Is Chavez admitting an alliance with FARC?
posted at 1:50 pm on March 2, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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The juxtaposition of events in Colombia and Venezuela give a compelling indication that Hugo Chavez has allied himself with FARC, the terrorist rebels just across his border. The day after the Columbians managed to kill FARC’s second in command, Chavez moved ten battalions to the border, threatening war against the US-allied government in Bogota, which he called “criminal”:
President Hugo Chavez on Sunday ordered 10 battalions of troops to the border with Colombia after Colombia’s military killed a top rebel leader.
Chavez told his defense minister: “move 10 battalions for me to the border with Colombia, immediately.” He also ordered the Venezuelan Embassy in Colombia closed and said all embassy personnel would be withdrawn.
The move threatens to bring the US into open conflict with Chavez for the first time. We have allied ourselves with the Colombian government to eradicate narco-traffickers as well as to help them eliminate the threat from FARC. The terrorist group still holds Americans, having kidnapped them years ago after a plane crash in territory under their control.
We saw a hint of this six weeks ago. Chavez demanded that Latin American nations recognize FARC (as well as a few other terrorist groups) as “legitimate armies” despite their track record of kidnapping and drug trafficking. As the Washington Post noted, even allies of Chavez balked at that notion. Now it looks as though Chavez will take Venezuela to war to support these terrorists, hoping to undermine President Alvaro Uribe and the democratic government in Colombia.
He’s taking his first steps to making himself a menace to the entire hemisphere rather than just to the Venezuelans.
If those battalions move across the border, Chavez had better expect a volley of cruise missiles at his command and control centers. The US will not allow Chavez to topple the elected government in Colombia. It would probably provide the only possible reason Washington would use military force against Chavez, and even this skeptical Congress would have little choice but to support the defense of an American ally under attack from a hostile nation.
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Zero. On the oil issue, we need to be aware that it’s a fungible product, so if we don’t buy “Hugo’s” oil, China will. All that happens when we refuse to buy oil from a given source is that the supply chains go through a reorganization. I don’t know this, but I suspect that the result is a dramatic increase in short term cost, and decrease in short term supply.
Jaibones on March 2, 2008 at 6:57 PM
It’s Chavez who rattling sabres and moving battalions to the Colombian border but yeah diplomacy should be thge first option.
aengus on March 2, 2008 at 6:58 PM
Take it easy on President Piggy. I doubt if he’d take Obama’s advice since BHO is to the left of Chavez.
obamacide on March 2, 2008 at 6:59 PM
I’m watching this really close, this is getting me all pumped.
gr8inferno on March 2, 2008 at 7:01 PM
That said, I love Dad’s idea about whacking Hugo. It would be morally wrong to kill a bunch of Venezuelan soldiers who probably hate the son of a pig anyway.
Maybe we should do this on the cheap, and offer an international bounty on his fat, dead ass. Throw out $2 or $3 million bucks to whomever delivers his filthy, rotting carcass to the U.S. embassy of their choosing. Small, unmarked bills.
I believe we spend $2-3 million just turning one of the carrier groups around.
OK, fine. $5 million.
Jaibones on March 2, 2008 at 7:02 PM
Perfect!
Geministorm on March 2, 2008 at 7:05 PM
I must continue to point out the continued success that the UN has had. Sure there have been a few small let downs but on the whole the world would be a very violent and dangerous place with that organization. We simply need to give them the time they need to protect and take care of us.
Mormon Doc on March 2, 2008 at 7:05 PM
Hey Mormon Doc, don’t we need to see the UN resolve an issue before we have faith in them?
Seems to me the UN fails at every turn to do anything…oh, besides swindling money I mean.
Geministorm on March 2, 2008 at 7:07 PM
I think maybe I’m missing the sarcasm here?
Geministorm on March 2, 2008 at 7:07 PM
Behold, behold, the MoveOn idol apres Castro.
petefrt on March 2, 2008 at 7:10 PM
The thing the UN needs is the ability levy a tax on the US so that it has enough money to carry out its important responsbilities. If only Congress would stop playing politics with this issue and give the UN the power it needs to impose taxation then the UN could really make some important strides.
Mormon Doc on March 2, 2008 at 7:11 PM
OK…i’m sorry. I couldn’t resist. I won’t keep up the charade. It’s harder than I realized to hold a completely indefensable position.
