS.htmlhttp://www.forbes.com/reuters/feeds/reuters/2008/07/17/2008-07-17T211647Z_01_N17458625_RTRIDST_0_USA-TRADE-CONGRESS.htmlhttp://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1648117020080716?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0


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COFTA WONTPASS

COFTA wont pass democrats strongly oppose and only republican concessions on TAA will loosen theirdraconian control over legislation

National Review 7/15/08 (Meekly Sensible - A Democrat to listen to on free trade.Truth about trade & Technology. 15 Jul2008. )

Congressman Gregory Meeks is among the dwindling number of pro-trade Democrats. He voted for normalized traderelations with China and in favor of the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Meeks has been to Colombia severaltimes and supports the Colombia FTA. Most of his Democratic colleagues oppose it, citing President Uribes supposedwillingness to tolerate violence against union members even though the number of unionists killed has fallen by 88percent since 2002. Of the chances that Congress will pass the Colombia FTA before the November elections, Meeks says,Theres a possibility, but it really would be tough to get done. The Democrats control both houses of Congress, and their

partys presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, opposes the deal.Meeks says that Obamas opposition to the FTA doesnt necessarily

mean that his election would doom the deals chances. I would like to make the offer at some point, if he is president, to do as hes doing right now withreference to Iraq, Meeks says. Id love to take him to Colombia. Id love to go with him to places Ive found, in the jungle, where there are thingstheyve done for African-Colombians that had never been done before. Id love to show him where the violence has been reduced substantially. Meekssays, Is it all done? Of course not. But under the last five years of the Uribe administration, a substantial, not a minimal, but a substantial change hashappened. Murders, kidnappings, assassinations, and other acts of terrorism common in Colombia five years ago have all decreased by double-digit

percentages since Uribe took office in 2002. While acknowledging that Obamas opposition to the FTA makes passage difficult, Meeks does notblame Democrats for stalling the deal. I think that the burden is not so much on the Democrats, but the administration,he says. He argues that the administration needs to make it easier for Democrats to vote for the Colombia FTA byagreeing to work with Congress on an expansion of trade-adjustment assistance (TAA), which is aid to workers who losetheir jobs due to import competition.

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COFTA WONTPASS (DAMNHIPPIES)

CFTA is partisan democrat hippies hate human rights violationsUSA Today, 2/26/08, [Bush backs free-trade pact with Colombia, http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-02-26-748468203_x.htm]

The Bush administration signed a bilateral free trade agreement with Colombia in 2006. But the required approval fromCongress has not been forthcoming. Capitol Hill's Democratic leaders have refused, citing human rights violations inColombia and its standing as the deadliest country in the world for organized labor.Supporters have argued that the agreement would level the playing field by requiring Colombia to lower or eliminatetariffs on U.S. imports, when many products from Colombia already get such preferences in the U.S. market.

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CONCESSIONSKEYTOAGENDAEXT

Concessions key to agendaBusiness Week 04 (Business Week, 11-15-04, Lexis)

Bush's clear-cut victory puts him in a strong position to push ahead with the next leg of his ambitious conservativeagenda. But given the deep divisions rending the nation, it would be a stretch to interpret his triumph as anoverwhelming endorsement of anything concrete -- much less ``stay the course'' entreaties on Iraq, a deficit-be-damneddrive for more tax cuts, or a dimly perceived ``Ownership Society'' that proposes partial privatization of Social Securityand aims to replace the employer-based health-insurance system. Hemmed in by hostile Democrats, a busted piggybank,and a lack of national consensus on his conservative reforms, Bush faces tough struggles on Capitol Hill. What thePresident mainly won on Election Day, experts say, is a chance to revise the script of 2000, when he ignored a contestedvictory to govern more from the conservative than the compassionate end of the spectrum. He also gained an opportunityto reach across party lines and bind the nation's wounds. ``The country remains clearly divided,'' says Richard M.Kovacevich, chairman and CEO of Wells Fargo & Co. His hope is that ``President Bush would decide to bring the countrytogether and be President of all the people.''

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HUMANRIGHTSEXT

Colombia is making little progress improving its poor human rights recordHuman Rights Watch 08 ( Human Rights Watch, US: Reject Colombia Free Trade Deal 7 Apr 2008.http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2008/04/07/colomb18460.htm).

Washington, DC, April 7, 2008) The US Congress should vote against the US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA)because of Colombias continuing failure to effectively address anti-union violence and impunity, Human Rights Watchsaid today. " Colombia has yet to show concrete results in breaking paramilitaries power and holding the killers of tradeunionists accountable. If Congress ratifies the FTA now, its very unlikely the Uribe government will follow through on itspromises to tackle these issues. " Jos Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch CongressionalTestimony on Violence against Trade Unionists and Human Rights in Colombia Testimony, June 28, 2007 Colombia hasthe highest rate of killings of trade unionists in the world. Seventeen trade unionists have been killed in Colombia in just

the first three months of this year, Human Rights Watch said. President George W. Bush has announced that tomorrow he will submitthe free trade agreement to Congress for a vote, over the objections of the congressional leadership. Last year the leadership of the House ofRepresentatives said that consideration of the deal would depend on whether Colombia showed concrete evidence of sustained results in breaking thepower of paramilitary groups and addressing the near-total impunity for widespread violence against trade unionists. Colombia has not met these

conditions. Colombia has yet to show concrete results in breaking paramilitaries power and holding the killers of tradeunionists accountable, said Jos Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. If Congress ratifies the FTA now, its very unlikelythe Uribe government will follow through on its promises to tackle these issues. Human Rights Watch does not oppose free trade agreements per se,

but said any free trade deal should be premised on respect for fundamental human rights, including the rights of workers. More than 400 tradeunionists have been killed since President Alvaro Uribe took office in 2002, according to the National Labor School(Escuela Nacional Sindical), a highly respected labor rights group in Colombia. Every year, hundreds of trade unionistsalso report receiving death threats. Proponents of the trade deal seek to minimize the violence by asserting that trade unionists are less likelyto be killed in Colombia than the average citizen. But that average citizen includes people in conflict zones or others living under conditions ofunusually high risks. A statistically appropriate comparison would look at trade unionists as compared to non-unionized workers in the same region

