Bush and Uribe v. Chavez and Correa - by Stephen Lendman
Call it another salvo in Bush v. Chavez with Ecuador's Raphael Correa as a secondary target and Colombia's Alvaro Uribe as a proxy aggressor. The Ecuadorean incursion was no ordinary cross-border raid. It was a made in Washington affair that escalates a nine year attempt to remove the Venezuelan leader and return oligarchs in the country to power. It also threatens two regional leaders who know what they're up against in Uribe and Washington, "friendly" handshakes in the Dominican Republic notwithstanding. The situation is far from settled, and here's how events unfolded so far:
-- on March 1, the Colombian military illegally entered Ecuadorean air space and invaded on the ground; the target was a FARC-EP rebel camp; US intelligence was key by identifying the precise location to bomb through satellite telephone tracking; Colombian Radio Cadena Nacional (RCN) reported it heard a FARC-EP leader - Chavez conversation three days before the raid; Colombian Noticias Uno TV said "foreign spy planes" photographed FARC-EP's precise location for the country's military to use in the raid;
-- it's also known that US Special Forces train Colombian counterinsurgents, accompany them on missions, and likely participated (covertly) in the March 1 operation;
-- Colombian (and likely US) forces attacked and slaughtered over 20 people in total, including 16 Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FACR-EP) members while they slept;
-- among the dead was FARC-EP's second-in-command, Raul Reyes; he was FARC-EP's public voice, its key peace negotiator since the 1990s, and the lead figure in the Chavez-arranged hostage releases; that and his prominence made him a target so his death may disrupt the process and current efforts toward resolving a 40 year conflict equitably; Washington wants it halted, so does Uribe, and that's where things now stand;
-- Hugo Chavez and other Latin American leaders were united in condemning the hostile act; the 35-member Organization of American States, however, was tepid in its formal March 5 response; Correa called it welcome but inadequate and insists on a formal condemnation; Chavez was even more forceful saying: "We demand condemnation of the Colombian government for this aberrant act," he called it a "war crime (and blamed the crisis on the US) empire and its lackeys;"
-- ahead of the March 7 Dominican Republic XX Rio Group Summit of Latin American leaders, foreign ministers from Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil and Peru issued a statement demanding respect for their national sovereignty; Chavez called the meeting "positive" and advocated "cooling tensions;" he supported Ecuador and said: "We don't want war;"
-- Chavez, Correa and Uribe exchanged cool handshakes and pro forma conciliatory statements at the Summit; for what it's worth, Uribe issued a "formal apology" to the Ecuadorean government and its people; call it disingenuous diplomacy; it settles nothing in spite of how the media played it or that Venezuela and Colombia restored diplomatic ties; for his part, Correa said it will be "difficult to recover trust" and reestablishing normal relations "will take a little time;"
-- one example of media coverage came from correspondent Simon Romero of The New York Times; he's always disingenuous and never neutral; he reported "handshakes and warm embraces....ended the dispute" as though nothing ever happened and it's again business as usual; in fact, nothing is settled; the incident still simmers, it's just a matter of time before the next one erupts, and Chavez, Correa and other regional leaders know it; so does Washington that plans them;
-- earlier, Chavez also called Colombia the "Israel of Latin America" saying both countries claimed "a supposed right to defense," to bomb and invade neighbors on orders from Washington;
-- Uribe confirmed it by saying he "refused to rule out future military incursions into Ecuador or Venezuela," so expect more provocations ahead with full Washington backing;
-- at the same time, huge crowds of Colombians at home and abroad marched for peace and against terrorist acts; they denounced violence on both sides and want it ended, but a new disturbing report came out:
-- the Colombia weekly Semana wrote that ex-Israeli military men are fighting guerrilla organizations (meaning the FARC-EP and ELN), and Defense Minister Juan Santos confirmed that "A group of former Israeli military officials (including three senior generals, a lower ranking officer and three translators) is counseling the military's top brass on intelligence issues;" in addition, FARC-EP claims that Israeli commandos were engaged against them along with US and British forces.
The hostile words followed with Ecuadorean officials citing irrefutable evidence that Uribe's attack was premeditated and his worst ever aggression against their country. Correa expressed "outrage" and sees no negotiated settlement because "there is nothing to negotiate." In Brazil for a meeting with Lula da Silva, he said Ecuador is prepared to go "up to the ultimate consequences (over this even though) nobody wants war. But we won't fool ourselves. The war was started by Colombia. We were bombed."
Correa and Chavez both deployed troops to their borders, and each country went further. Ecuador severed diplomatic ties with its neighbor, and Correa called Uribe Washington's "unconditional puppet" for his blatant act of aggression. Chavez also expelled Colombia's ambassador, and called the strike "a cowardly murder, all of it coldly calculated" and planned in Washington. He also warned Colombia against similar Venezuelan incursions that he would interpret as a "cause for war."
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, 2388 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, 2388 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, 49 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, 5 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, 2388 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, 5 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, 2388 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, 5 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, 2388 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, 5 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, 2388 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
