United States Green Berets have been flown into Colombia to train Colombian military troops to protect a key oil pipeline, which has been the target of repeated rebel attacks. The introduction of Special Forces soldiers demonstrates a marked shift in the scope of U.S. involvement in the turbulent civil war in Colombia. Prior to this latest wave of troops, U.S. training and involvement has been limited to coca eradication efforts and fighting cocaine production. However, President Bush, with the backing of Congress, has decided U.S. involvement should be expanded to help Colombia combat the rebels. The leftist rebels of the FARC movement are battling paramilitary groups and the administration of the state of Arauca, and have regularly bombed the pipeline in that area, which carries oil for the Los Angeles-based Occidental Petroleum across northern Colombia. The U.S. forces will train the Colombians in how to protect the pipeline and thwart rebel attacks.