and industry. There have been more than 2,500 trade unionist killings in Colombia since 1985, but only 68 of these cases have ever resulted in aconviction. Bush says the Colombian government has addressed Congressional concern over impunity by stepping upfunding for prosecutions and supporting the creation last year of a specialized group of prosecutors and judges assignedto reopen some cases. Human Rights Watch noted that positive step, but warned it could be quickly undone if the dealwere ratified before prosecutors made real headway in obtaining well-grounded convictions. The most promising stepthe Colombian government has taken is to establish this specialized group of prosecutors, said Vivanco. But they needsustained pressure to get the job done. Paramilitary groups, which are on the US list of foreign terrorist organizations,have openly admitted to deliberately targeting unionists. Bush says the Colombian government has addressed theviolence by demobilizing tens of thousands of paramilitary fighters. However, the Organization of American States (OAS)mission verifying the demobilizations has identified 22 illegal armed groups, in which paramilitaries are activelyrecruiting new troops and participating in drug trafficking, extortion, selective killings, and the forced displacement of

thousands of civilians. Eight foreign embassies in Bogota, the OAS mission, and countless human rights defenders, tradeunionists, and civilians have also reported receiving threats from these groups in recent months. Meanwhile,Colombian democracy is facing a serious threat in the form of paramilitaries exercising influence at some of the highestlevels of government. More than 50 congressmen from Uribes governing coalition, his former intelligence chief, and otherofficials, have come under investigation for collaborating with paramilitaries.

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http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2008/04/07/colomb18460.htmhttp://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2008/04/07/colomb18460.htm


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HUMANRIGHTSEXT

The CFTA encourages US and Colombian human rights abusesWitness for Peace, 2008, [Colombia: Where U.S. Policy Kills,http://www.witnessforpeace.org/pdf/Col_FTA_factsheet.pdf]

WORKERS: Colombia is able to compete well in the global race to the bottom of wages and labor rights since Colombia isthe number one killer of trade unionists. Since 1991, over 2,200 Colombian union members have been murdered. The FTAwould give incentives to multinational corporations to take advantage of the extremely violent situation for Colombianworkers in order to continue to prioritize their own profits over worker rights. U.S. companies such as Coca-Cola,Chiquita, and Drummond Coal have already been accused of and/or sued for hiring paramilitaries who kill, threaten,torture, and kidnap Colombian union members. The FTA would push Colombia to lower already low wages, to weakenalready poor labor standards, and to remove or reduce laws that once guaranteed workers the right to receive overtime

pay, the right to collective bargaining, and the right to workers compensation.

The CFTA encourages Colombian human rights violations

Witness for Peace, 2008, [Colombia: Where U.S. Policy Kills,http://www.witnessforpeace.org/pdf/Col_FTA_factsheet.pdf]

While all free trade agreements are harmful, the US-Colombia FTA is especially critical to oppose due to Colombiasatrocious human rights record. Colombias government and military have been implicated in many human rightsviolations due to direct contact with paramilitary death squads that appear on the U.S.s list of designated terrorists. As ofMarch 2008, over 85 Colombian political leaders have been detained for their involvement with paramilitaries, includingcurrent and past members of Congress, council members, governors, mayors, state legislators, and the former director ofDASColombias FBI.

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AT: COLOMBIANGOVTREFORMED

Even if the government has taken steps to address human rights abuses, new cases reinforce prevalenthuman rights abuses

Haugaard 08 (Lisa Haugaard, So Far to Go: Human Rights in Colombia, Latin America Working Group Education Fund,April 2008. )

The Colombian government has taken some potentially significant steps to address this serious problem. The DefenseMinistry issued directives to the armed forces to prioritize captures over killings, adhere to regulations over rules ofengagement and transfer cases of possible extrajudicial executions from military to civilian courts. In 2007, human rightscases involving security forces finally began to be transferred to civilian courts. The government also established a high-level commission to examine the problem. However, new cases continue to occur and very few convictions have beenachieved in past cases. Progress must be measured through results: an end to new killings; existing cases being regularly

and promptly transferred from military jurisdiction, where they go nowhere, to civilian courts; and convictions, wherewarranted, achieved. More than one-third of recent killings of civilians, in cases in which the perpetrators group isidentified, were committed directly by Colombias security forces, with slightly less than one-third each attributed toparamilitary and guerrilla groups. Of 1,348 people killed or disappeared (outside of combat) from July 2006 to June 2007,the Colombian Commission of Jurists asserts that in the cases in which the presumed perpetrators group is identified,39.1 percent of these crimes were committed directly by state agents; 31.7 percent by paramilitaries, and 29.2 percent byguerrillas. (In nearly half of the 1, 348 cases, the perpetrators group is still unknown). 2. While over 31,000 personsparticipated in the paramilitary demobilization program, a considerable number appear not to have been paramilitaries atall. Meanwhile, new groups, undemobilized and rearmed paramilitaries continue to use threats and violence to exercisepower, threaten human rights defenders and union activists, and take control of the drug trade. The OAS missionofficially monitoring the demobilization process documents the existence of 22 rearmed groups. (MAPP/OAS 10th report)

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COFTA -> TERRORISM

The CFTA increases terrorism by destroying the Colombian agricultural businessWitness for Peace, 2008, [Colombia: Where U.S. Policy Kills,http://www.witnessforpeace.org/pdf/Col_FTA_factsheet.pdf]

FARMERS AND FOOD SECURITY: Colombian farmers are not able to compete with U.S. agricultural goods due to,among other factors, U.S. government subsidies. The U.S. government subsidizes farmers to the tune of $24 billion a year,meaning that they can produce at below the cost of production, thus making it impossible for Colombian agricultural tocompete on a level playing field. Colombian farmers also often lack technology, infrastructure, and/or physical access tomarkets. Without protections against U.S. agricultural goods, many Colombians will lose their livelihood. Withoutalternatives for feeding their families, many Colombian farmers have no choice but to grow illicit crops, such as coca (theraw material for cocaine), join an illegal armed group, or leave their farm and become another of Colombias already

nearly four million internally displaced individuals.

