[Alia]

I don't share your worries about FARC north, here. FARC has been watched very closely since the 90s (and before). What freaks out the single-lober "immigration reformists" here are NAFTA and the fact that the Bush Admin has moved the true lines of "defense" farther south. And rightfully so. Even Ole "Hack" used to say "keep 5 yards for yourself". And working with Vicente Fox has been a "horrid" affair for the single-lobers who refuse to understand how "global" affairs work best. Working with Mexico has been far more about protecting the US, than "votes for Bush" as the single-lobers wish everyone to think. The communist "party" has been working very hard in South America to breach the treaties we have with Mexico and very specific "free nation" countries in South America.

OTOH, those of the ilk of Chavez and Morales are losing support in South America. And their allies in Mexico are also losing support. Forcing people to do, vote, or say or believe things AGAINST THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL WILL makes counterrevolutionaries of what might have been "allies". Meaning, the communists pushed too hard.

Tracking the Global Network of Terrorism is a very real matter to the security of the US. Finding their hubs is critical. And it is important to simply "observe" the process of networking within these hubs.

Yes, Kenny Bunk -- it can make one chew one's nails in the interim, or tap one's foot.

[livius]

It was interesting that Spain bailed on the VZ arms and jets deal last week. I was in Spain and followed this in the presss.

Chavez tried to make it sound as if he was the one who was pulling out because the US was trying to stop the deal from happening. We had refused to license the technology - back in January! The French and the Israelis, however, were perfectly willing to sell the technology to Spain for use in VZ planes and offered to do so.

What really happened is that even pro-communist Spain lost confidence in Chavez' ability to pay for the contract. He's tanking.