Mormon Doc on March 2, 2008 at 7:17 PM
A couple of years ago when we learned the little Venezuelan tinpot communist, coca-freak dictator Hugo Chavez was buying up everything from AK-47s to Sukhoi jets, he wanted to start a war at some point in South America. It looks like now is the time.
And if this isn’t the most ridiculous damn thing I have ever heard, I don’t know what is. Only thing the UN deserves is their walking papers OUT OF THE U.S. !!!
jimbo2008 on March 2, 2008 at 7:22 PM
Let me get this straight, Jimbo,
Colombia bombs Ecuador, so Hugo Chavez wants to start a war?
Pretzel logic indeed.
alphie on March 2, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Colombia’s more hardened, experienced military would eventually bloody Chavez’s softer, highly political military. I predict Chavaez would personally micro-manage his military’s efforts leading to many missteps. The bigger threat would be Chavez dragging in Bolivia, Ecuador and even Argentina on his side sparking a continental war in South America. He is a fool and will eventually over-step his influence of free money and lose everything including his freedom and perhaps his life.
De Oppresso Liber,
surfergod on March 2, 2008 at 7:31 PM
Been out of touch today and trying catch up on the news…
Where is Brazil on this? I know they have a populist/lefty in power but the last thing Brazil would want is a war on it’s northern frontier. Like Turkey, the military there holds tremendous influence over the political climate. Without Brazil in his back pocket I don’t see how Chavez could topple the Columbian government. Or is this all his ‘aspirin factory’ to get his people distracted from his own failings? Any SA-guru’s among us?
Limerick on March 2, 2008 at 7:37 PM
Saw this comming a mile away, back when Chavez was buying up all the weapons he could get his hands on.
Little problem for Hugo though: to claim victory his army must invade, occupy and establish control over an entire nation, and knock over it’s government. Colombia’s conditions for victory are far more easily attained: torch Venezuela’s oil fields, made even easier when they have assistance from the good ‘ol USN.
Unless of course Chavez is doing this because he has some sort of guarentee that this current U.S. congress would vehemently block or deny any substantial military aid to Colombia in the event he invades…
SuperCool on March 2, 2008 at 7:49 PM
Is that G.W. Bush or B. Obama? Because honestly they both really do look like Curious George.
Tzetzes on March 2, 2008 at 7:49 PM
On what planet??? The UN is corrupt and useless and I can’t wait until they get off American soil.
Does anyone know if we’ve paid the money they say we owe? Hope not.
CCRWM on March 2, 2008 at 7:52 PM
….would be the end of any and all credibility the U.S. has tried to build back up since the debacle of 75.
Limerick on March 2, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Oh come now, I think you are giving Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and their ilk entirely too much credit. Who knows though, they may jump on the chance to support it in order to undermine Bush and our Iraq mission. That would be the ONLY reason that they would act like they were supporting Columbia or Bush in this matter.
darwin-t on March 2, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Bomb, Bomb, Bomb….
Bomb, Venezuela…
Does not have the same poetic ring as “Bomb, Bomb, Iran”
JayHaw Phrenzie on March 2, 2008 at 8:01 PM
Sometimes I think we give him more credit as a threat than he deserves.
Let’s focus on one thing here, it was the Venezuelan military led by Gen Baduel that forced Chavez to accept the results of the December referendum, Do any of you actually think they’re going to back any military action against a country that didn’t do anything to them. Chavez already has low approval ratings since the referendum and since the Venezuelan people can’t get milk, eggs, or flour on their grocery store shelves.
read the blogs for yourselves, especially the first one, from a guy who lives on the Columbian border in Venezuela:
Pcoop on March 2, 2008 at 8:10 PM
here are the links, don’t know why they didn’t post.
http://daniel-venezuela.blogspot.com
http://blogs.salon.com/0001330/
http://caracaschronicles.blogspot.com/
Pcoop on March 2, 2008 at 8:12 PM
It’s interesting to see whom someone like Chavez chooses as his friends, and whom as his enemies.
Enemies: the United States; hyperpower.
Friends: Cuba and Iran. Cuba can’t feed its own people or build anything more complex than a cigar. Iran’s economy is propped up by the tripling of the international oil market, without which it would collapse.
Whilst picking fights with his enemies, he might consider how, exactly, his friends are going to help him.
Jaibones on March 2, 2008 at 8:13 PM
Colombia is spelled with an “o” unless you’re referring to British Columbia… it’s been bugging me…
CCRWM on March 2, 2008 at 8:15 PM
I’ll be in Colombia starting tmmw.