Terrorism threatens extinction

Sid-Ahmed 2004, Political Analyst, 2K4 (Mohamed, Extinction! Al-Ahram Weekly On-Line, August 26 September 1,http://weekly.ahram.org.eg /2004/705/op5.htm)

A nuclear attack by terrorists will be much more critical than Hiroshima and Nagazaki, even if -- and this is far fromcertain -- the weapons used are less harmful than those used then, Japan, at the time_, with no knowledge of nucleartechnology, had no choice but to capitulate. Today, the technology is a secret for nobody.So far, except for the two bombs dropped on Japan, nuclear weapons have been used only to threaten. Now we are at a

stage where they can be detonated. This completely changes the rules of the game. We have reached a point whereanticipatory measures can determine the course of events. _Allegations of a terrorist connection can be used to justifyanticipatory measures, including the invasion of a sovereign state like Iraq_. As it turned out, these allegations, as well asthe allegation that Saddam was harbouring WMD, proved to be unfounded._What would be the consequences of a nuclear attack by terrorists? Even if it fails, it would further exacerbate thenegative features of the new and frightening world in which we are now living. Societies would close in on themselves,police measures would be stepped up at the expense of human rights, tensions between civilisations and religions wouldrise and ethnic conflicts would proliferate. It would also speed up the arms race and develop the awareness that adifferent type of world order is imperative if humankind is to survive.But the still more critical scenario is if the attack succeeds. This could lead to a third world war, from which no one willemerge victorious. _Unlike a conventional war which ends when one side triumphs over another, this war will be withoutwinners and losers. When nuclear pollution infects the whole planet, we will all be losers.

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COFTA -> DISEASE

The FTA encourages US medicinal patents, making it impossible for Colombians to have access to affordablemedicine and leading to disease spread

Witness for Peace, 2008, [Colombia: Where U.S. Policy Kills,http://www.witnessforpeace.org/pdf/Col_FTA_factsheet.pdf]

ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE: The FTA puts the interests of large U.S. companies over the health of Colombians. The FTAincludes strengthening intellectual property rights (governing patent law) which will allow U.S. companies to extendpatents on medicines, thus taking away millions of peoples access to generic medicine. According to the Pan-AmericanHealth Organization, the FTA will result in an increase of approximately $900 million in annual medicinal costs forColombians. Intellectual property rights provisions would place patents on traditional medicinal knowledge and naturalresources (water, plants, wind etc.) without prior agreement or community consent. This means that the traditional

medicinal practices will then be rendered illegal for the communities from which it comes and that natural resources ofColombia, one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world, could become property of and controlled by U.S.companies.

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COFTA -> HARMSUSECON

The FTA will increase immigration and decrease US jobsWitness for Peace, 2008, [Colombia: Where U.S. Policy Kills,http://www.witnessforpeace.org/pdf/Col_FTA_factsheet.pdf]

What does the FTA mean for the US? What do FTAs have to do with Immigration?The vast majority of profits made from FTAs benefit multinational corporations, not the majority of the people in the U.S.or Colombia. As weve seen with NAFTA in Mexico, the FTA model has not had many benefits for the people who needthem the most: NAFTA has destroyed the Mexican countryside, resulting in the loss of 2 million jobs. Mexicans, having to choose between migration and starvation, have migrated to the US. The number of Mexicans livingin the US has nearly doubled since NAFTA was passed to about 11.2 million, approximately 10% of the Mexican

population. 2/3 of Mexicans living in the US have come since the passage of NAFTA. Since NAFTA was ratified theaverage cost of food in Mexico has gone up 257% while average purchasing power has decreased by 50%. One third of the 800,000 manufacturing jobs in Mexico that were created after the passage ofNAFTA have disappeared while the Mexican minimum wage has dropped by 20%.In addition, since the passage of NAFTA over an estimated one million US manufacturing jobs have been lost ascorporations search for the country with cheapest wages and the poorest labor rights.

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COFTA -> ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION

A. CFTA destroys the environmentWitness for Peace, 2008, [Colombia: Where U.S. Policy Kills,h ttp://www.witnessforpeace.org/pdf/Col_FTA_factsheet.pdf]

THE ENVIRONMENT: The FTA proposes reforms that give national and transnational corporations greatly increasedaccess to exploit natural resources such as biodiversity, fisheries, water, and minerals. They would also have the right tochallenge environmental protection laws in Colombia as barriers to trade.

B.Environmental destruction risks human extinction:Tobin 1990 (Richard, associate professor of political science at SUNY-Buffalo, The Expendable Future: U.S. Politics

and the Protection of Biological Diversity, p. 13-14).

Every time a human contributes to a species extinction, a range of choices and opportunities is either eliminated or diminished. Thedemise of the last pupfish might have appeared inconsequential, but the eradication of other species could mean that an undiscoveredcure for some cancers has been carelessly discarded. The extinction of a small bird, an innocent amphibian, or an unappealingplant might disrupt an ecosystem, increased the incidence and areal distribution of a disease, preclude the discovery of newindustrial products, prevent the natural recycling of some wastes, or destroy a source of easily grown and readily availablefood. By way of analogy, the anthropo-genic extinction of a plant or animal can be compared to the senseless destruction of a pricelessRenaissance painting or to the burning of an irreplaceable book that has never been opened. In an era when many people believe thatlimits to development are being tested or even breached, can humans afford to risk an expendable future, to squander theinfinite potential that species offer, and to waste natures ability and willingness to provide inexpensive solutions to many ofhumankinds problems? Many scientists do not believe so, and they are fearful of the consequences of anthropogenic extinctions.These scientists quickly admit their ignorance of the biological consequences of most individual extinctions, but widespreadagreement exists that massive anthropogenic extinctions canbring catastrophic results. In fact, when compared to all otherenvironmental problems, human-caused extinctions are likely to be of far greater concern. Extinction is the permanentdestruction of unique life forms andthe only irreversible ecological change that humans can cause. No matter what the effort orsincerity of intentions, extinct species can never be replaced. From the standpoint of permanent despoliation of the planet,Norman Meyers observes, no other form of environmental degradation is anywhere so significant as the fallout of species.Harvard biologist Edward O. Wilson is less modest in assessing the relative consequences of human-caused extinctions. To Wilson,the worst thing that will happen to earth is not economic collapse, the depletion of energy supplies, or even nuclear war.As frightful as these events might be, Wilson reasons that they can be repaired within a few generations. The one processongoingthat will take millions of years to correct is the loss of genetic and species diversity by destruction of natural habitats.

