LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Colombia: South America
built 630 days ago
Colombia is home to a large left-wing guerrilla force, the FARC (and a lesser one, the ELN [National Liberation Army]. The Americans badly want the FARC defeated, supposedly because it plays a big part in the drugs trade. So they pile up invective and military hardware against it, in the guise of anti-drugs support. A recent \\$290m aid package includes the equipping of the Colombian helicopter fleet with 20mm cannons, supposedly for use in crop eradication. Previous military aid was listed in Washington as "category 4," for operations not involving hostilities. The 1998 package went through as category 2, for military operations short of war.
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In 2005, Colombia was the largest producer in Latin America of coal (59 million tons) and ferronickel (39,696 tons). It historically has been the world's leading producer of emeralds, although production has fallen in recent years. In 2005, it was 6.74 million carats, generating $72 million in revenue. Colombia is ... a significant producer of gold, silver, and platinum.
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Colombia has one of the higher masculinity rankings in Latin America (64). This indicates the country experiences a higher degree of gender differentiation of roles. The male dominates a significant portion of the society and power structure.
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Colombia's economy suffers from weak domestic and foreign demand, austere government budgets, and serious internal armed conflict, but seems poised for recovery. Other economic problems facing President URIBE range from reforming the pension system to reducing high unemployment. Two of Colombia's leading exports, oil and coffee, face an uncertain future; new exploration is needed to offset declining oil production, while coffee harvests and prices are depressed. On the positive side, several international financial institutions have praised the economic reforms introduced by URIBE, which includes measures designed to reduce the public-sector deficit below 2.5% of GDP in 2004. The government's economic policy and democratic security strategy have engendered a growing sense of confidence in the economy, particularly within the business sector, and GDP growth in 2003 was among the highest in Latin America.
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Colombia did not participate in the world cup qualifying rounds from 1930 to 1954 but were quite active. They went on to win the Central American Cup in 1946, a cup they would win again in 1970. Colombia would first enter World Cup qualifying in the 1958 qualifiers but were unsuccessful. Colombia tied with Uruguay in Bogotá 1-1 but lost in Montevideo 1-0. Later, Colombia narrowly lost against Paraguay 3-2 in Bogotá and later in Asunción 3-0 leaving Colombia at the bottom of CONMEBOL Group 3 with 1 point.
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Prior to the Spanish conquest, Colombia was inhabited by Chibcha, sub-Andean, and Caribbean peoples, all of whom lived in organized, agriculturally based communities. After the Spanish conquest, which began in 1525, the area of present-day Colombia formed the nucleus of New Granada (for colonial history, see New Granada). The struggle for independence was, as in all Spanish-American possessions, precipitated by the Napoleonic invasion of Spain. The revolution was... foreshadowed by the rising of the comuneros.
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