All I can say is bring it on. Have contacts in Colombian military that have gamed and trained for this conflict for the past 4 years. The commies won’t last 10 days against the battle hardened Colombian army. Only plus Chavez has is his airforce. Enough pussyfooting around. No Diplomacy. Lets get this on! Lets take this Obama supporter down now!
elduende on March 2, 2008 at 8:19 PM
I call it “Coca Logic” alph :)
jimbo2008 on March 2, 2008 at 8:20 PM
My bad. As usual.
Limerick on March 2, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Dear God, I just hope they don’t make a move without consulting with our Venezuelan experts Sean Penn, Danny Glover, and Tyra Banks.
Sugar Land on March 2, 2008 at 8:27 PM
Or Columbia the river, space shuttle, American sailing vessel, or icon….
Geministorm on March 2, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Enough playing around lets just Nuke em and `go home. No loss of troops. No wasted hot air from politicians. No Useless N.
Show the world we still have a backbone. Then I woke up. What a great dream.
tengger on March 2, 2008 at 8:36 PM
I was beginning to worry there MormonDoc, but try a /sarc tag next time
Sekhmet on March 2, 2008 at 8:52 PM
I’mactually going to be in Venezuela in two weeks. That’s why I’m talking to my family and everyone I know down there. I’m not going to worry unless they tell me there’s something to worry about.
Pcoop on March 2, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Hugo’s oil is very, very heavy and full of sulfur. For now, at least, China cannot refine it. Only refineries in Venezuela and the US can handle it.
If we stop buying their oil - no one else CAN buy it. They’re down to about 30 days worth of foreign currency, and they’re totally dependent on imports for basic things like food. Aside from oil, most of their foreign currency comes from assets owned abroad - like Citgo. Which the US can seize, to pay Colombia for war damage.
And - just as an aside - the US can destroy his air force on the ground in about an hour.
Mr. Chavez sees how close his economy is to falling over, even with the high price of oil. He’s doing the same thing Sadat did in 73, and the Junta did in the Falklands - start a war to rally the people. He’s counting on the Democrat Congress and the election to keep the US out of it. If he’s wrong, he’s gone - quickly.
Bombast on March 2, 2008 at 8:57 PM
I blame Simon Bolivar…
mojo on March 2, 2008 at 8:59 PM
I’m sending you the doctor’s bill I incurred from the stroke I had after reading your joke missives. :)
On the plus side, I thought we now knew Nancy Pelosi’s blog screen name. :p
I’m still laughing at this one. :)
Back OT: it would obviously be best if a diplomatic solution was reached for this latest Chavez outrage, but he seems to be making it more and more clear that he wants a fight with somebody. ANYBODY.
At the end of the day I’m not so sure a US cruise missle giving him a little good morning kiss would be such a bad thing for the US and the free world.
MannyT-vA on March 2, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Prediction:
If Venezuela invades Columbia …
US at first stays out of it, just gives condemnations. Columbia holds its own, but Venezuela gets a battle victory. US “advises” Columbia. Venezuela embargoes its oil against US. US warships blockade Venezuela. Venezuela intenifies attack on Columbia. US cruise missiles and airforce bomb Venezuela.
Then …
Bush gets blamed for the entire war. The Israeli ambassador is spotted having dinner in a restaurant in Bogota. UN condemns Israel for interfering and existing, mostly existing.
hadsil on March 2, 2008 at 9:22 PM
Chavez needs to have the living snot smacked out of him by someone “smaller” than he is. That generally takes care of bullies for a while. Maybe arming Columbia with what it might take to eliminate those 10 battalions would be interesting.
Of course, what would be funnier would be for the troops to cross into Columbia with all their equipment and ask for asylum.
crosspatch on March 2, 2008 at 9:22 PM
Brazil’s not going to put a dog in this fight. There is no love loss between Lula and Chavez after Evo (Chavez puppet) cancelled Petrobras’ contract in the gas fields of Bolivia. That being said why would Brazil give a crap about this? The military had sway when the country was run by a military junta, but the peaceful transfer of power after legit elections is the first and greatest sign of a maturing democracy.
sweeper on March 2, 2008 at 9:22 PM
How will that Kennedy kid in Massachusetts get the discount oil to heat the homes of Mass. liberals if Hugo is history?
JiangxiDad on March 2, 2008 at 9:39 PM
And - just as an aside - the US can destroy his air force on the ground in about an hour.