Liz/Mim
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BUSHGOOD 1NC

A. CFTA is bipartisandemocrats support because it recognizes labor and environmental principles.LA Times, 5/11/07, [Molly Hennessy-Fiske, The Nation; Pelosi announces bipartisan trade policy; The deal negotiatedwith the administration incorporates labor and environmental standards, she says.]

"Last November, Americans voted on a new direction, and that includes a new direction on trade," [Nancy Pelosi] said,urging open markets but also warning: "We can have a bipartisan consensus on trade, but only with a recognition of laborand environmental principles." "We're applauding the bipartisan effort to get the trade agenda moving," said ChristopherWenk, senior director for international policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington. "It is our hope that thisdeal can pave the way for a solid majority of members to vote in favor of renewing trade promotion authority andpassage of bilateral agreements with Peru, Colombia, Panama and Korea." Rep. Betty Sutton of Ohio, one of 71 freshmanDemocrats to sign a letter earlier this year urging [Charles B. Rangel] not to compromise "fair trade" principles, was

"frustrated" that she and other new legislators were not consulted about the compromise, her staff said.

B. Link:

1. [plan unpopular]

2. Internal link democratic support key to agenda

Christian Science Monitor 08 (Christian Science Monitor, 7 July 2008.http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0707/p09s02-coop.html)

Regarding trade, Democrats have become unabashedly protectionist to the point where they are willing to thumb theirnoses at American friends and allies like South Korea, Colombia, Canada, and Mexico. In May, House Speaker Nancy

Pelosi shelved a painstakingly negotiated trade pact with Colombia that would have primarily benefited Americanexports. If the US is wary of trading with tiny Colombia a democratizing neighbor confronting terrorism and drugtrafficking what does that say about America's capacity for global economic leadership? Ms. Pelosi also recently killed"fast-track" procedures intended to ease congressional votes on trade agreements, meaning new pacts with South Koreaand Panama are also likely to remain in limbo. And just last month, Democrats in the House and Senate proposed a bill(containing many of Senator Obama's campaign promises) that would require the president to submit plans to renegotiateall current trade agreements including the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico beforeCongress would consider any new agreements.

Liz/Mim
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0707/p09s02-coop.htmlhttp://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0707/p09s02-coop.htmlhttp://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0707/p09s02-coop.htmlhttp://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0707/p09s02-coop.htmlhttp://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0707/p09s02-coop.html


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BUSHGOOD 1NC

C. Impact

1. Chavez is plotting to expand his socialist regime into Columbia, but strong Colombian US relations

hamper his efforts

Griswold and Hidalgo 08(Daniel Griswold, director, Center for Trade Policy Studies at Cato Institute and Juan Carlos Hidalgo, projectcoordinator, Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, Cato Institute, A U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement: Strengthening Democracy and Progressin Latin America, Center for Trade Policy Studies. 7 Feb 2008. < http://www.freetrade.org/pubs/FTBs/FTB-032.pdf >)

The importance of Colombia has grown in recent years given the ideological battle taking place in the Andean region.With the ascendancy to power of populist left-leaning presidents in South America, President Uribe stands as the closestU.S. ally in Latin America. Even more, Colombia is now surrounded by two anti-American presidents who have friendlyties or are sympathetic to the Marxist guerillas: Venezuelas Hugo Chavez and Ecuadors Rafael Correa. The situation is

particularly troubling in the case of Chavez. The Venezuelan president has repeatedly tried to export his Bolivarian (socialist) revolution toother Latin American countries, taking advantage of a windfall in oil revenue of approximately $300 billion since he came to power.14 President Chvezhas openly supported the political campaigns of left-leaning candidates in the region such as Evo Morales (Bolivia), Shafik Handal (El Salvador), Daniel

Ortega (Nicaragua), Ollanta Humala (Peru), and Rafael Correa (Ecuador). Moreover, in the last four years Chavez has spent $4 billion inarmaments.15 Chavezs ties with the guerrillas are well known. Venezuela has become a safe haven for the FARC andother terrorist groups. The 2006 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report says that Colombian guerrillaorganizations . . . move through parts of Venezuela without significant interference by the Venezuelan security forces.16Recently, Chavez stated that the guerrillas were real armies whose political project was respected by the Venezuelangovernment. Having the closest ally of the United States in the region right next door has always been a thorn in Chavezsside. The relationship between him and President Uribe recently turned bitter over a failed mediation effort from theVenezuelan president with the Colombian guerrillas to release dozens of hostages that those groups have retained formore than five years. Both leaders exchanged recriminations, with Chavez calling Uribe a sad pawn of the [U.S.]

empire17 Venezuela is the second largest market for Colombian exports, and many fear that the diplomatic crisisbetween the countries could lead to a Venezuelan blockadesomething Chavez has already threatened on severaloccasionsthat could have serious consequences to Colombias economy. Enter the U.S.-Colombia FTA

2. Saying no hurts Colombias economy, fuels left-wing populism, and stops democratic growth

Griswold and Hidalgo 08(Daniel Griswold, director, Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute and Juan Carlos Hidalgo, projectcoordinator, Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, Cato Institute, A U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement: Strengthening Democracy and Progressin Latin America, Center for Trade Policy Studies. 7 Feb 2008. < http://www.freetrade.org/pubs/FTBs/FTB-032.pdf >)

The Consequences of Saying No A comprehensive trade agreement would also benefit Colombia by opening its marketto more import competition, encouraging more foreign investment, and strengthening its ties to the worlds largesteconomy. If Congress were to reject such an agreement, it would inflict real pain on the Colombian economy and workers.A recent study by the University of Antioquia shows that not approving the FTA would decrease investment by 4.5percent in Colombia. Furthermore, it would increase unemployment by 1.8 percentagepoints, representing a net loss of 460,000 jobs. GDP would go down 4.5 percent, and the poverty level would rise by 1.4points.25 It is not in the U.S. interest to inflict this kind of economic punishment on an ally in the Andean region.Left-wing populism is fueled by poverty and lack of opportunities, as can be easily seen in neighboring Venezuela,Ecuador, and Bolivia. Strong democratic institutions rely heavily on economic development. The United States shouldpromote it. This is very clear to Colombians.

