Uribe to receive U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom

Simon says on Jan 5, 2009, 18:47:

And yet bigoted (US)American cartoonists continue to disparage Colombia.

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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cpchester says on Jan 5, 2009, 19:59:

It's the only way Bush can recognize Colombia's acomplishments in the face of the useless democrats in Congress that keep blocking the pending FTA.

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miamimike says on Jan 5, 2009, 21:19:

All Uribe needs to do is conduct an indepth Investigation of the Deaths of hundreds of News Reporters and Trade Unionists and bring them to Justice in the court of Law. Bingo, FTA Signed sealed and delivered ! From 2000-2006 Bush and the Republicans had 100% complete control of Congress-Why didn't he and the Useless Republicans sign the FTA into Law? FYI-the FTA has been temporarily extended as of a couple months ago,,,

On the same topic, as a Goodwill Gesture, why doesn't Uribe repeal the high import taxes on products shipped from the USA to Colombia? Uribe doessn't need any FTA for this,,,We have already shown our Goodwill over the years as evidenced by Plan Colombia(started by Bill Clinton in 1999) by sending Billions of USD $$$$$, let Uribe act now by repealing the Tariffs on US Products. Any reason he cannot do this?

"You can take the Banana Out of the Republic but you Cannot take the Republic Out Of The Banana"

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miamimike says on Jan 5, 2009, 21:25:

Simon says on Jan 5, 2009, 18:47 (today): flag

And yet bigoted (US)American cartoonists continue to disparage Colombia.

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon
====================================

Got some links Simon?

"You can take the Banana Out of the Republic but you Cannot take the Republic Out Of The Banana"

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Simon says on Jan 5, 2009, 22:00:

Thanks Jonas.

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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miamimike says on Jan 5, 2009, 22:03:

Links Simon,,,,

"You can take the Banana Out of the Republic but you Cannot take the Republic Out Of The Banana"

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Yellapage says on Jan 6, 2009, 02:21:

*claps*

Viva la vida

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gimmedub says on Jan 6, 2009, 04:43:

don't know why a FTA is even needed.... uribe needs to lower (or remove) the import taxes on products that Colombia doesn't produce or products they can use like electronics, farm vehicles, etc etc...

Ah well - looks like the high interest rate and this recession will once again wipe out the middle class in Colombia

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dwmte7 says on Jan 6, 2009, 05:24:

just look at the price of books.......most expensive in the world.

that's a good way to educate it's/her people.

everything from tools to medical supplies are tariffed to death. definitely colombia needs to rethink it's internal money management. they stifle them selves...line the pockets of the rich and hold their population down.

this is no criticism of colombians in general, it's a criticism of the wealthy "elite" who rob from their countrymen and think only of themselves. fincas, homes in europe and the u.s. while the average to low--economically--go without. brother simon...raise your voice against these assholes who steal from their own and hold colombia down.

the problem is not in washington, it's for lack of a decent house cleaning in bogota. the guilty know who they are.

look what's going on in choco....the peasants have their land stolen, villages burned, lives destroyed...for what? 1) for lack of an honest voice in bogota and 2) a further enrichment of the "haves" that is sanctioned, under the table, by everyone from the president on down.

a REAL GOOD house cleaning is in order.

d

patriarch

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Mononoke28 says on Jan 6, 2009, 08:01:

Nobody's perfect and we will never have the perfect president but Uribe has done more to fight the guerrillas and the paramilitary groups in Colombia than all of our last presidents combined. That's a major feat in my opinion.

Diana

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dwmte7 says on Jan 6, 2009, 08:36:

no particular bone to pick with uribe....he just lets the rich get richer and away with murder.

patriarch

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Simon says on Jan 6, 2009, 10:13:

"brother simon...raise your voice against these assholes who steal from their own and hold colombia down."

You're right Dwmte!! These elitist jerks are also enemies of Colombia's progess. I remember how much Elmo just 'loved' those peso-rich snobs!

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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Darloup says on Jan 6, 2009, 10:40:

I agree with Mononoke. Bear in mind Uribe's popularity rating (as high as 90% back in September, and still a healthy 70% today - even after the pyramid schemes).

A huge majority of Colombians who didn't vote for him or even simply don't like him still acknowledge that they feel better now than 6 years ago.

Uribe is popular among Colombians. That's a fact. Full stop. And, as a matter of respect, we should accept THEIR perception of THEIR president instead of appearing to be wiser about what he might or might not have done.

