tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-94161205314098957 2013-11-29T11:58:53-05:00 Original reporting on little-known U.S. government funded foreign aid projects, so-called "drug war" initiatives, and overseas business subsidies. TypePad tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834515b9569e2019b01d898eb970c 2013-11-29T11:58:53-05:00 2013-11-29T11:58:53-05:00

Supporters of Barack Obama tout his dedication to the responsibilities of the presidency by noting that he had taken 96 days of vacation at the point in his term that President George W. Bush had taken a reported 335. But they admit that 51 of Bush’s trips were to his Texas ranch, while records show that Obama’s destinations have ranged from exotic European and African locales to pricey digs to Hawaii, where he’s sometimes traveled separately from his family, effectively doubling transportation costs for taxpayers.

Steve Peacock tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834515b9569e20168eb69966a970c 2012-05-10T15:41:34-04:00 2012-05-10T15:41:34-04:00

Following up on the exclusive report "Obama Crew's Colombian Hotels & Vehicles -- Without Hookers -- Costs a Million," U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor belatedly is making available the related contracting documents it had obtained.

Steve Peacock tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834515b9569e20168eb549dbd970c 2012-05-08T20:52:28-04:00 2012-05-10T15:43:33-04:00

Excluding the cost of Colombian prostitutes for U.S. Secret Service agents, U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor has discovered that hotel rooms and rental vehicles alone for President Obama's scandal-plagued trip to Colombia cost taxpayers nearly $1 million.

Steve Peacock tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834515b9569e20162ffefdc3e970d 2012-01-21T12:01:41-05:00 2012-01-21T12:01:41-05:00

USTDA, an independent White House agency, in recent weeks awarded several contracts and separately launched multiple initiatives in nations including Colombia, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, South Africa, Vietnam, and Turkey.

Steve Peacock tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834515b9569e2014e8c455f17970d 2011-10-15T10:24:14-04:00 2011-10-15T10:29:31-04:00

A $90 million contract aimed at creating jobs as well as strengthening local governments in Colombia has been awarded to Chemonics International by USAID.

Steve Peacock tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834515b9569e2014e8afbfa94970d 2011-08-26T22:34:30-04:00 2011-08-26T22:34:30-04:00

The Washington Post on Aug. 20 reported that the government of Colombia under former president Alvaro Uribe leveraged U.S. aid-dollars to carry out illegal political activities.

Steve Peacock tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834515b9569e2014e8ae4cb20970d 2011-08-23T19:13:45-04:00 2011-08-23T19:13:45-04:00

Although the Government of Colombia typically investigates allegations of human rights violations, its budget does not allocate enough funds to promote human rights and prevent violations; consequently, the Government of the United States instead will continue to force U.S. taxpayers to pay for such endeavors.

Steve Peacock tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834515b9569e2015434694d2f970c 2011-08-10T14:52:02-04:00 2011-08-10T18:14:02-04:00

A privately contracted, five-year global counterdrug program valued upwards of $15 billion is a year away from expiring—and the U.S. Dept. of Defense (DoD) wants to assess the capabilities of potential prime contractors in advance of the August 23, 2012, expiration date.

Steve Peacock tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834515b9569e2015433774b8b970c 2011-07-04T13:50:15-04:00 2011-07-04T13:50:15-04:00

Round Three of a U.S.-funded human rights initiative in Colombia is expected to be revealed later in the year, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) said on Friday.

Steve Peacock tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834515b9569e2014e890de19b970d 2011-06-10T21:12:58-04:00 2011-06-10T21:12:58-04:00

The U.S. Army plans to build an "intelligence fusion center" in the remote geographic center of Colombia.

Steve Peacock