Liz/Mim
http://www.freetrade.org/pubs/FTBs/FTB-032.pdfhttp://www.freetrade.org/pubs/FTBs/FTB-032.pdfhttp://www.freetrade.org/pubs/FTBs/FTB-032.pdfhttp://www.freetrade.org/pubs/FTBs/FTB-032.pdf


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BUSHGOOD 1NC

3. Developing democracy is key to prevent six instances of violence and protects against imminent disastersDiamond, 1995 (http://wwics.si.edu/subsites/ccpdc/pubs/di/1.htm; Promoting Democracy in the 1990s: Actors andInstruments, Issues and Imperatives)

On any list of the most important potential threats to world order and national security in the coming decade, these sixshould figure prominently: a hostile, expansionist Russia; a hostile, expansionist China; the spread of fundamentalistIslamic, anti-Western regimes; the spread of political terrorism from all sources; sharply increased immigration pressures;and ethnic conflict that escalates into large-scale violence, civil war, refugee flows, state collapse, and general anarchy.Some of these potential threats interact in significant ways with one another, but they all share a common underlying connection. In each instance,the development of democracy is an important prophylactic, and in some cases the only long- term protection, againstdisaster.

Liz/Mim
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WILLPASS

US Congress will continue its support of Colombias democracy through the ratification of the FTA.

The Boston Globe, 7/10/08, [Marc Grossman, vice chairman of The Cohen Group. He was undersecretary of state forpolitical affairs 2001-2005, Opening up trade with Colombia, liz]

When President Clinton, with strong congressional backing, committed the United States to bolstering Colombia'sdefense of its democracy, much of that nation was controlled by the FARC along with the paramilitary United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, or AUC, and the National Liberation Army, or ELN, the two other narco-terrorist groups thatlong plagued the country. President Bush and Congress have continued strong US support for Colombia.

Bush is pushing the Colombia FTA

VOA News, 7/22/08, [Paula Wolfson, Bush Makes Renewed Push for Colombia Free Trade Agreement,

http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-07-22-voa63.cfm, liz]

At a White House event showcasing ties between the Colombian and American people, President Bush made one of hisstrongest appeals to date for passage of the free trade deal with Colombia."To demonstrate America's good faith, to stand by our strong friend, to send a clear signal that we appreciate our ally, theUnited States Congress must approve this free trade agreement," he said.Mr. Bush said it will open up a major duty-free market to American goods, noting that exports remain one of the brightspots in the uncertain U.S. economy.

House will approve the CFTA the recent extraditions prove

The Boston Globe,7/10/08, [Marc Grossman, vice chairman of The Cohen Group. He was undersecretary of state forpolitical affairs 2001-2005, Opening up trade with Colombia, liz]

When the US House leadership chose not to bring the Colombia Free Trade Agreement to a vote in April, someopponents said that Uribe did not take seriously the atrocities committed by the paramilitary groups. Last May 13,Uribe extradited 14 paramilitary leaders to the United States to face drug trafficking and other charges. They had failedto meet their commitments under the terms of the Justice and Peace Law, including compensating their victims. Theextradition of these individuals alone ought to persuade the House to now approve the agreement.

The hostage rescue and death of Manuel Marulanda mean that the agreement will be bipartisan in Congress.


Colombians have more work to do to make their society truly secure, democratic, and just. They have earned respectfor what they have accomplished so far and deserve continuing US support. The hostage rescue and the death of anarco-terrorist leader provide the chance for a bipartisan show of engagement with Latin America. Congress shouldseize it immediately.

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WILLPASS

AT: WONTPASS (DAMNHIPPIES)

Colombias human rights record is improving, and wont be an issue in CongressVOA News, 7/22/08, [Paula Wolfson, Bush Makes Renewed Push for Colombia Free Trade Agreement,http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-07-22-voa63.cfm, liz]

Mr. Bush made specific mention of the recent rescue by the Colombian military of hostages that had been held for yearsby members of the leftist rebel group known as the FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which theUnited States considers to be a terrorist organization. He noted that on Sunday, more than a million Colombians marchedin the nation's streets to denounce the FARC and demand the release of remaining captives."They chanted a simple but powerful message: Libertad! That means freedom," Mr. Bush said.Democratic Party leaders in the House have put off formal consideration of the free trade agreement because of concerns

about the Colombian government's human rights record.But the White House contends conditions have significantly improved, that the Colombian justice system has beenreformed and attacks on labor unionists have significantly declined.

Colombia is moving towards a peaceful democracy


Taking advantage of US assistance, Colombian presidents Andres Pastrana and Alvaro Uribe turned their country aroundand got most ELN and AUC fighters off the battlefield. This process has not been perfect. More needs to be done to make

sure that paramilitary and other leaders of illegal armed groups face the consequences of their actions. But sinceColombia adopted the Justice and Peace Law in 2005, more than 31,000 members from 35 paramilitary groups, principallyfrom the AUC, have demobilized. More than 10,500 members of the FARC and the ELN have turned themselves in toColombian authorities since 2002. Since Uribe took office that same year, security in Colombia has improved significantly.The government of Colombia has expanded police presence throughout the country and is now able to provide protectionagainst violence to more than 10,600 individuals, including more than 1,900 trade union members. The Colombiangovernment has also continued to battle narco-trafficking.

Colombia FTA will pass its the key time for the US to show its support for the countrys transition to democracyTheBoston Globe, 7/10/08, [Marc Grossman, vice chairman of The Cohen Group. He was undersecretary of state for politicalaffairs 2001-2005, Opening up trade with Colombia, liz]

COLOMBIA'S brilliant liberation of 15 hostages, including three Americans held for years by the narco-terrorist groupFARC, is fantastic news, not just for the hostages, their families, and the Colombian government, but for all who support Colombia's fight to protectand perfect its democracy. The freeing of these hostages, along with the death last March of Manuel Marulanda, the long-time leaderof the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, provides a defining strategic opportunity for the US Congressto approve the pending US- Colombia Free Trade Agreement. The daring hostage rescue and the demise of the FARCleader, who for 40 years used violence, kidnapping, and intimidation to try to overthrow Colombia's democracy, will opennew possibilities in Colombia, perhaps including the final collapse of the FARC itself. This makes it the perfect time for

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Politics - COFTA 22 / 37____________________________________________________________________________________________________________Congress to show that America supports the struggle for Colombia's democracy and recognizes that this fight is not solelya military question but requires creating jobs, enhancing human rights, and protecting labor leaders.

