U.S. offering reward for FARC hostages

BOGOTA, Colombia -- The United States is offering Colombians $300,000, a U.S. visa and a new life in America for information leading to the rescue of three U.S. military contractors captured by rebels last month.

Authorities Tuesday began distributing color fliers outlining the offer, complete with pictures of a jetliner, a visa application and a clean, modern metropolis lying along azure waters -- presumably an American city.

The Americans were captured by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia -- known as the FARC -- Feb. 13 after their U.S. government plane went down in rebel territory during an intelligence mission. A fourth American and a Colombian on the plane were killed near the scene.

The U.S. State Department years ago classified the FARC as a terrorist group, but the U.S. Embassy denied that the offer of the money -- equal to more than a lifetime's pay for many Colombians -- and the hard-to-get U.S. visa is tantamount to negotiating with terrorists.

Colombian troops have been combing unsuccessfully the mountains and jungles of Caqueta province where the plane went down. The United States has deployed military personnel to the region to help.

The FARC has demanded the release of Colombian rebels held in Colombian jails in exchange for the release of the three Americans, along with other hostages held by the insurgents. The rebels -- who have been battling a succession of elected Colombian governments for 38 years -- are holding dozens of others.

The Americans were working for California Microwave Systems, a Pentagon contractor. The U.S. Defense Department is providing the money for the reward, the embassy official said.

U.S. keeping eye on Chavez moves - Senators told of trend toward authoritarianism in Venezuela*** WASHINGTON -- Directing unusually blunt language at Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the top U.S. military officer in Latin America said Thursday he sees a trend toward authoritarianism in the troubled country. Gen. James. T. Hill, head of the U.S. Southern Command, gave his assessment of the situation in Venezuela during an appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee. ***

Venezuela reinforces military along Colombian border -Denies existence of FARC terrorist camp

Terrorism: "Exchangeable prisoners are in Venezuela" - A testimony of FARC presence in Venezuela***So, they wanted to go to Venezuela because they felt safer on that side of the frontier than on this one, since the Colombian Army -in respect of the Venezuelan sovereignty- does not cross the border. Once, a guerrilla told me that he had returned in December from training in Venezuelan territory. In view of my surprise, he said: "The front has camps on that side of the border. Besides, the commander and his group remain there." Then, I dared to make another question: How far are we from the camp in the Venezuelan territory? "About 40 or 70 days, depending on the circumstances," he answered. So, it is deep inside that country, I said. "Yes, well inward," he said.

When we spoke about famous exchangeable prisoners (political, military, police and governmental dignitaries that have been kidnapped and that, according to the guerrilla, could be exchanged by FARC captives), one of the guerrilla told me: "You should be grateful for not being one of those exchangeable people, because if you were, we would have taken you with them already." And where are they? I asked. "On that side of the frontier."

I told him how could it be possible that such as honest person like former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, known also by her fight against corruption, remains kidnapped. He answered that she was a big shot that would be released only when an exchange law is passed. They never said the exact location of the exchangeable prisoners. But we can presume that the place should be between Venezuelan Zulia and Táchira states. Once, they said that it is possible to go to the Venezuelan zone called Machiques through Sabana Rubia, in Colombian Codazzi municipality. ***

There's another matter having to do with FARC : one I haven't seem mentioned in the media anywhere : According to a book I read recently, Al Qaeda has forces in FARC -controlled territory, and has been cross-training with their people, and supplying funding to them.

The book itself was fiction, but the author included the information in a postscript.

Thank you for mentioning that.

Chavez Bombshell? A defector's testimony links the Venezuelan strongman to international terror.*** In January 5, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's former personal pilot dropped a bombshell that has been ignored by just about every major U.S. news organization: The Venezuelan president, according to the pilot, gave al Qaeda a substantial sum of money following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Venezuelan Air Force Major Juan Diaz Castillo, who is now seeking political asylum in the United States and says his "life and liberty are in danger in Venezuela," says Chavez chose him to conduct the transfer because he trusted him as a close personal assistant. But Díaz, disgusted with Chavez's regime, resigned his post on October 25 - and fled following a December 16 attempt on his life.

At a Miami press conference this past Sunday, Diaz said that shortly following the September 11 terrorist attacks, Chavez commissioned him "to organize, coordinate, and execute a covert operation consisting of delivering financial resources, specifically $1 million, to [Afghanistan's] Taliban government, in order for them to assist the al-Qaeda terrorist organization," while, "making it appear as if humanitarian aid were being extended to the Afghan people." ***

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