Chavez orders tanks and fighter jets mobilizedon Columbia's border

[Datto]

CARACAS -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez moved tanks to the Colombian border and mobilized fighter jets on Sunday, warning Bogota could spark a war after its troops struck inside another of its neighbors, Ecuador.

Reacting to Colombia's killing on Saturday of a Colombian rebel inside Ecuador, a Venezuelan ally, Mr. Chavez also ordered the withdrawal of all his diplomats from Bogota in the worst dispute between the neighbors since he came to office in 1999.

"Mr. Defense Minister, move me 10 battalions to the frontier with Colombia immediately, tank battalions," Mr. Chavez said on his weekly TV show.

"The air force should mobilize. We do not want war. But we are not going to let them ... come and divide and weaken us."

Colombia's military said on Saturday troops killed Raul Reyes, a leader of Marxist FARC rebels, during an attack on a jungle camp in Ecuador in a severe blow to Latin America's oldest guerrilla insurgency. The operation included air strikes and fighting with rebels across the frontier.

Mr. Chavez, who had warned a similar operation in Venezuela would be "cause for war," said on Sunday he would send Russian-made fighter jets into U.S. ally Colombia if its troops struck inside his OPEC country.

Colombia denied it failed to respect Ecuador's sovereignty and said Saturday's operation was a response to fire from across the border.

"Colombia has not violated any sovereignty, only acted in accordance with the principal of legitimate defense," the government said in a statement.

"The terrorists, among them Raul Reyes, were used to killing in Colombia and invading the neighboring countries to hide. Many times Colombia has suffered these situations, which we are obliged to avoid to defend our citizens," it said.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has often jousted with neighbors over spillover from its four-decade conflict but has managed differences with pragmatism. Now the dispute among the conservative Colombian and his leftist counterparts has gone from aggressive words to action.

Mr. Uribe has complained before that FARC guerrillas take refuge in frontier areas, though neighbors say his troops are not doing enough to prevent violent spillover from the conflict.

The leftist anti-U.S. Mr. Chavez has been in a diplomatic dispute with his ideological opposite, Mr. Uribe, for months because of the Venezuelan's mediation with FARC rebels over their hostages. Mr. Uribe has accused Mr. Chavez of using the mediation to meddle in Colombian affairs.

On Sunday, Mr. Chavez accused Mr. Uribe of lying over the details of the operation that killed the rebel in Ecuador, where the leftist government of President Rafael Correa is a close Venezuelan ally. He called it a "cowardly assassination" of a "good revolutionary."

"I am putting Venezuela on alert and we will support Ecuador in any situation," Mr. Chavez said

Ecuador has withdrawn its ambassador to Colombia in protest and also questioned if Mr. Uribe lied when he initially explained to his southern neighbor that the strike was in response to fire from rebels across the border against Colombian troops.

"He (Mr. Uribe) is a criminal. Not only is he a liar, a Mafia boss, a paramilitary who leads a narco-government, and leads a government that is a lackey of the United States ... he leads a band of criminals from his palace," Mr. Chavez said.

Colombia's government had no immediate reaction to Mr. Chavez' troop movements and comments on Sunday, although Mr. Uribe has in the past called for prudence in diplomatic disputes.

Mr. Chavez, a Cuba ally, sees himself as a leader of Latin America's left and says right-wing Mr. Uribe is an obstacle to uniting South America.

Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue thinktank in Washington and a critic of Mr. Chavez, said the Venezuelan was playing with fire even if the spat could distract from his domestic problems such as chronic shortages of some foods.

"There is a risk here as he reacts strongly and often overreacts, but this could backfire on him," Mr. Shifter said. "This is not going to achieve what he wants in terms of regional politics ... It maybe is a measure of how concerned he is about his own domestic support."

"I don't know how far he is going to go with this but it is a risky political action," he added.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/wor...html?id=348207

[Harpoon]

*yawn* put your little pee pee away..

