South America on brink of war

Washington Times ^ | Mar 3, 2008 | Staff

[Anti-Bubba182]

By Martin Arostegui - SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia — South America was on the brink of war yesterday as Venezuela and Ecuador amassed troops on the Colombian border in response to the killing of a Marxist rebel leader.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened to join the rebels in a war to overthrow hard-line Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, a key ally of the United States, deploying tanks, fighter jets and thousands of troops along the Colombian border.

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa also ordered troops to the border, expelled Colombia's ambassador and recalled its ambassador to Bogota, but left its embassy open. Venezuela closed its embassy in Colombia and ordered all diplomats home.

A weekend battle sparked the mobilization, in which Colombian forces killed a top leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in a camp in Ecuador.

"The obsessive conduct of those who prize the military option sharpens the armed conflict with grave possible consequences" read a statement from Venezuela's Foreign Ministry after the weekend killing of FARC's second in command, Raul Reyes.

On his weekly Sunday talk show "Hello President," Mr. Chavez accused Colombia of "invading" Ecuador, and compared the action to Israeli attacks against Palestinians.

"The Colombian government has become the Israel of Latin America," Mr. Chavez said. He called Colombia a "terrorist" state and its president, Mr. Uribe, a criminal; "Dracula's fangs are covered in blood."

Mr. Correa said Colombia deliberately carried out the strike beyond its borders. "There is no justification," he said last night, snubbing an earlier announcement from Colombia that it would apologize for the incursion.

Colombia's government said yesterday documents found in a jungle camp in Ecuador where Colombia troops killed Mr. Reyes showed ties between the FARC rebels and Mr. Correa, ........"

[Anti-Bubba182]

This was featured on Drudge. It could get ugly fast if it gets beyond the sabre rattling stage. I don't see how the US can let Chavez invade Columbia.

[cartoonistx]

[TheDon]

Ecuador supports FARC?

[livius]

I don’t think we can, but I don’t think it’s going to come to that. I suspect that Ahmadinejad is behind this, but I don’t think he or Chavez has the capacity quite yet to really attack us (since Colombia and Israel are perceived by Iran and VZ to be our proxies). I think it’s just going to be noise, something they’re both good at. Still, it does represent an odd shift in focus, or perhaps a new focus, which is not an encouraging sign.

[Anti-Bubba182]

It could all be posturing on Chavez's part, but he could be that crazy.

[jdm]

What would Hillary or Obama do about this situation?

[ccmay]

What a good excuse to wipe this fat creep off the map.

[B Knotts]

Not sure if they do, but they did elect a pro-Chavez commie recently. So, probably the answer is yes. Lookin’ ugly down there.

[Braak]

I am going to bet posturing for the most part, but the fact is, Chavez has been remarkably immune to common sense for the majority of his political career.

Honestly, considering the relative economies in play here...a war would be a sad sick farce.

[Polybius]

What would Hillary or Obama do about this situation?

Hope?

Change?

Be ready from day one?

[HamiltonJay]

Let em all line up on the border... easer for the B2’s to take them out. Nice sitting ducks.

[kromike]

What would Hillary or Obama do about this situation?

Well, Hussein B.O. would just smile that winning smile and melt Hugo's icy heart. As for Hillary, she could just do her Medusa impersonation.

[F15Eagle]

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa also ordered troops to the border

For a sec there I thought that said "Rachel Corrie" .... gotta slow down scanning these threads ...

[Anti-Bubba182]

Ecuador was where Columbia found the FARC rebels.

[gleeaikin]

Chavez ping.

[arthurus]

Order Colombia to apologize and turn over the offending general to Ecuador.

[Westbrook]

> As for Hillary, she could just do her Medusa impersonation.

That’s NOT an impersonation.

[mamelukesabre]

Lick boot.

[Centurion2000]

Criminy .... Venezuela looks like a candidate for B-83 cleansing.

[guido911]

“South America on brink of war”

Good.

[BallyBill]

No Blood for Cocaine!

[Red Badger]

IT’S A QUAGMIRE!!!!......NO BLOOD FOR CHOCOLATE!!!!!.............

[arthurus]

What would Hillary or Obama do about this situation?Both of them would offer US support to Venezuela and Ecuador to oppose the aggression of Colombia. Colombia is the obvious bad guy here because Colombia has taken US aid and is perceived as a US ally.

[Red Steel]

A war in South America without a fight over soccer? /sarc

[LottieDah]

Hilly and Barry Hope someone will be around to Change their diapers.

[MissEdie]

Nothing. What frightens me about Obama is that he has already said if elected he would never authorize a nuclear attack, he wants to increase our financial contribution to the UN to the tune of a trillion dollars, he will dissolve the Strategic Arms defense project- basically leaving us vunerable to an attack with limited means to protect ourselves, all so he can pander to those who like to mooch off of us. Sorry about the soapbox, am stepping down now.

[kenavi]

I don't see how the US can let Chavez invade Columbia.

It's fine, as long as he limits himself to Morningside Heights.

[r9etb]

It's sulfUr.

[Cuchulain]

Yes we can?

[14erClimb]

ROFL!

[wtc911]

In what way could a war between Colombia and Venezuela be good? Please be specific.

[yankeedame]

NO BLOOD FOR CHOCOLATE!!!!!

Well,now, wait a minute....

[Red Badger]

Well, maybe a little..........

[rockinqsranch]

Agree with your assessment entirely.

[Red Badger]

[xsmommy]

and ColOmbia.

[wideawake]

Chavez is a showman, not an idiot.

The Colombian military is better trained, better equipped and more experienced than Venezuela's - and the US is more than happy to assist them with air and reconnaissance assets as well as carefully deployed special units.

The best Chavez could do would be to beg Cuba and Bolivia for military assistance.

He's not so obtuse as to believe that Russia or China or Iran would actually try to deploy forces to help him.

War with Colombia is the end for Chavez.

[Anti-Bubba182]

That is probably right. Chavez is running a bluff.

[massgopguy]

Make the Chavez tax break permanent.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

What would Hillary or Obama do about this situation?

Depends primarily on whether the call comes at 3 AM or not?

[Theophilus]

I wonder what naval assets we have on the Spanish Main?

Just wondering not asking. Remember that loose lips sink ships.

[wideawake]

It would end the Chavez regime.

The Venezuelan population has had about as much Chavez as it can stomach at this point and the last thing the average Venezuelan wants is to go to war in defense of . . . a Colombian narcoterrorist gang.

[bert]

Does Columbia have a drone?

One drone with a missle and patience could take out Hugo and it would all be over in an eyeblink.

Targeting in Caracas should be a piece of cake compared to Waziristan.

[tsmith130]

[Anti-Bubba182]

If that happens it would be a US drone, but I don’t see it.
I bet the whole thing is posturing.

[#1CTYankee]

Reads like Scrappleface.

Hugo is all bluster and no brains.

[wideawake]

We've got plenty of Naval assets on the Gulf Coast and we obviously are in continual readiness for any tomfoolery from Cuba.

I assume we can scramble jets to Havana within minutes. Add an hour for Caracas.

[July 4th]

It’s like Chavez is trying to get us to come down there to set things straight. I’m not sure if he really wants what he’s asking for.

[wolfcreek]

Chavez got sum splain to do.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1979717/posts

[#1CTYankee]

"NO BLOOD FOR CHOCOLATE!!!!!

"Well,now, wait a minute...."

Chocolate I could live without, coffee however.......