You know how the proponents of the so-called "free trade" deal with Colombia have argued that the U.S. just has to move ahead with the deal to show support for the great protectors of democracy in Colombia? Er…get me rewrite on those speeches. From Reuters on Monday:

Colombian government ministries and other state institutions are infiltrated by outlawed right-wing militias, a witness told judges in testimony on Friday that could further imperil a U.S. trade deal.  More than 60 members of Congress, most from President Alvaro Uribe’s conservative coalition, are being investigated for possible links to drug-running paramilitaries who have terrorized Colombia for years in the name of combating left-wing rebels.

    And, then, from the Associated Press yesterday:

Colombia’s chief prosecutor ordered the arrest of a second cousin of President Alvaro Uribe on Tuesday, bringing ascandal linking politicians and illegal paramilitary groups deeper into the president’s inner circle.

Former Sen. Mario Uribe, a close political ally of the president, was accused of criminal conspiracy for entering into "agreements to promote illegal armed groups," according to a statement on the prosecutor’s Web site.

    This isn’t really a surprise but it does make the "support democracy" a bit more strained. But, I have great faith in the pro so-called "free trade" folks to continue to make arguments for the deal–after all, even though promise after promise has not panned out when it comes to these deals, that has not stopped the "experts" in support of the so-called "Free trade" deals from continuing to spread more nonsense.