Yeah but without our assistance, Colombian forces are outclassed by the Venezuelan Air Force. They’ll have to cede part of the battlespace to the Venezuelans (at least initially.)
Colombian aircraft (they fly a limited number of Israeli made Kfirs and French Mirages (last deployed to San Andres Island after Ortega and the Nicaraguans threatend to invade the islands in December) and Cessna Dragonflies for COIN) and air defense, which is rudimentary at best, will be hard-pressed by the Venezuelans.
No Diplomacy! No more talk! lets get it on!
Muerte a Chavez! Muerte a Musulmanes! Muerte a Comunistas! Viva America! Viva Colombia!
elduende on March 2, 2008 at 9:43 PM
The CIA says:
Colombia is an illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world’s leading coca cultivator with 144,000 hectares in coca cultivation in 2005, a 26% increase over 2004, producing a potential of 545 mt of pure cocaine; the world’s largest producer of coca derivatives; supplies cocaine to most of the US market and the great majority of other international drug markets.
I’d rather have the oil than the coke, Jiang.
Colombian cocaine plus Afghanistan regaining its position as the world’s leading supplier of heroin under the Pubs…and I begin to doubt their “war” on drugs.
alphie on March 2, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Brazil does have a national interest to control if not eliminate the narcoterrorist FARC. Brazil does not want the FARC cancer to spread into the northern border area of Brazil, which will eventually occur if the FARC allied with Chavez defeats the Colombian military.
De Oppresso Liber,
surfergod on March 2, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Do we not have a spare CIA agent or sniper to send down there to take him out once and for all? His brain is seriously in need of a bullet.
Gartrip on March 2, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Please please please bring it on, Hugo. And when the U.S. swoops in to save the day for the Columbians, the world will once again see the dominance of our military as they face a “legitimate” army, rather than cowardice suicide bombers.
Grafted on March 2, 2008 at 9:52 PM
The Bush Administration has been praying for an excuse to get rid of Chavez since he took power. The guy knows it too. He can’t be that stupid. Can’t be.
NorthernCross on March 2, 2008 at 9:53 PM
Direct military assistance, no I don’t think they would. But material and arms support, yes I think they might. The FARC airfields in Brazil have been bombed by their airforce.
They only possess a couple dozen fighter aircraft, but over 100 close/ground attack aircraft. I can’t see Brazil sitting back while Chavez tries to become Bolivar. A Colombia (yeaaaa I spelled it right)/Venezeula alliance would not be in Brazil’s interest.
Limerick on March 2, 2008 at 10:04 PM
No war necessary. Maybe Bush can send more ammonia in Chavez’s direction again.
Travis1 on March 2, 2008 at 10:23 PM
My Portuguese is indeed weak, but I check out the news from Brazil daily. The people clearly have no desire for the military to use resources in an intranational drug conflict when there is so much to do at home.
Hard to send resources to assist Colombia when your favelas are over run with drug lords. Lula is indeed a poplulist and also pragmatic.
Help Colombia: piss off your left wing.
Send resources away from domestic needs: piss off your right wing.
sweeper on March 2, 2008 at 10:25 PM
BTW check out CNNs banner now. The battle is drawn.
sweeper on March 2, 2008 at 10:27 PM
Thanks sweeper. I have a 1970s lens on the area, and I realize that the world has changed a lot since I was in SA and CA.
Limerick on March 2, 2008 at 10:29 PM
I have a theory that this is really a smoke screen to take everyone’s mind off the fact that his cronies have been walking thru Miami with suitcases full of money.
Pcoop on March 2, 2008 at 10:30 PM
alphie on March 2, 2008 at 9:46 PM
And the answer is to let Venezuela take over the coke and cannabis? At least we can work with the Colombian government on the problem…
Math_Mage on March 2, 2008 at 10:33 PM
don’t forget to open another front besides Gaza and lebanon and Syria.Hugo and Ahmadinejad are pals.
JiangxiDad on March 2, 2008 at 10:37 PM
what a strange week it going to be. War in South America, Isreal bombing the hack out of Gaza, Iran crazy president in Iraq. What is next, Syria invading Isreal?
BroncosRock on March 2, 2008 at 10:49 PM
No war necessary. Maybe Bush can send more ammonia in Chavez’s direction again.
