Uribe, in turn, defiantly shot back that Colombia will charge Chavez in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for materially aiding the FARC-EP by "sponsor(ing) and funding genocidal" groups. Colombia's Radio Caracol then reported Uribe intends to "revise" or "examine" his charges with no further details given. And on the same day Vice-President Francisco Santos Calderon provocatively indicated that relations with Correa "may be recovered," but it will be "very difficult" to reach a diplomatic solution with Chavez. He and Uribe have long been antagonists and have been at odds for months over Chavez's hostage mediating success that embarrassed the Colombian president and Washington in the process.
Colombian officials heightened tensions further through misstatements. First, they claimed bombings occurred on their own territory. Then they changed the story saying: "Colombia has not violated any sovereignty, (we) only acted in accordance with the principle of legitimate defense," and responded to fire from inside Ecuador.
Both statements were untrue and Chavez reacted. He accused Uribe of lying and called him a "criminal" saying: "Not only is he a liar, a mafia boss, a paramilitary who leads a narco-government (that's) a lackey of the United States (but he also) leads a band of criminals from his palace."
The war of words continues with Washington's OAS ambassador, Robert Manzanares, accusing FARC-EP of "undertak(ing) repeated incursions and infringements of national sovereignty (against Colombia's) neighbors." Defense Secretary Robert Gates "applauded" Uribe's action, and when asked if US intelligence supported it said: "Well, I would just say that we are very supportive."
George Bush joined in, and jumped to his ally's defense. Well he should as Washington provides Colombia with over $600 million a year and all for one purpose - to support repression and the interests of capital at the expense of beneficial social change. On March 4, Bush phoned Uribe with assurances "America fully supports Colombia's democracy (and) firmly opposes any acts of aggression that could destabilize the region." He also called sending Venezuelan troops to the border "provocative maneuvers."
In addition, he used the crisis to push Congress to approve a trade deal that's been stalled over issues of Uribe's paramilitary links and the country's human rights record. Bush did what he always does. He cited national security and said ratification is a way to counter leaders like Chavez who destabilize the region. "If we fail to approve this agreement, we will let down our close ally, we will damage our credibility (and) will embolden the demagogues in our hemisphere."
Consider comments as well from US presidential candidates. On March 3, Barack Obama said: "The Colombian people have suffered for more than four decades at the hands of a brutal terrorist insurgency, and the Colombian government has every right to defend itself against the...FARC."
Hillary Clinton was even more hostile stating: "Hugo Chavez's order yesterday to send ten battalions to the Colombian border is unwarranted and dangerous. (Colombia) has every right to defend itself against drug trafficking terrorist organizations that have kidnapped innocent civilians, including American citizens. By praising and supporting the (FARC-EP), Chavez is openly siding with terrorists that threaten Colombian democracy and the peace and security in the region. (Chavez) must call a halt to this provocative action. As president, I will....press Chavez to change course."
Then there's John McCain who even scares some in the Pentagon and is virulently hostile to Chavez. He calls him a "wacko" and "two-bit-dictator" and advocates his ouster "in the name of democracy and freedom throughout the hemisphere." As president, he'd be the most likely to provoke a confrontation because he's ideologically committed to militarism "to confront a range of security challenges....in a dangerous world."
One writer calls him an "authoritarian maverick" and a man to fear as president. Another describes his "McCainiac mentality," his notion of occupying Iraq for 100 years or as long as it takes, and his belief that militarism, nationalism and honor are their own rewards. Still another expects a McCain administration to confront Venezuela and Cuba by allying with regional rightest forces for regime change in both countries. Add Ecuador as well and a determination to declare "mission accomplished" before his tenure ends if he's elected.
Disturbing evidence of his belligerence is in his October 2001 commentary titled: "No Substitute for Victory - War is hell. Let's get on with it." In it, he calls war "miserable business (but let's) get on with the business of killing our enemies as quickly....and as ruthlessly as we must....(post-9/11) we have only one primary occupation, and that is to vanquish international terrorism. Not reduce it. Not change its operations. Not temporarily subdue it. But vanquish it....We did not cause this war (but) we must destroy the people who (did)." Is this a man to trust as president who considers anyone unresponsive to US interests a "terrorist" and state enemy to be destroyed?
Democrats are no better, so expect the worst under a new president next year. The "war on terror" will continue, and Uribe will get full funding and support for internal repression and Washington-ordered regional aggression.
By that standard, Hugo Chavez and Raul Castro have every right to invade Florida to capture two resident terrorists for bona fide crimes against their countries - Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch. Posada is a former CIA operative who terror-bombed and killed 73 people in 1976 on Cubana flight 455 that Bosch likely masterminded. Yet South Florida's Cuban-American community and the Bush administration protect them as an expression of their judicial double standard.
