VOICES FROM THE BLOGOSPHERE: IS VENEZUELA BECOMING THE IRAN OF SOUTH AMERICA?

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March 3, 2008 - Is Venezuela Becoming the Iran of South America?

It seemed obvious, that rather sooner than later, the socialist governments of some South American Nations would mean trouble for the continent. Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela and troublemaker extraordinaire finally found what he called a “causus bellis” (sic) with neighbouring Colombia. Colombia has been the United States’ only ally in the region for quite some time and has been struggling for years against attacks by the marxist-leninist terrorist group FARC. This weekend, Colombian troops crossed the border with Ecuador, killed the FARC leader Raul Reyes and found proof for the involvement of the Ecuadorian Minister of the Interior with the FARC terrorists.

That, in turn, mobilized fat Hugo and he is, like his socialist friends in Ecuador, putting troops on the border with Colombia, expulsing Colombian diplomats and talking publicly of war with the only government friendly to the US and Israel in the region. Even if you do not understand Spanish, you should watch the videos of fat Hugo impersonating a mafia don here and especially here.

Colombia's government has received support from Washington to fight the guerrillas - as the US, along with the EU, views FARC as a terrorist organisation.
Colombian troops have recently retaken control of areas previously held by rebel groups, but FARC retains a strong hold over Colombia's more remote regions.

Colombia's foreign minister said he regretted that troops had to cross the border, but said it had been necessary in the fight against terrorism.
"The Colombian government has never wanted to disrespect or violate the sovereignty or integrity of the sister republic of Ecuador," Fernando Araujo said.
A spokesman for Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said that during the raid, troops had found documents that provided information that "[Ecuadorian President Correa] has a relationship and commitments with Farc",
Police commander Gen Oscar Naranjo said one document showed Reyes had met Ecuador's minister of internal security and that they discussed Mr Correa's "interest in making official relations with the FARC". Colombia's defense minister had described the death of Reyes as the "biggest blow so far" to Farc.

Speaking on his weekly television show, President Chavez said Venezuela's embassy in Bogota would close. He lamented the killing of Reyes - whom he called a "good revolutionary" - when he spoke on his show, "Alo, Presidente". Chavez described the strike as "a cowardly murder, all of it coldly calculated". He said Colombia had "invaded Ecuador, flagrantly violated Ecuador's sovereignty". Chavez addressed his defense minister, asking him to "move 10 battalions to the border with Colombia for me, immediately" - a deployment likely to involve several thousand soldiers.

Posted by TC