Travis1 on March 2, 2008 at 10:23 PM
Make that read “Sulfur”
Travis1 on March 2, 2008 at 10:53 PM
It will be interesting to see the reaction from the anti-war left over this saber rattling by one of their heroes, especially Cindy Sheehan who is a huge supporter of the Marxist dictator and is seen embracing Chavez in these photos. If she and others who claim to be anti-war do not come out publicly and condemn his actions then it will prove once and for all they are not really anti-war, but rather they are anti-American.
brutus1964 on March 2, 2008 at 10:55 PM
I haven’t had time to read all the comments so, perhaps someone has already made this comment. It seems to me that the biggest threat to Venezuala is Chavez’s mouth. It is really gonna get them in big trouble if he keeps letting it shoot off like that.
They make gun locks to keep accidental discharges from happening. Do you think they will make a mouth lock for Chavez?
boomer on March 2, 2008 at 10:59 PM
I posted earlier: Ok everyone it is Colombia with an o. Remember both Chavez and the prez of Ecuador are leftist. Previous Ecuadorian govt was not. Hence FARC thinks they can get away with it. Now that chavez sees that they can’t he is panicked because he too has FARC hiding in the Orinoco basin and up in the NW part of his country. The tanks and troops aren’t for invasion but to protect the FARC. I’ve lived in Colombia for 20 years and know these snakes. I know the Secretariat members of FARC are quite nervous and have called on their left wing prezez to protect them. Go get ‘em Bush & Uribe!
wepeople on March 2, 2008 at 4:44 PM
NOW reports are in that Colombia captured documents in the Ecuador raid that show clear ties with President Correa of Ecuador & FARC! Birds of a feather. And Chavez is calling Reyes an honorable revolutionary. These pigs have a lot of blood on their hands.
wepeople on March 2, 2008 at 11:17 PM
Hope this isn’t a copy of another commenter’s link, but saw this secondary story on CNN through their Time outlet…
It is all our fault….
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1718765,00.html
Limerick on March 2, 2008 at 11:24 PM
In the Puerto Aracucha area?
a capella on March 2, 2008 at 11:25 PM
Hostilities, even the manipulated threat of which could mean martial law and instant dictator for life Hugo.
Iran allied dictator Hugo keeps a long dirty needle festering US interests and with Iranian collusion manipulates the oil trade to the misery of the US market and a nuclear Iran, with a liberal Pres. and a liberal Congress the debacle could be stratospheric.
IMHO
Speakup on March 2, 2008 at 11:35 PM
The BBC is reporting that Columbia captured documents linking FARC and Ecuador’s President.
William Amos on March 2, 2008 at 11:36 PM
So now with Ecuador trying to inject itself into this cavalcade, it’s only a matter of time before ‘ol Evo from Bolivia throws his (large) weight behind Chavez. The question is, will Argentina’s “vaunted” female president, Cristina, follow?
MB007 on March 2, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Well, now with Ecuador joining this cavalcade, it’s only a matter of time before ‘ol Evo of Bolivia does the same. Will Argentina’s “vaunted” female president, Cristina, do the same? Could this be the opening volley of nuevo dictador of Cuba, Raul?
MB007 on March 2, 2008 at 11:47 PM
Watch the carries. You’ll know the US is going to be getting involved if a Carrier battle group is in the Theater of Operations.
McBaine on March 3, 2008 at 12:03 AM
We should support our allies 100% with defensive assistance including air and possibly ground military support if necessary.
Dollayo on March 3, 2008 at 2:48 AM
Not entirely true. Venezuelan crude has different characteristics than most other crude and needs specialized refineries, which are mostly in the US.
It would take a while for China to get those kind of refineries up and going.
firepilot on March 3, 2008 at 2:53 AM
If Venezuela is in some kind of unofficial or covert alliance with the terrorist group, the FARC, then that could make them a “State Sponsor of Terror.” That means:
“Countries determined by the Secretary of State to have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism are designated pursuant to three laws: section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act, section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act, and section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act. Taken together, the four main categories of sanctions resulting from designation under these authorities include restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance; a ban on defense exports and sales; certain controls over exports of dual use items; and miscellaneous financial and other restrictions.” Personally, I think it’s TLAM time for Hugo.
