Chavez Warns Of War In South America

Venezuelan Leader, U.S. Foe, Sends Troops To Border With Colombia; Ecuador Follows Suit

(CBS/AP)  Venezuela and Ecuador ordered troops to their borders with Colombia, sharply raising tensions after Colombia killed a top rebel leader on Ecuadorean soil.

President Hugo Chavez on Sunday promised Venezuela would respond militarily if Colombia violates its border, where he ordered tanks as well as thousands of troops. He also ordered closed Venezuela's embassy in Bogota.

"This could be the start of a war in South America," Chavez said.

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa said he deployed troops to the border while also withdrawing his government's ambassador from Bogota and expelling Colombia's top diplomat.

"There is no justification," Correa said Sunday night, snubbing an earlier announcement from Colombia that it would apologize for the military incursion.

Chavez called the killing of rebel leader and spokesman Raul Reyes and 16 other guerrillas on Saturday an attack by a "terrorist state," saying it shows Colombian President Alvaro Uribe is a "criminal."

"Mr. Defense Minister, move 10 battalions to the border with Colombia for me, immediately - tank battalions. Deploy the air force," Chavez said during his weekly TV and radio program. "We don't want war, but we aren't going to permit the U.S. empire, which is the master (of Colombia) ... to come divide us."

Correa said Colombia deliberately carried out the strike beyond its borders, flying deep into Ecuador to bomb the rebel camp from the south. The Ecuadorean leader said the rebels were "bombed and massacred as they slept, using precision technology."

The Colombian military said the camp was located just over a mile from the border.

Colombian officials have long complained that rebels are allowed to take refuge across its borders in both Ecuador and Venezuela.

Colombia said after the assault that FARC "terrorists" including Reyes "have had the custom of killing in Colombia and taking refuge in the territory of neighboring countries."

Fidel Castro blamed the U.S. for the turmoil, writing on Monday that "genocidal plans of the Yankee empire" created tensions between the South American nations.

"We can plainly hear the trumpets of war to the south of our continent as a consequence of genocidal plans of the Yankee empire," Castro wrote in an essay published in the Communist Party daily Granma. The older Castro is a socialist ally of Chavez, and the oil-rich South American nation has helped keep Cuba's economy growing by providing nearly 100,000 barrels of subsidized oil a day to Cuba.

In Chile, President Michelle Bachelet offered to mediate in the conflict.

"A situation like this requires an explanation from Colombia to Ecuadoreans, to the Ecuadorean president and to the entire region," Bachelet said. "We are very worried."

Mexico's President Felipe Calderon also offered to helps and urged the countries to begin talking "within the framework of the appropriate regional organizations."

Ecuadorean troops recovered the seminude bodies of 15 rebels in their jungle camp.

Soldiers covered their faces with bandannas to ward off the stench Sunday at the camp, where bodies were splayed on the ground in their underwear. Scattered among the corpses were pieces of clothing, shoes, guns, grenades and a refrigerator.

Soldiers also found three wounded women at the camp - a Mexican philosophy student injured by shrapnel and two Colombians - who were evacuated by helicopter to be treated. Ecuadorean officials said they believe there were two bomb attacks on the camp.

Colombian commandos removed the cadavers of Reyes and one other rebel.

Indignant, Chavez, at left, said "they wanted to show off the trophy" and called it "cowardly murder, all of it coldly calculated."

"This could be the start of a war in South America," Chavez said. He warned Uribe: "If it occurs to you to do this in Venezuela, President Uribe, I'll send some Sukhois" - Russian warplanes recently bought by Venezuela.

"This is saber-rattling, trying to make a point," said Adam Isacson, an analyst for the Washington-based Center for International Policy. By holding a moment of silence in honor of the slain rebels during his program, Chavez "has all but said that the FARC will be safe in Venezuela, and that the Venezuelan armed forces would respond to a similar Colombian incursion into Venezuelan territory."

However, Isacson said, the countries share robust trade, the militaries "are not enthusiastic" and the populations of the neighbors "are hardly consumed by war fever."

The situation pushed tense relations between Venezuela and Colombia to a new nadir, though cross-border trade has not yet been seriously affected.

Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva that his government will not accept any provocation that could put the region's stability at risk. In a speech to the body, Santos said Colombia will stand firm in its fight against terrorism. He did not mention Ecuador or Venezuela by name.

Colombia's police commander, Gen. Oscar Naranjo, said documents from a computer seized where Reyes was killed suggested Ecuador's president is deepening relations with the FARC.

The two documents, copies of which were obtained independently by The Associated Press, were apparently written by Reyes in the past two months and addressed to the FARC high command. An Ecuadorean government spokesman called the Colombian claims a lie.