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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C5vzla says on Jan 6, 2009, 11:16:

"Uribe is popular among Colombians. That's a fact. Full stop. And, as a matter of respect, we should accept THEIR perception of THEIR president instead of appearing to be wiser about what he might or might not have done."
fantastic darloup. Now can you repeat the same sentence replacing Uribe by Chavez and Colombians by Venezuelans.
;-)

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Darloup says on Jan 6, 2009, 12:01:

C5vzla, I know nothing about Chavez and the Venezuelans, but I do happen to believe that the pinciple does indeed remain the same.

If the citizens of a given country are actually happy and pleased with their leader, why on earth is it so hard to respect their feelings? Because we are Europeans (or US citizens, or from wherever) and are wiser? Because we read the WSJ (or other newspapers)? Because we're more "educated"? Because we're more "clever"? Because we know things that those citizens don't?

Don't we trust those citizens to have their OWN opinion of their OWN leaders? And shouldn't we respect those opinions?

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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tasco66 says on Jan 6, 2009, 14:07:

That medal must piss off a of the the ususal lefties here..jajajaja

Newsweek on Uribe: "he's delivered the trifecta of peace, security, and prosperity"

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Simon says on Jan 6, 2009, 14:18:

Tasco, I agree...jajajaaja!!!

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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santoblas says on Jan 6, 2009, 15:08:

WHO listens to Bush...the worst president in american history...at least hoover didn{t give us a war on top of a major depression

Take some of that back about bush...the fanatical christians love him

Give me a flaming liberal before a fanatical muslim or christian...forget the jews to whom god gave israel

http://www.ntua.gr/lurk/making/warprayer.html

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tasco66 says on Jan 6, 2009, 15:29:

"forget the jews to whom god gave israel"

Which god gave israel to the jews? Allah or Buda?

Newsweek on Uribe: "he's delivered the trifecta of peace, security, and prosperity"

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Darloup says on Jan 6, 2009, 15:30:

Tasco, I think he was referring to the fabled "God-given promised land' - but then Santoblas can explain it better than I can...

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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dwmte7 says on Jan 7, 2009, 04:56:

did we make a wrong turn somewhere, i'm lost?

patriarch

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Mononoke28 says on Jan 7, 2009, 09:58:

These posts always go to la-la land, so it's impossible to make sense out of them.

Diana

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zat1 says on Jan 7, 2009, 11:34:

Medal = Bush / Uribe / 69 (it's actually kinda sad this thing...)
FTA = Bad, bad idea. My argument? one word: NAFTA

Venimos de Colombia, de la capital, y solo queremos ponerlos a gozar, ¡oye!

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dwmte7 says on Jan 7, 2009, 13:28:

bush/uribe...'69' WHAT? that must be cute.

patriarch

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pobrecito says on Jan 7, 2009, 13:28:

Medal of freedom for Uribe ?

The last joke of W. Bush ?

I see the two gangsters laughing about the "falsos positivos", the murders of syndicalists ...

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dwmte7 says on Jan 7, 2009, 13:29:

pobre....neither one could give a fuck. they sponsor so many deaths, what's a few more.

patriarch

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Simon says on Jan 7, 2009, 13:32:

Oh come on Dwmte, the deaths Uribe sponsors are of the likes of Raul Reyes and other scumbags like that, in other words, the bad guys!

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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dwmte7 says on Jan 7, 2009, 18:53:

no argument there, but the poor in choco and the guahira and in amazonas.....who'ld the fuck over?

patriarch

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Dolfi says on Jan 8, 2009, 00:51:

Wow, a medal by that Bush guy, great!

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dwmte7 says on Jan 8, 2009, 02:38:

that's right, dolfi....you can buy one, too.

patriarch

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zat1 says on Jan 8, 2009, 09:30:

The "69" thingy was meant as a sexual pun... sorry if I was not clear (sorry also if you are not into sexual puns). What I mean is, Jorgito Arbusto giving a medal to his pal Álvaro is basically, them engaging in that particular act. It's their way to say to each other while staring lovingly into each other's teary eyes..."you, my dear sir, kick ass. And you know how I know this? 'cause you think like me/do what I tell you to do/praise even when I'm up to my neck in a scandal (slurp... slurp)." It's like the Oscars... an industry congratulating themselves for the shit they put out...
Anyway, at the end, the medal is given for services rendered. That's the criteria and under this criteria, Álvaro sure deserves it. Undoubtly, Tony Blair too. Big deal.