NNtrancer on March 3, 2008 at 4:12 AM
By the way, those other miscellaneous restrictions include:
Requiring the United States to oppose loans by the World Bank and other international financial institutions;
Lifting diplomatic immunity to allow families of terrorist victims to file civil lawsuits in U.S. courts;
Denying companies and individuals tax credits for income earned in terrorist-listed countries;
Denial of duty-free treatment of goods exported to the United States;
Authority to prohibit any U.S. citizen from engaging in a financial transaction with a terrorist-list government without a Treasury Department license; and
Prohibition of Defense Department contracts above $100,000 with companies controlled by terrorist-list states.
NNtrancer on March 3, 2008 at 4:14 AM
what a strange week it going to be. War in South America, Isreal bombing the hack out of Gaza, Iran crazy president in Iraq. What is next, Syria invading Isreal?
BroncosRock on March 2, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Yeah, because those are totally unusual and unprecedented events. Probably the most unusual is that Ahmadinejad is in Iraq, given that Hussein wasn’t on great terms with him; the other two are pretty much commonplace AFAIK.
Math_Mage on March 3, 2008 at 4:35 AM
With the whole world ganging up on Israel for protecting herself and with that fat ape in Venezuela edging into armed conflict, the American electorate are being a stark reminder that there are real bad guys out there.
The world needs a strong US. I hope this situation wakes people up. I hope that Dems who haven’t totally lost their minds, realise the stakes and don’t gamble the world’s future on a folly like BHO.
Out of the three candidates, I would like to say I trust McCain the most. Strangely, I’m veering towards Hilary these days. I see McCain and I doubt his sanity. Hilary has the safest hands.
uptight on March 3, 2008 at 5:04 AM
Yeah, that’s worked well for everybody, especially when the Venezuelan/Iranian tractor plant in Venezuela recently closed shop
Pcoop on March 3, 2008 at 6:51 AM
Exactly, Hugo may be insane but he’s not stpid. He’s all bark in this case.
read on:
http://caracaschronicles.blogspot.com/2008_02_10_caracaschronicles_archive.html
look for the article entitled: I am not taking my hand off of this hot stove until you say uncle!
Pcoop on March 3, 2008 at 6:57 AM
Why does anyone even bother to pay attention to anything this bug of a human being has to say about anything? He wants to be the second coming of Castro, and he’s failing miserably.
pilamaye on March 3, 2008 at 7:15 AM
Ya know that would make a heck of a movie plot. We are busy in Iraq and Afganistan. Then war breaks out in South America. We are forced to run in to defend out allies and make the mistake of leaving the homeland undefended. Then up from the south come Cuban and Russian armies to invade the southern US.
boomer on March 3, 2008 at 7:46 AM
Only to get their butts kicked by all the southern rednecks, via Red Dawn. Honestly, who would try to invade this country, we have the largest no-standing army in the world, everyday, gun-toting citizens…
Charger73 on March 3, 2008 at 9:10 AM
non-standing
Charger73 on March 3, 2008 at 9:10 AM
I played around in Columbia’s border regions for six years in the eighties providing conducting drug intervention and military training as part of the FID program. My first thought after reading this story was that outside of the major cities, 10 tank battalions would need 20 engineer battalions to clear the jungles and make the rivers and mountains passable. A few carefully placed ambushes on the major roads would tie that show up very quickly, especially on the western border region.
Also, things may have changed, but Equador has no business in the fight game from my observations. The Equadorian government was so poor and ill equipt that it requested our assistance in helping respond to a simple flood. The infrastructure was…lacking. The main roads were dirt, electricity was sparce and unreliable in the areas that did have it. Most “houses” were one room earth buildings, no glass in the windows, tin roofs. The troops I saw were malnourished old men and very young farm boys (14, 15 years old). Uniforms were a hodgepodge of tee shirts, sandals, old sneakers with no laces, you get the picture. Their 1950’s era weapons (water cooled 30 cal machine guns, old FN’s) were rusted and unserviceable. ANYTHING that wasn’t on your body would be stolen, we even had to post gaurd on our water buffalo because they they thought American water had majic in it. They were tiny, few were over 5 feet and even the NCO’s and officers were under 100 pounds, in their eyes even a relatively normal 5′10″ 200 pound Marine was a giant. Granted, my experiences were over 20 years ago and just one isolated slice of the country, but I feel pretty confident it is a fairly accurate thumbnail of the area as a whole.
Alden Pyle on March 3, 2008 at 9:19 AM
Wait…doesn’t that mean we’re banned by law from trading with them? I’ll guess we’ll have to take their oil without paying for it.
Jaibones on March 3, 2008 at 9:24 AM
ah……another witness of the worst jungle on the planet.
