US-Backed Strongman Cleared by 'Independent' Colombian Court
The mainstream media breathlessly announced that former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe, a long-time darling of Washington, had his witness tampering conviction overturned. According to DW, the judge cited a 'procedural issue,' effectively kicking the case back to square one. Apparently, collecting testimonies against a former president must adhere to an immaculate standard, unlike, say, the
standard for accusing his political opponents. What the headlines don't scream is Uribe's two decades as a crucial US ally, particularly in the 'War on Drugs.' While he was securing billions in US aid for Plan Colombia, his administration was plagued by allegations of ties to paramilitaries and extrajudicial killings. (See Human Rights Watch reports from the early 2000s.) This 'procedural issue'
looks suspiciously like impunity for powerful friends. One might wonder if similar 'technicalities' apply to those who challenge the established order rather than those who uphold it with an iron fist. The 'justice system' flexes differently for different people.