The bad part of this is, it's been 8 years since this infatuation has been going on without any, I repeat, ANY benefits for Colombia. Latin America has been, under Bush, pretty much a big void south of Texas. Unfortunately, and for a reason that escapes me, the White House has chosen not to pursue a policy of friendship and cooperation with our countries even though we are their freakin' neighbors. Only Europe and Israel matter, which mystifies me. I think of Los Prisioneros... Latinoamerica es un pueblo al sur de Estados Unidos.
I hope that Obama reviews this policy. I hope he can see that we can work together.

Un abrazo cordial para todos.

PD: We should make a vaca para regalarle al señor presidente un tarrito de pomada Brasso, pa' que brille la medalla de cuando en cuando, ni mas faltaba.
;-)

Venimos de Colombia, de la capital, y solo queremos ponerlos a gozar, ¡oye!

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dwmte7 says on Jan 8, 2009, 18:00:

i don't know how 'billions of dollars' annually qualifies as nothing for colombia. but maybe they just want more.
d

patriarch

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goin_south says on Jan 8, 2009, 18:10:

well.. I don't think Odrama will be behaving like a
Magic Man for Colombia any time soon,
so that will make some here happier.
It always seems to be split in four even quarters,
colombians/gringos, as to those who are for or vs. 'Merican
(North! of course... you southern weenies) Aid to Colombia.

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calipro says on Jan 8, 2009, 20:59:

Seems Chavez was right all along.

Uribe really is Bush's pet dog.

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tasco66 says on Jan 9, 2009, 06:53:

"And yet bigoted (US)American cartoonists continue to disparage Colombia.

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon
====================================

Got some links Simon?"

Colombian coffee growers threaten to sue U.S. cartoonist:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza/2009/01/colombian-coffe.html

Newsweek on Uribe: "he's delivered the trifecta of peace, security, and prosperity"

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zat1 says on Jan 9, 2009, 09:15:

dwmte7, honestly, everybody knows that those billions, are alloted not to build schools, and hospitals and feed the poor and downtrodden. Those billions are destined to fight the endless, silly and unwinnable "war on drugs", a war where Colombia provides the stacks of corpses and America the addicts.
This money doesn't help the population and doesn't improve its way of living.
This money only help us kill each other more effectively which suits the U.S.A. Department of State as long as the killing doesn't happen north of Tijuana.
Isn't this true? Or, is there a silver lining to this I'm not seeing?
Greetings.

Venimos de Colombia, de la capital, y solo queremos ponerlos a gozar, ¡oye!

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dwmte7 says on Jan 9, 2009, 10:27:

you aint missed a thing, zat....you hit the nail on the head. billions for dope, period. and whether it helps colombians in general is of 'no nevermind'...who gives a shit? bush? uribe?

only if we believe in the tooth faeiry....they're comfortable and happy as are their busom buddies so don't hold your breath for any altruestic sentiments on either side. forget the poor beggers...they're expendable and there's plenty more where they came from.

i laud your sentiments, friend. wish i could laud the actions of the masters of war.

douglas

patriarch

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billyb says on Jan 9, 2009, 18:25:

He also received a medal from Spain, so he must be the King's dog also, no? I can't wait for Zarko to give him one, pobre will get an anurism.

http://www.elpais.com.co/paisonline/notas/Enero092009/premiouribe.html

Uribe recibe premio por su labor contra el terrorismo

"Elpais.com.co-EFE

El presidente Álvaro Uribe fue distinguido con el "Premio a la libertad Cortes de Cádiz”, que concede el Ayuntamiento de esta ciudad del sur de España.

La I edición del Premio a la Libertad nace con el fin de rendir homenaje a las personas o instituciones públicas o privadas que se hayan caracterizado por la profundización, difusión y extensión de la Libertad en el ámbito iberoamericano, y con la vocación de mantenerlo más allá del año 2012, fecha del bicentenario de la Constitución de 1812.
El jurado decidió otorgar el premio al presidente colombiano por sus esfuerzos en pro de la libertad y su abierta oposición a situaciones terroristas que la menosprecian, privando de su legítimo derecho a la misma a todas aquellas personas secuestradas por grupos, denominados terroristas.................................................."

"All I want to know is where I'm going to die, so I never go there" Unkown (at least to me) wise man.