BUSHPUSH

Bush is pushing the Colombia free trade agreement because it key to national security

USA Today, 2/26/08, [Bush backs free-trade pact with Colombia, http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-02-26-748468203_x.htm]

President Bush joined forces with top former Clinton White House officials on Tuesday to argue that a free-trade pactwith Colombia is a must-pass item for Congress.The Bush administration signed a bilateral free trade agreement with Colombia in 2006. But the required approval fromCongress has not been forthcoming. Capitol Hill's Democratic leaders have refused, citing human rights violations inColombia and its standing as the deadliest country in the world for organized labor.

Supporters have argued that the agreement would level the playing field by requiring Colombia to lower or eliminatetariffs on U.S. imports, when many products from Colombia already get such preferences in the U.S. market.Bush sought to add new urgency by proclaiming the issue also a matter of national security -- a point he made twice injust two minutes of remarks. He argued that the deal would help promote a "stable neighborhood" and send a signal ofsupport to a democratic ally, while defeating it would "embolden the false populism.""A lot of time people think about trade, it's just an economic issue. In this case, it is a national security issue, and one thatthe members of both parties must take seriously," the president said after meeting at the White House with a bipartisangroup of former lawmakers and top government officials from several administrations. "If the trade bill with Colombia isdefeated, it will harm the national security interests of the country."

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BIPARTKEYTOAGENDAEXT

Peru proves bipartisanship is key to trade agendaBaker 08 (James Baker, Secretary of State under George H.W. Bush, Whats at State in Colombia The Wall Street Journal. 23 April 2008. )

The White House and Congress have reached an impasse. As a result, an economically and geopolitically importantagreement is hanging in the balance. If our leaders in Congress don't change their approach, a critical building block forstability in an important region of South America may fall victim to domestic partisan squabbling. I know an agreementcan be struck because, for more than three decades, trade has been a rare issue that lends itself to consensus. As recentlyas December, Congress displayed the type of bipartisan leadership that Americans desire when it ratified a free tradeagreement with Peru that is very similar to the one proposed for Colombia. And yet, this spring, the world is watching todetermine if the United States will remain committed to embracing a free-market global economy, or display a growingisolationist attitude that can befuddle and vex our allies around the world.

Liz/Mim
http://www.latradecoalition.org/NR/rdonlyres/e5wpfapvm4evnx67ru3gzzcqgwhp6but5ht55e2266yf2grsmy66mmzcf7vneqtsadv4fbeyqymo2dcogmh7hklg67e/InCaseYouMissedIt.pdfhttp://www.latradecoalition.org/NR/rdonlyres/e5wpfapvm4evnx67ru3gzzcqgwhp6but5ht55e2266yf2grsmy66mmzcf7vneqtsadv4fbeyqymo2dcogmh7hklg67e/InCaseYouMissedIt.pdfhttp://www.latradecoalition.org/NR/rdonlyres/e5wpfapvm4evnx67ru3gzzcqgwhp6but5ht55e2266yf2grsmy66mmzcf7vneqtsadv4fbeyqymo2dcogmh7hklg67e/InCaseYouMissedIt.pdfhttp://www.latradecoalition.org/NR/rdonlyres/e5wpfapvm4evnx67ru3gzzcqgwhp6but5ht55e2266yf2grsmy66mmzcf7vneqtsadv4fbeyqymo2dcogmh7hklg67e/InCaseYouMissedIt.pdf


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DEMOCRACYLINKEXT

Chavez is already destabilizing the Colombian region approving COFTA is key to checking his growthBaker 08 (James Baker, Secretary of State under George H.W. Bush, Whats at State in Colombia The Wall Street Journal. 23 April 2008. )

Members of the U.S. Congress should also consider the national security arguments that favor this freetrade agreement.Colombia has long been a valued ally in a region that is increasingly becoming adverse toward our interests. Bolivia andEcuador are to one degree or another antagonistic toward the U.S., and Venezuela is outright hostile. Compare that toColombia, an openly supportive, long-time ally that has long partnered with the U.S. on economic and security matters.Colombia was there when we needed an ally in that region. The backbone of the U.S.-Colombia security relationship, PlanColombia, was started by President Bill Clinton and continued by President George W. Bush. Since Plan Colombia was conceived in 1998, the Colombiangovernment has worked closely with the United States to prosecute the war on drugs. It has done so while constantly battling the so-called

"Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia" (FARC). This group is no quaint band of pseudo-revolutionaries. Simply put, it is a terrorist organization so classified by both the European Union and the U.S. government and one that receives a significant amount of its financing from the drug cartels. Ifthe contents of a recently-seized computer once owned by Raul Reyes, a FARC leader that Colombia recently killed, are verified as accurate, the world

would have incriminating evidence that Venezuela and Ecuador have been clandestinely supporting the FARC. Does America want to allowHugo Chvez to remake the Andean region in his image? While this matter is currently being investigated, it is clear thatChvez and his allies are already destabilizing the region. Both Ecuador and Venezuela, two of Colombia's biggesttrading partners, have brought trade between them and Colombia to a virtual standstill. Colombia is at a crossroads; it isliterally besieged on all sides. As Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in September, "If the U.S. turns its back onits friends in Colombia, this will set back our cause far more than any Latin American dictator could hope to achieve"

Turning our back on Colombia will give Chavez every opportunity to achieve his nationalistic goals

Harper 07 (Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, Counsel on Foreign Relations. 25 Sep. 2007. ).

In my view, Colombia needs its democratic friends to lean forward and give them a chance at partnership and trade withNorth America. I am very concerned that some in the United States seem unwilling to do that. What message does thatsend to those who want to share in freedom and prosperity? (Speaks in French.) There is a lot of worry in this countryabout the ideology of populism, nationalism and protectionism in the Americas and the governments that promote it, butfrankly, my friends, there is nowhere in the hemisphere that those forces can do more real damage than those forces in theUnited States itself. And if the U.S. turns its back on its friends in Colombia, this will set back our cause far more thanany Latin American dictator could hope to achieve. I say this because I believe it is incumbent upon all of us to defendour shared interests and values at home as well as abroad, and more open trade in the hemisphere is consistent with our

values and in all of our interests.