There were no concrete reports on troop movements in Venezuela's state media early Monday. Chavez did not specify how many troops he was sending to the border. A Venezuelan battalion traditionally has roughly 600 soldiers.

Chavez has increasingly revealed his sympathies for the FARC, and in January asked that it be struck from lists of terrorist groups internationally.

The leftist FARC has been fighting Colombia's government for more than four decades, and funds itself largely through the cocaine trade and kidnaps for ransom and political ends.

How exactly Reyes was killed was not immediately clear.

Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said military commandos, tracking Reyes through an informant, first bombed a camp on the Colombian side of the Ecuadorean border. He said the troops came under fire from across the border in Ecuador and encountered Reyes' body when they overran that camp.

"It was a massacre," said Correa, who accused Colombia of lying and said some rebels were shot in the back.

Colombia and Venezuela have been locked in a diplomatic crisis since Uribe sought in November to halt Chavez's efforts to mediate a prisoner swap. The FARC has since freed six hostages to delegates of Chavez, including four released last week.

The FARC has demanded that a safe zone be created in Colombia to negotiate a swap of some 40 high-value captives, including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. defense contractors, for hundreds of imprisoned guerrillas.

[libsrweak]

I would like to hear all the pathethic excuses those anti-american pro terrorist liberals would conjure up now

[lorinkundert]

A Great opportunity to get rid of that little man (Chavez),Columbia with our weapons and air support could have that wrapped up in the afternoon.

[smilingez50]

Chavez is all talk and full of gas.

[ontheleft]

Isn''t Venezuela a major oil producer? Moving tanks to the border?

Looks like we''re going to set another record for crude oil tomorrow once the markets open. We''ll have $4 a gallon gas soon enough.

[yongamerica]

This matter is between Columbia and Ecuador. Chavez should keeps Venezuela''s snake nose out their business.

[on_alert247]

Cindy Sheehan would be proud.

[guadalcanal3]

Chavez is definitely playing with fire now (besides showing what his agenda really is)...I mean pissing the "Columbians" off...A BIG mistake.

[beehive21-2009]

hugo, hugo,your going to get yourselve killed.Why is this man allowed to have a army ? look at his picture folks,you can see the fear ,wonder who is behind him, he ''s looking bad, like he needs the toilet.Fear not, hugo, we can always help you ,out.

[zootallures2]

Chavez ever bomb his own buildings, blame innocent people to go war profiteering? So, I guess US and A have nothing of morals to teach anyone.

[cfin5]

He gets snippier by the day. Wonder if this is an indication of Coca leaf chewing withdrawal. Hurry! Somebody get a batch of the good stuff so all he wants to do is stare at the ceiling. Cheaper that way.

[nothappyatall]

We don''t want war, but we aren''t going to permit the U.S. empire, which is the master (of Colombia) ... to come divide us."

Exactly what the Bush regime has brought us now- destabilize the globe because of our wanton invasions of other countries on false pretext, threats, bullying, embargoes and veiled threats.

[gonzalezelbe]

If the FARC are nothing but a narco-terrorist group and CHAVEZ is their number one supporter then isn''t he a terrorist too? Do they follow their orders?

Think about it

[terrorislame]

Chavez is Picking the Wrong Country to Fight
These people KNOW he is a Nut -case and They Are Willing to Fight !These Colombians are BAD Hombres !
Chavez will regret this!

[gonzalezelbe]

Yes, USA is the master of Colombia ,and I think Colombia would be better as a colony of the USA than on its own.

I can say it because I''m Colombian

With a few exceptions such as chile any central or south american nation deserve independence. The political systems are too corrupted. The "freeedom" is the freedom of a few to do whatever they want.

This at least is not a Bush thing - Chavez is doing this ALL on his own!

He is a terrorist in my book for supporting such criminals. Trust me (I know this is hard on a board like this) but the FARC actually ARE terrorists!!!!!

not made up ones - but real ones!

[gonzalezelbe]

Correction:

Yes, USA is the master of Colombia ,and I think Colombia would be better as a colony of the USA than on its own.

I can say it because I''''m Colombian

With a few exceptions such as chile any central or south american nation do not deserve independence. The political systems are too corrupted. The "freeedom" is the freedom of a few to do whatever they want.

[random_radar]

Chavez can thumb his nose at the United States and get away with it. But if he messes with the Colombian drug lords, he is history.

[sociallyjust]

This could be the good news that South America needs - Hugo Chavez''s ouster and/or his downfall.

[prinzowhales]

The cowardly Columbians would not have violated the sovereignty of Ecuador without the advise and consent of the Washington Regime. The FARC insurgents represent a real threat to the Columbian death squads and narco-terrorists supported by the Washington Regime. Over the past few months three planes connected to the CIA rendition and drug smuggling operations have been captured in Mexico and Central America, with nearly SIX TONS of cocaine!

