Source:Orange County Registernews,page 22
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Reuters

SAN JOSE,Costa RicaThe United States wants to send military planes and
warships to Central America and the Caribbean to help local police forces
intercept drug shipments,Costa Rica's security minister said Tuesday.

The farreaching plan aims to expand upon intelligencesharing agreements
that the United States already has with many countries in the region,
Security Minister Laura Chinchilla said.

Washington has asked countries in the region to allow U.S. warships and
planes to use their territorial waters and airspace to track down other
vessels and airacraft suspected of carrying drugs.

Chinchilla showed documents outlining the U.S. offer.

The large scope of the proposal likely would have serious diplomatic and
political implications in small countries long wary of the colossus to the
north.

"Even though in the particular case of Costa Rica we are in agreement in
principle with the U.S. offer, we have sent the matter to the Attorney
General's Office so that it can offer an opinion," Chinchilla said.