Liz/Mim
http://www.latradecoalition.org/NR/rdonlyres/e5wpfapvm4evnx67ru3gzzcqgwhp6but5ht55e2266yf2grsmy66mmzcf7vneqtsadv4fbeyqymo2dcogmh7hklg67e/InCaseYouMissedIt.pdfhttp://www.latradecoalition.org/NR/rdonlyres/e5wpfapvm4evnx67ru3gzzcqgwhp6but5ht55e2266yf2grsmy66mmzcf7vneqtsadv4fbeyqymo2dcogmh7hklg67e/InCaseYouMissedIt.pdfhttp://www.cfr.org/publication/14315/conversation_with_stephen_harper_rush_transcript_federal_news_service.htmlhttp://www.latradecoalition.org/NR/rdonlyres/e5wpfapvm4evnx67ru3gzzcqgwhp6but5ht55e2266yf2grsmy66mmzcf7vneqtsadv4fbeyqymo2dcogmh7hklg67e/InCaseYouMissedIt.pdfhttp://www.latradecoalition.org/NR/rdonlyres/e5wpfapvm4evnx67ru3gzzcqgwhp6but5ht55e2266yf2grsmy66mmzcf7vneqtsadv4fbeyqymo2dcogmh7hklg67e/InCaseYouMissedIt.pdfhttp://www.cfr.org/publication/14315/conversation_with_stephen_harper_rush_transcript_federal_news_service.html


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DEMOCRACYLINKEXT

Approving COFTA checks antagonistic populist growth in Latin AmericaKyl 08 (John Kyl, State Senator, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Colombia Free Trade The National Ledger. 28 Apr2008. )

The Colombia accord also has important national security implications. As former Secretary of State James Baker wrote ina recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, Colombia has long been a valued ally in a region that is increasingly becomingadverse toward our interests. Bolivia and Ecuador are to one degree or another antagonistic toward the U.S., andVenezuela is outright hostile. Colombia is at a crossroads; it is literally besieged on all sides. As Canadian PrimeMinister Stephen Harper said in September, If the U.S. turns its back on its friends in Colombia, this will set back ourcause far more than any Latin American dictator could hope to achieve. Expanding free trade would provide Americancompanies with new opportunities to grow; therefore, it is critical Congress approve pending trade agreements with

nations like Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. But unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi has allowed politics to trump freetrade at the expense of our economic and national security.

CFTA is key to national security it signals support for democracy and opposition to socialism

USA Today, 2/26/08, [Bush backs free-trade pact with Colombia, http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-02-26-748468203_x.htm]

Bush sought to add new urgency by proclaiming the issue also a matter of national security -- a point he made twice injust two minutes of remarks. He argued that the deal would help promote a "stable neighborhood" and send a signal ofsupport to a democratic ally, while defeating it would "embolden the false populism."

"A lot of time people think about trade, it's just an economic issue. In this case, it is a national security issue, and one thatthe members of both parties must take seriously," the president said after meeting at the White House with a bipartisangroup of former lawmakers and top government officials from several administrations. "If the trade bill with Colombia isdefeated, it will harm the national security interests of the country."

Liz/Mim
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DEMOCRACYIMPACTEXT ECON

Major empirical studies prove: democracies best promote economic growth:Moore, Director of Center for National Security Law @ University of Virginia Law School, 1997(37 Va. J. Int'l L. 811, Lexis)There has been a long debate in the economic literature about the relationship, if any, between government structures and economic growth and well-

being. Recently, however, a series of impressive empirical studies, as well as the powerful example of the seven-decadefailed experiment in the former Soviet Union, provide powerful evidence about the linkage between democracy andlevels of economic freedom on the one side, and rates of economic growth and economic well-being on the other. Therehave now been at least three major empirical studies linking economic well-being and economic growth rates with levelsof economic freedom on a world-wide basis. These include the study by Bryan Johnson and Thomas Sheehy for the Heritage Foundation, 26the study by the Fraser Institute of Canada, with participation from a broad multinational group, 27 and, most recently, the study by Freedom House,the organization originally founded by Eleanor Roosevelt to counter Nazi propaganda which has long published the most detailed rankings of political

freedom around the world. 28 While these studies differ in significant ways, all demonstrate a striking correlation between

levels of economic freedom and economic well-being and growth, with high levels of well-being and growth associatedwith high levels of economic freedom. According to the Freedom House survey, for example, the countries with the highest levels of economicfreedom, with only 17% of the world population, produce 81% of the world economic product. In contrast, the countries with the lowest levels ofeconomic freedom, with [*829] 36% of the population, produce only 5% of that combined product. The top two categories, "free" and "partly free," witha combined population of 24%, produce 86% of the world economic product in comparison with the bottom two categories, "not free" and "mostly notfree," that with 66% of the population produce only 13% of the world product. 29

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DEMOCRACYIMPACTEXT ENVIRONMENT

A) Democracies best protect the environment:

Moore 97 (Director of Center for National Security Law @ University of Virginia Law School, 1997 (37 Va. J. Int'l L. 811,Lexis)Although there is as yet only episodic evidence concerning the linkage between government structures andenvironmental protection, the evidence that we have seems to point in the same direction. Thus, the abysmal environmentalperformance of the former Soviet Union, now revealed for all the world, with its Chernobyl and Aral Sea disasters, among others, is a powerful case

study. 39 A comparison of the environmental records of the former East and West Germanies shows the same striking correlation. 40 And one groupof scholars at the Norwegian Peace Institute, aware of the striking correlation between government structures and war, has conducted atleast one empirical study to test the same correlation with the environment. They have concluded that there is acorrelation and that "environmental quality is affected by political organization ...." 41 Since it has long been known from welfareeconomics that environmental problems are a classic example of market failure produced by negative externalities, it is startling to many to findsuch a correlation between non-democratic non-market regimes and severe environmental degradation. While the answerlikely involves interaction between a number of factors, including the often overlooked positive effect of profit andproperty rights on the environment, the core of the phenomena is probably the same "government failure" mechanismthat itself generates massive negative externalities and that may well be the core mechanism underlying all of thesenegative effects in common.

B) Environmental destruction risks human extinction:

Tobin 1990 (Richard, associate professor of political science at SUNY-Buffalo, The Expendable Future: U.S. Politicsand the Protection of Biological Diversity, p. 13-14).