Heated Rhetoric and Provocative Charges
Further heightening tensions, Colombia's vice-president, Francisco Santos Calderon, made an outlandish claim. With no verifiable evidence, even some in the intelligence community are dubious - that invading forces found provocative material on three recovered laptops that supposedly show:
-- Venezuela provided $300 million in aid to the FARC-EP;
I am a 72 year old, retired, progressive small businessman concerned about all the major national and world issues, committed to speak out and write about them.
in many places around the world is well exposed in this fine and exhaustively detailed work, thanks for it Mr. Lendman.
The monies this nation pours into Columbia, supposedly to combat the drug cartels that are poisoning our youth, goes mainly to make Columbia's military the most powerful in that region of the world. Just like Israel, Columbia is propped up with our tax revenues and made as a miltary bastion in a region ever more hostile to US interests there.
There are two great tragedies here, from a standpoint of our own interests; one is that the American people are simply disinterested in this situation to our everlasting shame. The other is that, regardless of which candidate wins the Presidency in the fall, our policies towards Columbia, Venezuela, Israel and the Palestinians will not change one iota.
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 8:47:17 AM
Please pardon my seeming impertinence in drawing attention to your orthography, ardee D.,(whatever that may mean) but, agree with you though I might, what you say would be far more convincing if you learned how to spell Colombia and were able to distinguish between uninterersted and disinterested. Scott Griffith.
by
Scott Griffith (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 18 comments)
on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 10:27:35 AM
perhaps both. Concerning internet etiquette, it is a gross violation of manners to correct ones spelling, grammar or punctuation. You should learn this, adhere to it, or risk being labeled as unworthy of response.
Perhaps you are simply grouchy today, perhaps you are worse than that.
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 4:34:32 PM
The US=Colombian raid was an act of war. In violation of the UN Charter, it illustrates the Administration's zeal for yet another preemptive war.
Under NSPD 51 President Bush has the excuse to declare Martial Law and to suspend the 2008 elections. Stephen Lendman is one of the few who recognizes the dangers the incursion might bring.
If anyone has a more cogent explanation for these goings on, he or she has my complete attention.
by
Jason Paz (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 72 comments)
on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 12:55:25 PM
I'm sure you will be surprised to hear that Chavez and Correa both commited what has been adjudicated to be Acts of War by Intl Law by giving aid and comfort to the enemy of Colombia. I don't need to invent nor borrow from the talking points of the rabid socialists to know that Mr. Lendman's article is pure invention. I've spent too much time in all three of these countries to be gullible enough to believe what he purports. To begin with, Ecuador was advised by Interpol in June of 2007 of the Sta. Rosa emcampment and did nothing. In January this year, that harmless little fellow, Raul (not Paul) Reyes visited Romania to attempt to locate nuclear material. He travelled with, guess, a Venezuelan passport. Now, how did he get that! Ah, I didn't make that up, that was an Interpol report.
When Interpol validates the computers, and contents, how will you defend that, Mr. Lendman? Tell me, do you know why Ecuador has not returned the FARC Kidnapping victim, Sandra Hernandez to Colombia? Recall that she was among the survivors at the camp. I'd love to hear her story.
By the way, The Chilean students photographed at the Sta Rosa camp were in Quito for a socialist gathering, and just happened to find their way to Sta Rosa, with no help at all. Now there's a story for you.
Mr. Lendman, I'm afraid your article is so full of "errors" that it seems to match something I'd read in Prensa Latina (Havana) Granma (Havana) La Hora (Quito, pro goverment) or the Venezuelan government.
by
Don Gist (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 9 comments)
on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 3:29:07 PM
You speak of assumption as if it were fact. The violation committed by ColOmbia (happy now kid?) is fact, the contents of that computer are not verified and perhaps will never be, yet you are quick to deflect blame here. I guess you prefer fascists like Uribe to socialists like Chavez, who cares?
You honestly think that we care or believe your credentials after you post such a silly thing as this?
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 4:40:37 PM
I suppose you are telling me that this is a blog open to all who agree with the views expounded by the extreme left wing. In that case, I don't care either, if you can't handle what I write, then don't read it. Your absurd statement that I prefer fascist Uribe to socialist Chavez may better be statede as, yes, I prefer a democratic president to a marxist despot any day. (In case you haven't heard, Chavez has declared himself to be a marxist).
I would imagine that you believe people like me should be locked up, which Castro has been doing for nearly fifty years, or possibly shot, as Che Guevara specialized in during the first days of the new Cuban government (some 7,000 people went straight to the firing squads), because we are counter to your revolution. I happen to believe we have a right to our opinions, and the right to self defense. FARC does not.