It ’twas a grand sight but one look was enough. Gotta agree about the E-troops and the defiles.
Hugo is counting on his 5-1 superiority in strike aircraft to cower Colombia. I wonder how well the Israeli Air Force trained those Colombian pilots.
Limerick on March 3, 2008 at 9:43 AM
Thereby making every Southerner’s dream come true.
TexasDan on March 3, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Were you there too, Limerick? We’d do 5 days in the triple canopy jungle and 3 days in the wire prepping to go back out. Burned alot of pot and coca fields. Got some preemo liberty to partake of the cuties and umbrella drinks in Caregena.
Heh, what you bring back? Took me 6 months, Keflex and various shots to clear my body of the various parasites: tape worms, chiggers, ticks, ring worm, dysentary, weird fungi in unspeakable places, etc.
Alden Pyle on March 3, 2008 at 10:49 AM
And if this turns out to be the case, then it’s an excellent opportunity to deal with this problem…
eanax on March 3, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Oh, man, don’t make me laugh. The Cuban Army? Right…
eanax on March 3, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Folk are missing a few things here…Forget Columbia, Chavez is really interested in Guayana to the East where better oil and minerals are the issue. Chavez has been making expansion noises into Guyana for a few months but has no case. Colombia is a diversion.
In addition, the US only needs to protect Columbia air space from the Chavez air force and blockade Venezuelan ports. No oil exports = no Chavez. We need not invade, attack or even fire a single shot into Venezueal. Just stop the oil flow for a month or so and keep the Chavez air force out of Columbia.
JIMV on March 3, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Spell-check time:
The signature characteristic of the Chavez regime is spelled:
FARCE!!
landlines on March 3, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Oh thank goodness, I knew you couldn’t be serious….
Liberty or Death on March 3, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Chavez doesn’t want war with Colombia, this is all CYA (cover your a**). If Colombia went into Ecuador to get at Reyes, they could easily go into Venezuela to get the FARC in their borders. Not only that but there was a press conference with the head of Bogata’s police saying they have docs that tie the FARC with Correa and Chavez. Hugo put troops on the border to prevent Colombia from getting at who he’s harboring, not to attack Colombia.
Pcoop on March 3, 2008 at 12:41 PM
This makes sense. I thought the documents just incriminated Correa, but if Chavez’s came also came up, doesn’t that technically make Venezuela a terrorist state?
a capella on March 3, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Here are the English translations of what has been released from Reyes’ laptop. Check out the part on Obama. I wonder who the “gringos” are? Very interesting…
http://bellipotentdocs.blogspot.com/
Golden Boy on March 3, 2008 at 1:23 PM
I hear what you’re saying and agree, but I don’t think he’ll invade Colombia because he’s stupid but because he’s a delusional leader with a rabid “all democracy is evil and must be eliminated” ideology combined with an inflated ego that blinds him to rational thought and decisions.
Chavez suffers from the same delusions of grandeur Saddam and Hitler had and if history is any teacher he more than likely will do something stupid, and stupid it would be if he invaded Colombia, just ask Saddam and Hitler how their delusions of grandeur worked out for them…oh wait, I forgot you can’t ask them because they’re DEAD!
Advice for El Grande Chavez, start reading your history books; those that forget the past are doomed to repeat its mistakes!
Liberty or Death on March 3, 2008 at 1:41 PM
I see that I am late commenting on this, but even though it’s Monday, I would like to throw in my two pesos worth from here in Bogota.
There are several components to this problem which do not appear at first impression.
1. Colombian Pres. Uribe has been going out of his way to stay silent in the face of the increasingly rude…even gross…utterances coming out of Caracas about him. It has been to no avail…Chavez just escalates his rhetoric. There are no limits on what he will say.
2. Some weeks ago, while propounding the idea that the FARC ought to be treated as a “belligerant” and that they had a legitimate “political project” in Colombia (which apparently includes blowing kids up with landmines), he said that Venezuela has a border with the FARC, not Colombia . This was meant to argue that Colombia does not control its frontiers; ergo, given that the FARC holds territory inside Colombia, it should be treated as a belligerant and a legitimate political player. The reality is different, of course; there are areas of Colombia that are dangerous, but the state has control over virtually the entire country.