Every time a human contributes to a species extinction, a range of choices and opportunities is either eliminated or diminished. Thedemise of the last pupfish might have appeared inconsequential, but the eradication of other species could mean that an undiscoveredcure for some cancers has been carelessly discarded. The extinction of a small bird, an innocent amphibian, or an unappealing

plant might disrupt an ecosystem, increased the incidence and areal distribution of a disease, preclude the discovery of newindustrial products, prevent the natural recycling of some wastes, or destroy a source of easily grown and readily availablefood. By way of analogy, the anthropo-genic extinction of a plant or animal can be compared to the senseless destruction of a pricelessRenaissance painting or to the burning of an irreplaceable book that has never been opened. In an era when many people believe thatlimits to development are being tested or even breached, can humans afford to risk an expendable future, to squander theinfinite potential that species offer, and to waste natures ability and willingness to provide inexpensive solutions to many ofhumankinds problems? Many scientists do not believe so, and they are fearful of the consequences of anthropogenic extinctions.These scientists quickly admit their ignorance of the biological consequences of most individual extinctions, but widespreadagreement exists that massive anthropogenic extinctions canbring catastrophic results. In fact, when compared to all otherenvironmental problems, human-caused extinctions are likely to be of far greater concern. Extinction is the permanentdestruction of unique life forms andthe only irreversible ecological change that humans can cause. No matter what the effort or

sincerity of intentions, extinct species can never be replaced. From the standpoint of permanent despoliation of the planet,Norman Meyers observes, no other form of environmental degradation is anywhere so significant as the fallout of species.Harvard biologist Edward O. Wilson is less modest in assessing the relative consequences of human-caused extinctions. To Wilson,the worst thing that will happen to earth is not economic collapse, the depletion of energy supplies, or even nuclear war.As frightful as these events might be, Wilson reasons that they can be repaired within a few generations. The one processongoingthat will take millions of years to correct is the loss of genetic and species diversity by destruction of natural habitats.

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COFTAHELPSUSECONIMPACT (1/2)

A. COFTA is key to sustaining growing American exportsKyl 08 (John Kyl, writer for the National Ledger, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Colombia Free Trade The NationalLedger. 28 Apr 2008. )

History has taught us that other than raising taxes, nothing can be more damaging to the United States than assuming aprotectionist posture during a time of economic downturn. But thats exactly the situation after House Speaker NancyPelosi decided to bar a vote on the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. It is important the United States gains equitableaccess to the markets of fast-growing developing nations like Colombia. Colombian-produced goods already enter theUnited States duty free, but American-manufactured goods exported to that country face stiff tariffs, ranging from eightpercent to as high as 15 percent. The agreement, in other words, would level the playing field for the benefit of the UnitedStates. Expanding free trade would provide American companies with new opportunities to grow. If enacted, the

Colombia Free Trade Agreement would lift tariffs immediately on over 80 percent of U.S.-produced consumer andindustrial goods, and all goods would be duty free in 10 years. Exports are currently the fastest growing part of oureconomy, increasing $2.4 billion in January an increase of 16.6 percent from last year. If that pace continues, net exportsshould add more than one percentage point to overall economic growth.

B. Exports are key to preventing economic decline

Markheim 08 (Daniella Markheim, the Jay Van Andel Senior Analyst in Trade Policy at The Heritage Foundation'sCenter for International Trade and Economics, The Best U.S. Export-Promotion Strategy: Free Trade The HeritageFoundation. 7 May 2008. )

In 2007, the enacted budget authority for the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee was $1.37 billion.[13] Thesetaxpayer dollars go toward the financing of numerous endeavors aimed at boosting U.S. exports, including education,data collection and dissemination, international trade missions, business services, and market research. While some ofthese activities certainly add value, much of what is being accomplished can be and is being done better by tradeassociations, business coalitions, and private business.In fact, the importance of the private sector in enabling the national export-promotion strategy is stated time and againthroughout The 2007 National Export Strategy. The "Strategic Partnership Initia tive" is designed to enhance cooperationbetween the private sector, exporters, and government at all levels. Recognizing that "the Federal government simplylacks the resources, marketing channels, and points of contact with businesses to reach most companies," the Partnershipwill ideally lead to a phaseout of government involvement in many of these activities.[14]

C. US economy engine is the world economys engineBrookes 2006 (Peter, Senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation, July 4,http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed070406a.cfm)The United States is the world's economic engine. We not only have the largest economy, we spend 40 percent ofthe world's budget on R&D, driving mind-boggling innovation in areas like information technology, defense andmedicine. We're the world's ATM, too, providing 17 percent of the International Monetary Fund's resources fornations in fiscal crisis, and funding 13 percent of World Bank programs that dole out billions in developmentassistance to needy countries.

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COFTAHELPSUSECONIMPACT (2/2)

D. Economic collapse leads to nuclear warBearden 00 (Thomas Bearden, LTC, U.S. Army (Retired) CEO, CTEC Inc., the Director of the Association ofDistinguished American Scientists (ADAS) and a Fellow Emeritus of the Alpha Foundation's Institute for Advanced Study(AIAS), The Unnecessary Energy Crisis: How to Solve It Quickly 12 June 2000.http://www.cmaq.net/en/node.php?id=17547>)

History bears out that desperate nations take desperate actions. Prior to the final economic collapse, the stress on nationswill have increased the intensity and number of their conflicts, to the point where the arsenals of weapons of massdestruction (WMD) now possessed by some 25 nations, are almost certain to be released. As an example, suppose astarving North Korea launches nuclear weapons upon Japan and South Korea, including U.S. forces there, in a spasmodicsuicidal response. Or suppose a desperate China -- whose long-range nuclear missiles (some) can reach the United States

-- attacks Taiwan. In addition to immediate responses, the mutual treaties involved in such scenarios will quickly drawother nations into the conflict, escalating it significantly.Strategic nuclear studies have shown for decades that, under such extreme stress conditions, once a few nukes arelaunched, adversaries and potential adversaries are then compelled to launch on perception of preparations by one'sadversary. The real legacy of the MAD concept is this side of the MAD coin that is almost never discussed. Witho

bhr colombian free trade politics

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