ZAKARIA: President, thank you to much for joining us.
URIBE: Thank you for inviting me.
ZAKARIA: OK, so tell me about the war against narco-terrorism. This has been a war that has gone on for 40 years in Colombia. By all accounts you have been quite successful, some would say very successful, in the last few years. What do you think was the key to the success?
URIBE: Our aim is to liberate Colombia from this long nightmare. Therefore, we fight with all our determination to overcome this problem for the new generation of Colombia to enjoy peace in our country, the peace my generation has been unable to enjoy.
The more we advance in defeating narco-terrorism in Columbia, the better for our neighbors because the less the possibility for them to suffer this tragedy. Therefore, I am hopeful that at the end, instead of criticism, we will receive support.
ZAKARIA: But you also hit these narco-terrorists very hard militarily.
URIBE: Of course, of course, with all the determination, without any doubt.
ZAKARIA: And in doing that, you got a lot of help from the United States.
URIBE: The United States has helped Colombia. The United States has been a loyal partner in this fight.
ZAKARIA: But you know that in Latin America there are lots of people who criticize you. They say you've become an American base, there are American troops all over your country. How have you withstood this criticism? Has there been a sense that you're an American puppet?
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