Chavez Tries Hand As Hostage Negotiator

Venezuelan Leader Mediating In Colombia Hostage Standoff, Rebels So Far Unimpressed

(AP)  Venezuela's Hugo Chavez is taking on a risky role as a mediator in Colombia's hostage standoff, stepping squarely into his neighbor's civil conflict and provoking optimism among the families of those long held captive by rebels.

At the invitation of President Alvaro Uribe, Chavez comes to Colombia on Friday to discuss how he might facilitate an exchange of imprisoned rebels for hostages.

"I hope we can make it so these people return safe and sound to their homes and that this humanitarian agreement comes through," the Venezuelan president said last week in Caracas during a meeting with the grateful families of the hostages.

But Colombia's civil conflict is complex, and Chavez got a rude awakening when the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, rejected his first concrete proposal - an offer of Venezuela as the site for the swap.

Chavez unabashedly targets the U.S. government and his detractors in countries from Mexico to Spain with incendiary rhetoric, but has seldom involved himself so directly with the internal affairs of another nation. He has long sought to maintain cordial relations with the U.S.-allied Uribe despite their ideological differences.

If he succeeds in Colombia, he could expand his influence and improve his image.

On the surface, the deal seems easy: Both the government and the rebels have voiced support in principle for swapping hundreds of imprisoned FARC rebels in Colombian prisons for about 45 hostages, including three U.S. defense contractors and the French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt.

But the sides have been bickering over details for years.

The latest sticking point is the demand by the FARC for a 45-day demilitarization of a 310 square-mile zone in southwestern Colombia. The group says it needs the municipalities of Florida and Pradera cleared of troops to ensure the safety of the hostages and its fighters during the handover.

Uribe has refused any territorial concessions, saying the last time Colombia provided a demilitarized zone, leftist guerrillas gained strength and built airstrips to ship cocaine.

Chavez offered Venezuela as an alternative, but the FARC refused, saying it would be happy to hold talks in Venezuela but the handover must occur in Colombia.

"We will keep asking for the demilitarization of Pradera and Florida and we will ask that President Chavez, given his political weight, will help achieve this demilitarized zone," the FARC spokesman Raul Reyes told the Argentine newspaper Clarin.

Another FARC demand is that the exchange include two rebels now serving U.S. prison terms; they would have to be pardoned by President Bush for that to happen.

Less discussed is what to do with freed guerrillas. The FARC insists they be allowed to return to their 43-year-old insurgency. Uribe's government insists they must live outside Colombia or promise not to return to crime or rebellion.

Despite the obstacles, the families of the captives are hopeful.

"I am optimistic that Chavez will advance this process, with the respect he has within the rebels and across Latin America," said Yolanda Pulecio, the mother of Betancourt, who recently marked her 2000th day in captivity.

What may prove key is how much the FARC is prepared to do for Chavez. They profess an ideological affinity - the FARC calls itself a "Bolivarian" guerrilla force, just as Chavez has named his socialist movement after independence hero Simon Bolivar.

"The guerrillas of the FARC that I met see in Venezuela's President Chavez their ideological leader," said Colombia's foreign minister, Fernando Araujo, who was kidnapped by the FARC and held for six years before escaping last December. "They are constantly studying Chavez's biography, they watch documentaries about Chavez on television, there is a sense of excitement among guerrillas when they hear Chavez speaking on the radio."

Chavez predicted his opponents will try to falsely portray him as a collaborator by saying, "Look, Chavez immediately called (FARC leader Manuel) Marulanda on the black phone he has."

"That doesn't matter to me. What you want is to be useful. I hope we can achieve an agreement for a humanitarian exchange," he said.

Chavez called on both sides to be flexible, urging Uribe and Marulanda to "facilitate our work." He said he hopes "each signal may be one more step in freeing up the game and that we don't close ourselves off in stances that have already led many other attempts at facilitation to fail."

[rushman71]

child who screams, "ASSSSHOOOOOLEAAMEEEEOOOOOOO!!!!!"
Man, that sure does fit the perfect description of Chavez the Communist Dictator!!!