The latest bit of news on Sta Rosa is that one of the uninjured survivors is a Mexican citizen who had been naturalized,- his original country or origin was Cuba. I suppose he was also working on his thesis. The forensic experts working on the computers are Interpol personnel. I wonder, if they pronounce the computers and data as genuine, will you still rant that they are a fraud?
by
Don Gist (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 9 comments)
on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 6:27:41 PM
Now if I had soap and a towel I could shower in it.....
Chavez, as you well know, received over 60% of the popular vote in an election certified as fair by the Carter Commission. He has given heating oil to the poor in the Bronx New York, among many other charitable acts, some Marxist there you betcha.
Uribe, on the other hand sponsors and depends upon right wing death squads, has received hundreds and hundreds of millions of our dollars to fight drug cartels which continue to flourish regardless. Some democrat!
You are free to post whatsoever you wish here, just as I am free to note the bias and sophomoric logic contained within your effort, your crocodile tears notwithstanding...shill much for Bush?
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 7:03:48 AM
I don't recall quoting Bush at all, this has nothing to do with him. Chavez had 60%, and the legitimacy of that is questionable. Presently, his support in Venezuela is around 20%, according to many Venezuelan friends. Uribe's last poll reflected 85% overall support, and 83% support for the Ecuador incursion to get Raul Reyes. Los Paras were put out of operation by the Colombian government 4 years ago, so that nonsense is getting old. Chavez did not offer oil out of the goodness of his heart, he was buying support, the same as he does in Latin America. There haven't been that many takers at that, in several states his offer was rejected, and CITGO is being boycotted by 80% of its former customers who see him for what he is.
I fully realize that this is a "progressive" "left leaning" blog, and I present a view that is heresy meriting my execution in several socialist countries, but my opinions are based on my and others experiences, and just maybe it will make some of you think a little bit.
by
Don Gist (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 9 comments)
on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 7:31:18 AM
Colombian right wing death squads are currently active within that nation, very active, and with the support of many within the Uribe government, the President included. Uribe himself is nothing more or less than a tool of the Bush intentions to keep South America enslaved to US corporations.
That election was, once again, certified as fair by the Carter Commission, ignore facts all you wish. According to every account not coming out of an NSA or CIA cubicle ( how is the view anyway?) Chavez has , not only th eoverwhelming support of his citizenry, but the support of most of South and Central America as well.
You may tell all the fairy tales you care to make up, but they will be exposed as such and you will be thought of accordingly. Dont cry those stupid tears about free speech either because your idea of such is lies and distortions as you are simply a tool.
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Friday, March 14, 2008 at 11:59:27 AM
Little buddy, I do not, and have not, cried about anything, although I wouldn't mind getting in your insolent little face at this point. Neither have I lied. I've spent more time in Colombia, Ecuador, Central and South America than you've been alive, and my own relatives and friends still living there are my primary sources of information, along with local newspapers in any country of interest. Have you done that? Oh my, you would need to speak Spanish in order to read them, and I'm sure your party line news comes from the English version of Prensa Latina (Havana Cuba) and similar sources.
For a pipsqueak like you to call me a liar is like a 2 year old screaming at the top of his lungs thinking he's communicating something intelligble,- Absolutely juvenile.
by
Don Gist (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 9 comments)
on Friday, March 14, 2008 at 12:20:59 PM
Now button your fly, understand that I am neither little, your buddy, or a pipsqueek. Im 240 lbs, six foot even and a former biker of long standing in a certain club. You may get in my face but you would certainly regret doing so.
You are a damn liar and you and I both know that to be fact. you posted tripe, plain and simple, egregious lies in fact and then lost your temper because someone cared enough to expose you as the liar you are. Tough, punk.
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Monday, March 17, 2008 at 3:20:23 PM
Mr. Gist is right. As an Ecuadorian who studied in the United States and has many relatives living there, I'm increasingly concerned about Americans being manipulated by Fidel Castro, Hugo Chávez and Islamic Terrorists. Hugo Chávez steals millions from his people to manipulate people in the U.S. From the comments I'm reading here, except for Mr. Gist's, I'm afraid he is achieving his purpose. My family and friends in Ecuador are now in the hands of a dictator, Rafael Correa, whose campaign was paid by Chávez and FARC. They were both working with FARC to undermine Uribe, because he is a friend of the U.S. They are aslo working with Islamics to harm the United States. We can't defend ourselves because we are in a ditatorship. Please do become informed, but not with "news" from the enemies of the United States, but with real news.
by
Antonio Calderon (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments)
on Friday, March 14, 2008 at 7:00:02 PM
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