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pobrecito says on Jan 11, 2009, 07:26:

It is not a medal from Spain but only from Cadiz municipality ... It is not the first time that billy(uri)b says a lie. And in Cadiz there are people who do not agree :

"IU rechaza que se conceda el Premio a la Libertad a Álvaro Uribe
Izquierda Unida ha criticado la concesión del primer Premio Cortes de Cádiz a la Libertad al presidente de Colombia, Álvaro Uribe. Para el portavoz de IU en el Ayuntamiento, Sebastián Terrada, «las denuncias continuas sobre relaciones entre paramilitares y cargos públicos para cometer asesinatos, negocios ilícitos y fraude electoral, salpican de lleno a Uribe».

Terrada considera que el mandatario colombiano «no reúne las condiciones para ello, dada la situación de denuncias sobre corrupción y violaciones de derechos humanos que pesan sobre su gobierno desde hace años».

En este sentido, Sebastián Terrada argumentó que «no queremos que un premio como éste se otorgue a una persona que además de estar bajo sospecha, se ha dedicado últimamente a desprestigiar a la Corte Suprema de Justicia colombiana que investiga las denuncias contra cargos públicos de su partido, algunos de ellos ya en la cárcel».

Cree además que el fallo del premio «podría haber sido una apuesta personal de Teófila Martínez relacionada con sus recientes viajes a Colombia donde la hemos visto junto a Uribe en diversos actos y, al parecer, haciendo oídos sordos a la situación de denuncias en la que se encuentra el gobierno colombiano».

Por su parte, la alcaldesa manifestó que la decisión de conceder este premio ya se ha notificado al embajador de Colombia en España «y estamos a expensas de que nos comuniquen la aceptación». Teófila Martínez agregó que la ciudad «tiene que hacer honor a su imagen como cuna de la libertad».

http://www.lavozdigital.es/jerez/20090110/cadiz/rechaza-conceda-premio...

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pobrecito says on Jan 11, 2009, 07:28:

Nace un premio!...MANCHADO DE VERGÜENZA: El ayuntamiento de Cadiz al Ilustre NarcoTerrorista Uribe Velez
Noticias - Sociedad
Sábado, 10 de Enero de 2009 23:00
MARCOS CAMACHO

Así es, el ayuntamiento presidido por Doña Teófila Martínez, líder del derechista Partido Popular de Cádiz inaugura la edición del "Premio a la Libertad" dentro de los Premios Cortes de Cádiz concediendo la distinción al Presidente de Colombia Don Álvaro Uribe Vélez, por sus esfuerzos en pro de la libertad; el alto jurado compuesto por Lorenzo del Río Fernández, Presidente de la Audiencia Provincial de Cádiz; Rafael Sánchez Saus, Director de la Real Academia Hispano Americana; Miguel González Saucedo, Presidente de la Confederación de Empresarios de Cádiz, entre otros, acordó por unanimidad otorgar este reconocimiento Al señor Uribe.

Teniendo en cuenta las presumibles cualidades intelectuales del jurado, seguro no debe ser producto de error o un simple desconocimiento de la situación colombiana; ellos deben conocer, como conoce ya el pueblo colombiano y la comunidad internacional el verdadero rostro del Señor Uribe, quien mantiene sumido a su país en una larga noche oscura y horrible.

El premio reza que el Señor Uribe "al frente de las fuerzas armadas y de seguridad patrias están contribuyendo a la erradicación del terrorismo con constancia y corazón grande".

Este eminente jurado presidido por la alcaldesa debe conocer, como ya lo conocen los pueblos, que el circulo político que lo llevó al poder al señor Uribe en dos ocasiones, mantiene intimas relaciones con los grupos ultraderechistas paramilitares, asesinos confesos de decenas de miles de personas, que sembraron valles y montañas de cadáveres, tintaron indeleblemente con sangre de campesinos e indígenas inocentes los ríos de Colombia, que arrancaron por medio de la violencia a millones de seres humanos de sus pequeños terruños, condenándolos a vivir la marginalidad y el hambre en los cinturones de miseria de las ciudades, o al destierro definitivo en alguna ciudad Europea, donde son señalados xenófobamente por algunos partidos de la derecha como ciudadanos de segunda.