[Prof Maxwell]

This might be a good thing.

According to the accepted rules of war, when a country attacks another country with military force, then such a country can declate a state of war, whether the aggressor nation has called it such or not. That being said, the political and military leaders of involved countries, become legitimate targets for attack.

I say let Hugo-girl, attack Columbia, then a sniper could whack his sorry ass, and no harm, no foul.

[Nemowork]

Why is he getting annoyed because the Columbians killed a known terrorist inside Ecuador, something that doesnt involve Venezuela in any way?


Because he's politically sympathetic to the FARC (theyre both Bolivarian socialists) and Chavez has invested a lot of his political capital in the success of his mission to release Columbian and Venezuelan hostages from the FARC, he even succeeded in getting 70 released a few months back.

Now one of his main negotiating partners just exploded, he's lost not only a political confidante but his best chance of getting on the international news in a good way!

For a major attention junkie like Chavez to lose his fix is a blow. He's majorly pi**ed!

Hopefully his ex-military side will get the better of his bombastic nitwit one! Venezuela outclasses the Columbians in airpower, while Columbias advantage in professional and experienced ground forces might tip the balance.
Then again an attack from two sides involving Ecuador and internal dissent from FARC and the narco-barons will cause the Columbians major grief!

[Prof Maxwell]

Originally Posted by Nemowork

Why is he getting annoyed because the Columbians killed a known terrorist inside Ecuador, something that doesnt involve Venezuela in any way?


Because he's politically sympathetic to the FARC (theyre both Bolivarian socialists) and Chavez has invested a lot of his political capital in the success of his mission to release Columbian and Venezuelan hostages from the FARC, he even succeeded in getting 70 released a few months back.

Now one of his main negotiating partners just exploded, he's lost not only a political confidante but his best chance of getting on the international news in a good way!

For a major attention junkie like Chavez to lose his fix is a blow. He's majorly pi**ed!

Hopefully his ex-military side will get the better of his bombastic nitwit one! Venezuela outclasses the Columbians in airpower, while Columbias advantage in professional and experienced ground forces might tip the balance.
Then again an attack from two sides involving Ecuador and internal dissent from FARC and the narco-barons will cause the Columbians major grief!

and I'm sure America might be willing to lend a few land-fired cruise missile launchers to the Columbians

[Nemowork]

I was thinking more of having 'naval exercises' with a carrier group off the coast of Venezuela. Just by coincidence of course.


Or letting the Columbians have a bulk purchase of SAM's with suitable US trainers. Its not like the Taliban are soaking up your old stocks so you must have a few going spare you can pass on before they pass their use by date?

[alecheverry]

I'm from Colombia and this my small opinion on the matter:

-Farc has been declared a terrorist group by USA, European Union and ONU-
-They have killed thousands (THOUSANDS) of people during the last 40 years, not mentioning bombing and kidnappings (With police officers being held hostage for more than 10 (TEN) years

Yes, it's wrong Colombia military entered the Equatorian Territory and the situation should be deal by diplomatic channels (only between Colombia and Ecuador). What does Venezuela have to do with this? They are only involved 'cause Chavez sympathizes with the FARC (Latest news: one of the computers found after the killing indicates Chavez gave the FARC about US $150.000 ~ What for?)

The ONU mandates all the signing members to colaborate and condemn terrorism.....Why are Venezuela and Ecuador crying because they killed and @sshole instead of congratulate the Colombian government for their success? something ' fishy....


You can ask any colombian about the killing and they can tell you they felt happy and relief for this success....if you ask a venezuelan he will be sharing the same happines and will probably be sick of Chavez's policies and decisions....

just a couple of thoughts that I wanted to share........

[Bugstomper]

Who is he kidding, 10 Tank Battalions.

