Red carpet frays as rioting greets US President

SMH.COM
AS AIR FORCE ONE swooped over the Andes for the first time in 25 years, the US President, George Bush, and his aides gave the media an optimistic message about improved security after decades of civil war and drug trafficking.

But another message intended for Secret Service agents accompanying the first US president to visit Bogota since 1982 was also seen by reporters. "Colombia presents the most significant threat environment of this five-country trip," the monitor warned starkly. The terrorist threat, it warned, was high.

The divergent themes dominated Mr Bush's whirlwind trip, a seven-hour stay intended to showcase progress in Colombia but that unavoidably underscored continuing problems. Mr Bush told a story of success aided by billions of US dollars. But sharpshooters on the roofs and police firing tear gas at rock throwing protesters on the streets told another story.

Mr Bush had stopped off in Bogota during his six-day Central and South American tour to support his "personal friend" President Alvaro Uribe, now mired in a scandal over the paramilitary ties of some allies, and to press US Congress to extend Plan Colombia, a program in which $US5 billion ($6.4 billion) has been since 2000 to fumigate drug crops, combat insurgents and prosecute cocaine moguls. Mr Uribe told Mr Bush during a joint appearance: "You have come to Colombia at a time of unrest because of the peace process that is taking place."

He cited gains in his campaign to eliminate drug lords, Marxist rebels and right-wing paramilitary groups that have torn the country. "We are actually making progress," he said.

Colombian police confirmed that Marxist guerillas were planning attacks during the Bush visit. What resulted was an extraordinary security effort, even for the President. Colombia put 21,000 police officers on duty, lining every road travelled by Mr Bush and closing much of Bogota. Authorities closed the airport, banned alcohol sales, and even prohibited motorcyclists from carrying passengers to thwart would-be drive-by assassins.

Mr Bush spent almost the entire visit in the heavily guarded Casa de Narino, the presidential palace. Those in the Bush motorcade caught just a glimpse of a protest against his visit.

What Mr Bush did not see was its violent climax, as some of the 2000 protesters attacked police with bricks, stones, sticks and metal barricades.

Mr Bush later arrived in Guatemala City where more than 100 Mayan Indians protested against his visit, holding signs reading: "No more blood for oil."