Este eminente jurado presidido por la alcaldesa debe conocer, como ya lo conocen los pueblos, que al hombre que premiaron a nombre de la libertad, es comandante en jefe de unas fuerzas armadas que hace pocos meses como practica habitual, raptaba cientos de jóvenes civiles e inocentes para vestirlos de guerrilleros y matarlos a sangre fría, para luego ser cobardemente presentados como trofeos de guerra, en un circo mediático macabro y condenable.

Este eminente jurado presidido por la alcaldesa debe conocer, como ya lo conocen los pueblos; que a las fuerzas militares que elogiaron con este premio, han sido condenadas repetidas veces en instancias internacionales por masacres cometidas contra mujeres, niños y ancianos, con ayuda de paramilitares, y que después de acometer sus crímenes, jugaban un partido de fútbol amistoso con la cabeza decapitada de una niña.

La alcaldesa de Cádiz, Doña Teofila Martínez, cuando entregue este premio al embajador de la República de Colombia en España a nombre del deseo gaditano; sentirá irremediablemente el lamento desesperado de las víctimas clamando justicia y solidaridad humana frente a sus verdugos y aquellos que los premian. Esta honorable señora debería entonces sentir un aire de vergüenza rozando sus mejillas y minimamente sonrojarse por tal exabrupto, aunque conociendo en profundidad al señor Álvaro Uribe Vélez, como le conoce, quizás Doña Teofila haga caso omiso de aquellos lamentos desesperados.
De esta manera nace un premio manchado de vergüenza, que pretende ser anual y que evidentemente solo enáltese los valores de libertad de poderosos criminales y desprestigiados por la humanidad.

El pueblo gaditano, andaluz y todos los pueblos no permitirán que en su nombre se elogie la barbarie, la demencia y guerra, empecemos ya!!!.

http://www.ciudadanosporlarepublica.info/noticias/sociedad/224-cadiz-n...

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pobrecito says on Jan 16, 2009, 12:22:

16 Enero 2009 - 7:55am

Sindicalistas españoles protestan por entrega de premio ibérico a Uribe

Por: Elespectador.com
Al señalar que en Colombia en sólo ocho meses 40 sindicalistas fueron asesinados o han desaparecido en Colombia, el sindicato Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT), uno de los mayoritarios en España, se mostró contrario a la concesión del I Premio a la Libertad Cortes de Cádiz al presidente Álvaro Uribe Vélez.

La coalición Izquierda Unida, la Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de Andalucía y Amnistía Internacional expresaron también anteriormente su disconformidad con la concesión de este galardón a Uribe.La sección de UGT de Cádiz calificó en un comunicado de "bochornoso" que se premie al presidente de un país, Colombia, "donde cada año se registran decenas de asesinatos y desapariciones de sindicalistas, líderes comunitarios y defensores de los derechos humanos". La Confederación Sindical Internacional (CSI) denunció en otro comunicado que los asesinatos, atentados y amenazas de muerte en Colombia contra sindicalistas continúan.Por todo ello, UGT, sindicato próximo al gubernamental Partido Socialista, señala que no puede compartir la decisión del Ayuntamiento de Cádiz de otorgar el primer Premio a la Libertad Cortes de Cádiz al presidente de un país "donde no se respetan los derechos humanos y se persigue y asesina a los representantes de los trabajadores". "Entendemos que este I Premio A la Libertad Cortes de Cádiz debe recaer en una persona o institución cuya trayectoria se corresponda, sin lugar a dudas, con conceptos como la libertad y la lucha por los derechos humanos en Iberoamérica", agregó el sindicato.El pasado 9 de enero el Ayuntamiento de la ciudad de Cádiz (Andalucía, sur de España) dio a conocer la decisión del jurado de distinguir a Uribe con este galardón "por su labor constante contra el terrorismo".

http://www.elespectador.com/articulo108203-sindicalistas-espanoles-pro...

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webmanco says on Jan 16, 2009, 17:57:

Proud for Uribe getting a Medal or a prize for what? starting his period with "mano dura" and now giving out money to whoever shows up with a kidnapped victim.

Get lost.

None of Colombian President deserves or needs any award from foreign countries.

Here is what GWB told Uribe,



The affair between GWB and Uribe is as sickening as Juanes and Bose

No hay extremo cierto o verdadero, porque los extremos opacan, enruedan, (lavan cerebros) verdades. Yotas

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Darloup says on Jan 16, 2009, 18:06:

You're right Webmanco. Only the Colombian people are the sole judge to give Uribe an approval rating of over 70%... That is worth any medal in my book...

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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