It's not easy being Colombia's 1st left-wing president
NPR Online NewsFeb 27
Petro: Colombia's Military Lost Ammunition, Grenades, and Missiles
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Image copyright: Guillermo Legaria/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
During a press conference on Tuesday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro blamed the disappearance of millions of rounds of ammunition, thousands of grenades, and numerous missiles on internal corruption within the country's military.
The missing items came to light during a surprise inspection at two military bases, Tolemaida and La Guajira, between Feb. 12 and April 1. According to Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez, the probe was still underway.
The Spin
Narrative A
Corruption is a sickness that has crept across Colombia's military. Some military officers sell state property to international arms traffickers for personal gain, thus fueling the illegal weapons market. This is equipment that, in the wrong hands, may harm and kill Colombian troops or decimate countries like Haiti. Inspections will continue until the entire extent of this criminal conduct is identified and shut down.
Narrative B
Petro is a controversial president, a leftist, and a former member of the M-19 rebel organization. It's ironic he discusses military corruption when several members of his family have either been indicted — like his son or will be charged shortly, like his brother, for accepting payments from drug traffickers in exchange for judicial privileges from the Petro administration. Halfway through his four-year term, President Petro has some convincing to do to persuade Colombia's citizens that he can restore peace.