The Washington Regime has already tried unsuccessfully to overthrow the democratically elected Chavez...they have forces in Columbia to support the Narco-terrorist regime in Bogota...Their backers at CITIBANK have merged with a narco-terrorist bank in Mexico.

FARC is fighting for the economic and political freedom of Columbians not lucky enough to be born into the Oligarchy. It is no accident that the Medillin Cartel and the Cali Cartel are in the land of our allies, the Columbians...any more than it is an accident that our allies the Kosovo Liberation Army was listed as a drug dealing organization by INTERPOL or that our allies in Afghanistan are the drug lords of that country.

[tucano2]

At least Mr. Chavez has the balls to confront his unfriendly neighbor; G.W. Bush never has, never will, as he has no spine, no balls, and allows his country to continue to be invaded by Illegal Aliens from some 200 countries.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by tucanofulano at 08:30 PM

Por que no te calles?

[gonzalezelbe]

Hey tucano , you totally missed the point!! you are really a fulano

[tucano2]

rudy654

porque no me da la gangas

[tucano2]

GonzalezElbe

fulano = anyman, everyman

YOUR point being ???

[ioweign]

A Great opportunity to get rid of that little man (Chavez),Columbia with our weapons and air support could have that wrapped up in the afternoon.


Posted by lorinkundert at 05:57 PM : Mar 02, 2008



That sounds familiar...



"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed." Bush speaking underneath a "Mission Accomplished" banner aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, May 1, 2003

[prinzowhales]

The Bush Regime has already failed in attempts to oust the democratically elected president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez. Now Bush and the Columbian Oligarchs are trying to scuttle the Venezuelan''s attempt to broker a peace between FARC and the Columbian Regime. Increasing tensions will lead to a cut off of Venezuelan oil and more profits for Big Oil. It is way past time to follow the example of Chavez and his Bolivarians and nationalize the pestilential Big Oil thieves!

In Venezuela, oil goes for next to nothing while under the Oil Barons in America, consumers pay over three dollars a gallon for gas.

Its time to destroy the Oligarchs and their abusive oil monopoly.

[sociallyjust]

This could be the good news that South America needs - Hugo Chavez''s ouster and/or his downfall.

We should be supporting all efforts to get rid of this Chavez megalomaniac dictator!

[prinzowhales]

Hugo Chavez was elected by an overwhelming majority of the Venezuelan people...George Bush, on the other hand, was picked by the US Supreme Court in 2000 and by the Diebold machines in Ohio in 2004. If anyone wants to replace dictators...let ''em start with Bush!

[prinzowhales]

Bush claimed that God told him to invade Afghanistan and then strike at Iraq. The only people crazier than Bush are his supporters.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by tucanofulano at 08:54 PM

Tucanofulano = tucano so and so

[prinzowhales]

Here is an article with links to a host of other articles revealing the ties between officials in the US, narco-terrorists and rendition and drug smuggling planes of the CIA.

http://www.narconews.com/Issue50/article3011.html

While these corruptionists smuggle tons of coccaine into the US...Border Patrolmen who try to stop them are dishonestly tried and jailed by corrupt Bush Courts and prosecutors.

[hillaryin08]

At least Mr. Chavez has the balls to confront his unfriendly neighbor; G.W. Bush never has, never will, as he has no spine, no balls, and allows his country to continue to be invaded by Illegal Aliens from some 200 countries.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by tucanofulano at 08:30 PM : Mar 02, 2008

Yea, and Obamma wants to give them free college

Bow to your new Pharo

[jauchak]

Venezuelan president is a joker,
Here we are; just a few days ago we said "NO MORE FARC", and he thinks we need them, or we want them. He''s a joker, he wants to prove he can do things that,,, well, he can''t. He wants to come inside a sovereign country, and do his will.
Well,
we are not happy, we''ll feeling glad, we''ve got a sunshine,,,
GBU, Greetings from Colombia

[jimmyc1955]

If Chavez goes into Columbia it is a war of conquest. He is nothing more than an old line Marxist dictator with delusions of grandeur.

As to his election, if he goes to war in Columbia to support some truly monstrous old line marxists (FARC) I would bet he won''t be reelected without rigging the vote - again. Keep in mind he wanted to change the constitution to allow him to be President for Life - exactly why South America has never prospered.

[hillaryin08]

Let our new God Obamma deal with him.

All hail Obamma

[rowdytexan2]

Bush claimed that God told him to invade Afghanistan and then strike at Iraq. The only people crazier than Bush are his supporters.