3. When Chavez said, this past weekend, that Colombia ought not to do there what it did in Ecuador, it raised two possibilities. The first is that the FARC (contrary to Chavez’ protestations)in fact operates inside Venezuela, with the knowledge and support of the Venezuelan governemt. If this is true, then there are international law implications to this. The second possibility, of course, is that the FARC operates in the border areas without the knowledge of the Venezuelan governemt. If this is true, then it means that it is Colombia, and not Venezuela, which in fact has a border with the FARC.
4. Chavez may be nuts, but he has weaponry. They just bought 24 new Russian jet fighters, three new subs and are getting ready to order about 9 more. The newest and most modern aircraft in the Colombian Air Force are propeller driven. They actually are super modern…Brazilian Super Tucanos, which are ideal for air-ground operations…they have been the scourge of the FARC since they were obtained. That said, their existence as the backbone of the Colombia Air Force belies any suggestion that Colombia plans aggression against Venezuela (Colombia has about 12 old KFIR’s which are being refitted and will be obtaining about 13 more mothballed Israeli KFIRs, but they won’t be available until next year). The reality is that Colombia’s military is configured for anti-guerrilla work, not for invading anyone.
5. Chavez is trigger-happy. ‘Nuff said on that.
6. Getting “Raul Reyes” was a great success for the Colombian state and military. Perhaps it should be said that the Colombian military is quite professional now; they are well trained and have never been so well equipped for what they have to do. The operation against “Reyes”, and others shows they have great proficiency in combined operations.
7. That said, they did go into Ecuador. This is not the first time Colombia has violated Ecuadorean territory while pursuing FARC. They periodically enter Ecuadorean airspace, and there are also tensions about the alleged results of Colombia’s fumigation operations near the Ecuadorean border. Ecuador has been assertive about its borders and, in fairness, rightly so. Colombia must have taken a calculated risk when they decided to attack “Reyes” more than a mile inside that country.
8. That said, however, the FARC have been attacking Colombia from inside Ecuador (and Venezuela) for some time. One of the hostages released last week said that he had spent a lot of time inside Ecuador during his time as a prisoner. Colombia has claimed a right to “hot pursuit” but, while this has some limited application at sea it doesn’t actually have much legal force on land. Still, it was of great importance to get a member of the FARC’s top leadership for morale purposes, intelligence purposes and general practicality. So, they did it.
9. The fruit of the action has been both bitter and sweet. The bitterness has been the reactions from other states about the violations of Ecuador’s sovereignty. The sweet has been the intelligence gathering. In particular, the police have apparently been able to get into the three computers they captured and they say that the documentation shows a closer relation between Ecuadorean president Correa and the FARC than had previously been known. It seems that the Minister of Security had met with Reyes, and that a meeting with Correa was being set up. It seems that the Ecuadorean government was getting ready to “recognze” the FARC and that they were going to provide the FARC information about Colombian interests inside Ecuador (this is from today’s El Tiempo newspaper). If this is all true, then Ecuador has been blatantly interfering in the internal affairs of a neigbouring state and may be seen to have been actively engaged in destabilizing it. This is quite serious. It might also allow Colombia, if it can get its diplomatic act together, an ability to take the offensive against Ecuador’s complaints about the violation of its territory.
10 The last point is the means by which Colombian foreign policy is conducted. The reality is that it is a problem. Most countries have a Foreign Minister who carries out a foreign policy set by the governemt. Here it is not like that. First, a Colombian foreign policy may not exist, per se. They are quite reactive rather than pro-active. To the extent they have a policy it is about things like Free Trade with the US, other trade initiaties etc. Secondly, foreign policy is actually carried out by the President…the foreign minister really doesn’t have much say. The problem is that there are only 24 hours in a day, and Pres. Uribe is trying to do everything; he can’t. The result, though, is that the professionals in the Colombian Foreign Service are often overruled for political reason by political appointees. While this may be fine from time to time, and understandable in a democracy, it detracts from the continuity and even-handedness that is necessary when you have a guy like Chavez on your border.
11. There is also the problem with Nicaragua, which is now also in cahoots with Chavez. I am just waiting to see if Nicaragua will try to arrest a Colombian fishing boat inside Colombian waters (the ones that Nicaragua is claiming) so as to provoke an incident (by having Venezuela come to its assistance if Colombia tries to protect its boat).
I apologize for having blathered on for so long, but it was an interesting weekend here “2800 meters closer to the stars”.
Blaise on March 3, 2008 at 1:45 PM
To paraphrase Ronald Reagan:
“Mr. Chavez, please start this war.”
Kafir on March 3, 2008 at 1:55 PM
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