Tomorrow, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe will leave office, and his successor, Juan Manuel Santos, will be inaugurated. Santos was elected on June 20 with an astonishing 69% of the popular vote, not least because the former defense minister has pledged to continue many of Uribe's policies.

U.S. Chamber President Tom Donohue had this to say in the Latin Business Chronicle: "President Uribe is one of history's great men. He saved his country. It's that simple."

Uribe's legacy is impressive:

Public Safety: Colombia's homicide rate was cut in half and kidnappings were reduced by 90%. Law and order have been restored in rural municipalities. Right-wing paramilitaries have been disarmed, with more than 40,000 fighters demobilized. Uribe made dozens of peace overtures to the left-wing FARC and ELN guerrilla groups that have fought the government for half a century; on present course, desertions will lead to these groups' demise within a few more years.

Labor Unions: U.S. labor unions continue to claim Colombian trade unionists are targets of violence. However, homicide rates are nearly three times higher in the United States (5.4 per 100,000) than among Colombian labor union members (1.9 per 100,000). A resident of the District of Columbia is 17 times more likely to be murdered than a Colombian trade unionist. Far from being persecuted, Colombia's labor unions expanded their membership by more than 50% during the Uribe administration.

Education and Health Care: Nearly 90% of Colombian children are enrolled in school, up from 71% before Uribe took office. Currently, 73% of Colombians have health care coverage, up from 54% in 2002.

Narcotics Trafficking: Coca production in Colombia has been reduced by 40% over the past decade, according to the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy. Since 2000, Colombian security forces have interdicted cocaine and heroin shipments with an estimated street value between $35 billion and $40 billion.

Economy: The Colombian economy expanded strongly during most of the Uribe administration. Exports tripled, investment from abroad quintupled, and the number of international tourists visiting Colombia doubled. The World Bank now rates Colombia as the most business friendly country in Latin America. Colombia now has 11 free trade agreements covering 47 countries and 1.4 billion consumers, including one with Canada that is will enter into force within weeks.

We'll give Tom Donohue the last word: "President Uribe rallied his fellow citizens with his ideals, and he never compromised in his defense of democracy and economic freedom. The fact that he leaves office with the landmark U.S.-Colombia trade agreement unrealized is not a blemish on his record but on Washington's. Luckily, we have the example of his perseverance, which we'll remember as we work to secure the agreement's final approval."