[DelusionsOfGrandeur]

Originally Posted by alecheverry

I'm from Colombia and this my small opinion on the matter:

-Farc has been declared a terrorist group by USA, European Union and ONU-
-They have killed thousands (THOUSANDS) of people during the last 40 years, not mentioning bombing and kidnappings (With police officers being held hostage for more than 10 (TEN) years

Yes, it's wrong Colombia military entered the Equatorian Territory and the situation should be deal by diplomatic channels (only between Colombia and Ecuador). What does Venezuela have to do with this? They are only involved 'cause Chavez sympathizes with the FARC (Latest news: one of the computers found after the killing indicates Chavez gave the FARC about US $150.000 ~ What for?)

The ONU mandates all the signing members to colaborate and condemn terrorism.....Why are Venezuela and Ecuador crying because they killed and @sshole instead of congratulate the Colombian government for their success? something ' fishy....


You can ask any colombian about the killing and they can tell you they felt happy and relief for this success....if you ask a venezuelan he will be sharing the same happines and will probably be sick of Chavez's policies and decisions....

just a couple of thoughts that I wanted to share........

More power to Columbia. The successful removal of a mass murderer from society will save countless lives in the future. Your country has our heartfelt thanks.

[Meursault]

Originally Posted by alecheverry

I'm from Colombia and this my small opinion on the matter:

-Farc has been declared a terrorist group by USA, European Union and ONU-
-They have killed thousands (THOUSANDS) of people during the last 40 years, not mentioning bombing and kidnappings (With police officers being held hostage for more than 10 (TEN) years

Yes, it's wrong Colombia military entered the Equatorian Territory and the situation should be deal by diplomatic channels (only between Colombia and Ecuador). What does Venezuela have to do with this? They are only involved 'cause Chavez sympathizes with the FARC (Latest news: one of the computers found after the killing indicates Chavez gave the FARC about US $150.000 ~ What for?)

The ONU mandates all the signing members to colaborate and condemn terrorism.....Why are Venezuela and Ecuador crying because they killed and @sshole instead of congratulate the Colombian government for their success? something ' fishy....


You can ask any colombian about the killing and they can tell you they felt happy and relief for this success....if you ask a venezuelan he will be sharing the same happines and will probably be sick of Chavez's policies and decisions....

just a couple of thoughts that I wanted to share........

Good thing to have some input from a local.

I think the FARC are one of the worst mafia organizations around. Their ideology is probably nothing more than an excuse for their drug dealing and the extortion and ransom business they run. I don't think they're actually interested in a peace deal with the government because the current situation suits them just fine. And Chavez is in league with them because either side sees the other as useful idiots for their own dirty work.

[tollboothwilly]

I thought the CIA was keeping things in line in that area.

[Meursault]

plan colombia is a huge failure so far, unless of course prolonging the civil war was the whole point of it in the first place.

[Magnum, NY]

Yeah, there is so much that goes on in many countries that we never hear about, villages in the mountains are murdered by rebels and drug cartels in Latin America and especially in Columbia.

If Chavez decided to take on the drug dealers and their power, he'd make a better name for himself. This boy is very wacky. Not a danger but a very nutty nut!

Magnum, NY

[alecheverry]

Originally Posted by Meursault

plan colombia is a huge failure so far, unless of course prolonging the civil war was the whole point of it in the first place.

NO, not really. 10 years ago it was scary to drive 6 hours between 2 of the most important cities because somewhere in the middle of the way you could get to a guerilla "check point" and they could kidnap you in there....

.I know what you are gonna ask: why didn't they send some choppers and soldiers there? - well, 'cause there were none .....and if they send them, they didn't see anyone to shoot at 'cause of the forest (You just walk 20 ft in any given direction from the highway and there's nothing but trees....no way to see anything at all)

However, with the plan colombia, all the money has been channeled to equipment (choppers, infrared, movement detectors, that kind of stuff) and the goverment is been able to respond more efficiently.....So, since about 6 years ago, traveling around is been possible just because you can feel police/military presence everywhere......

[Meursault]

But are the FARC any the weaker for it? didn't they spray coca plantations with herbicides and poisoned lots of farmers?