Posted by Prinzowhales
----------
Hey, I''''d love to se that article - how about a reference.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by ilikecats1 at 10:12 PM : Mar 02, 2008

Here ya go!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/10_october/06/bush.shtml

[rowdytexan2]

Abu Mazen, Palestinian Prime Minister, and Nabil Shaath, his Foreign Minister, describe their first meeting with President Bush in June 2003.



Nabil Shaath says: "President Bush said to all of us: ''I''m driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, "George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan." And I did, and then God would tell me, "George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq %u2026" And I did. And now, again, I feel God''s words coming to me, "Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East." And by God I''m gonna do it.''"

In case you don''t know how to use the link, there it is...:)

[ilikecatss]

Chavez Will be Crushed
Colombia will not stand for this Idiot !
These Colombians know how to fight and they understand Chavez very well.

[mh4cbs1]

Chavez ''Goads" Columbia?? What propaganda garbage.

Chavez is popular and was elected by far wider margins than our own War Criminal President. He stands up to the American Empire which has been raping the third world countries for decades. He says, sorry Exxon, this oil belongs to the people of Venezuela. He calls Bush out as a criminal -- which Bush Cheney are, having invading Iraq based on deliberate LIES for Oil.

So it is only natural that our corporate media demonizes Chavez, and all these right wing fascists now want to crush Chavez.

The game is over. South American countries will no longer stand to have puppet US dictators, coups and US-supported assignations.

Go Chavez!

[mh4cbs1]

jimmyc1955:

Chavez isn''t going into Columbia, you fool. Chavez is not a dictator either, you idiot.

I hope you are calling for impeachment and jail of Bush/Cheney. Now these two are a couple fascists, who deliberately LIED us into a needless War (their lies and aggression would make Hitler proud).

[iceman_1960]

"Chavez called Uribe "a criminal" and saying "Dracula''s fangs (are) are covered in blood."
--------------

What an orator that Hugo Chavez is.

He is another Churchill.

O-:

[iceman_1960]

"Before the seriousness of the events, I have ordered the mobilization of troops to the border," Correa added."
------------------

When Bush heard about this, he said "It"s a good thing we still have troops in Correa."

[iceman_1960]

I"m trying to recall the last time a head of state referred to someone as "Dracula."

Hugo Chavez must spend a lot of time watching old horror movies on TV.

[duffyn]

Excuse me. I''m a left liberal and proud of it. And in NO WAY am I pro-terroist. Go spread your (*& somewhere else mr connnnnservative.

[sgm6]

LOS PRESIDENTES DE VENEZUELA Y ECUADOR SON DOS DESVERGONZADOS PORQUE TEMEN PERDER LOS CLIENTES TERRORISTAS DE HOY, MANANA LOS BUITRES QUE LES COMERAN LOS OJOS COMO TRATAN LOS TERRORISTAS AL PUEBLO COLOMBIANO, DEJARON EN LIBERTAD A DOS MUJERES Y AL DIA SIGUIENTE SECUESTRARON 6 MAS. LOS PRESIDENTES DEL ECUADOR Y VENEZUELA DEBERIAN DARLES LAS GRACIAS AL PRESIDENTE URIBE. PERO NO LO HACEN PORQUE PERDIERON UN CLIENTE QUE LES COMPRABA ARMAS.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by SGM6 at 02:52 AM

I agree that they are "unos desvergonzados." Everyone who has been aware of the Colombian guerrillas knows what nasty people they are to their victims, who often are just simple indigenous people of the mountains. This Chavez defends such people as shows himself to be worthless in more ways than one.

[sgm6]

THE TWO PRESIDENTES THAT TODAY SCREAM LIKE THIEFVES ARE SORROW BEACAUSE THEY LOST ONE MORE CUSTOMER TO SALE HIM WEAPONS. THE FARC RELEASED TWO WOMAN AND NEXT DAY THEY KIDNAPPED SIX PERSONS. GOOD FOR URIBE AND LETS KICK THE BUT OF CHAVEZ.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by libsrweak at 02:10 AM

You are the other part of these problems. You want to paint people as either agreeing with you (so-called conservative) or not agreeing with you (so-called liberal). I think people like you on both sides of the equation are mentally ill.

[irliberal]

Posted by libsrweak at 02:10 AM

Eh, don''t pay any attention to this troll. His only point in writing anything at all is to condemn his fellow americans for not sharing his particular brand of partisanship. No, it isnt even as complex as that. He''s simply poking at a bees nest for the fun of it. The mindless enjoyment of a coward who hides behind a computer screen. There are many like him, it''s important to tolerate them, or ignore them, just not to ever take them seriously. Perhaps he''ll grow out of it some day, in the meanwhile the rest of us have more important things to do.

[harrydoghiny]

Can''t say I blame him. He''s seen enough of Bushco and the "spread of democracy" Just go quietly, guys, please...