[lars008-2009]

viva capitalism...

U.S. Economy: Expansion Was Faster Than Estimated
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aP3CFLmKC2CQ&refer=worldwide
Deficit Falls to $205 Billion
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8QAD5LG1&show_article=1
Good Thing We Cut Taxes
http://ezraklein.typepad.com/blog/2006/09/good_thing_we_c.html
Don''t Just Cut Taxes - Cut Spending
http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed021802.cfm?RenderforPrint=1
The greatest economic boom ever
Just how red-hot is the current worldwide expansion? "This is far and away the strongest global economy I''ve seen in my business lifetime," U.S. Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson declared on a recent visit to Fortune''s offices.
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/07/23/100134937/index.htm?section=money_latest

[feelfree1]

rushman71,

I don''t think that very many adults would consider accepting advice from a child who screams, "ASSSSHOOOOOLEAAMEEEEOOOOOOO!!!!!" over and over again, as their argument.

I know that I wouldn''t.

Try "littlegreenfootballs.com".

Your message might make sense to them.

[rushman71]

FeelFree1: I''m most positively sure that once you know what life is like down in Pendejoland (Venezuela) you won''t feel that free down there!!!
"Viva Venezuela!!!" That makes me sick!!! More like "Viva Communism!!!"

[rushman71]

Chavez:"Cause he''s an Asshoooolyoooolyolyoooolyolyoooole!!!"

"ASSSSHOOOOOLEAAMEEEEOOOOOOO!!!!!"

[feelfree1]

Hugo Chavez is the legitimate democratic leader of Venezuela- elected 3 times by the overwhelming majority of his countrymen and women. A key element of his platform is to share the immense resource wealth of Venezuela with the people of Venezuela, instead of concentrating the wealth among a tiny oil-based elite.

Don''t miss an amazing documentary about the Bush regime''s failed attempt to overthrow Hugo Chavez in 2002. The attempted failed, because the people of Venezuela refused to go along, and reclaimed their government from the U.S. coup leaders.

The Revolution Will Not be Televised (Part 1)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u2MYqx5Qu8

Congratulations to the brave people of Venezuela for reclaiming your country from the greedy cleptocrats! May the people North America one day follow your courageous example!

Viva Venezuela!!!

[gunnerv1]

Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton better watch out.

[lars008-2009]

Welcome to Freedom%u2019s Watch, an organization dedicated to fighting to protect the ideals and issues that keep America strong and prosperous.
http://www.freedomswatch.org/

[lars008-2009]

it is fascist nazi terrorislam stupid%u2026.

non muslims of the world unite... fight against the tyranny of the fascist nazi terrorslam imperialist empire of the darkside...

I was a fanatic...I know their thinking, says former radical Islamist
By blaming the Government for our actions, those who pushed this "Blair''s bombs" line did our propaganda work for us.
More important, they also helped to draw away any critical examination from the real engine of our violence: Islamic theology.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=465570&in_page_id=1770
Bless the Beasts and Children
Fascist nazi terrorslam kills every man woman and child in the village again%u2026 typical mo for terrorslam%u2026
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/bless-the-beasts-and-children.htm

Our Prophet commanded us to fight the kaafirs when we are able and to attack them in their homelands and to give them three choices before we enter their lands: either they become Muslim and be like us, sharing our rights and duties; or they pay the jizyah (poll tax) and feel themselves subdued; or they fight, in which case their wealth, women, children and homes become permissible as booty for the Muslims.
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=13759&ln=eng&txt=before%20islam%20arabia%20pagan

the truth about fascist nazi terrorislam...
http://www.terrorismawareness.org/what-really-happened/

[rushman71]

Chavez:"ASSSSHOOOOOLEAAMEEEEOOOOOOO!!!!!"

[lars008-2009]

*** when did communism become monarchies?

n korea passing power from father to son, to son,

cuba passing power to his brother. *** comrade,

who will hugo pass power to???

i thought you were all suppose to be equal??? right comrade???

[rushman71]

Chavez:"Cause he''s an Asshoooolyoooolyolyoooolyolyoooole!!!"