Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is accusing Colombia and the United States of plotting to set up a fake rebel camp on Venezuelan soil to discredit his government.
Chavez accused Colombia of preparing what he called a "false positive" operation, saying on Monday that it's feasible the neighboring country could build a makeshift camp in a remote location, then plant corpses and guns to make it look like a rebel camp had been discovered.
Colombian officials have said that leftist rebel commanders from their country are taking refuge in Venezuela. Chavez says the officials are falsely trying to portray him as being in cahoots with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which Colombia has been battling for decades.
"The verbal war against Venezuela began weeks ago, saying that we have I don't know how many guerrilla chiefs hidden here ... that in Venezuela there are rebel camps protected by the Venezuelan government, which is absolutely false," Chavez told troops during a televised speech in the western border state of Zulia.
"We have evidence that the Colombian government, instructed and supported, or rather directed by the United States, is preparing a 'false positive,"' Chavez said.
He said he believes Colombia could bring bodies "to a mountain in Venezuelan territory, build some huts, an improvised camp, put some rifles there ... and say 'There it is, the guerrilla camp in Venezuela."'
Last year, Colombian troops raided a FARC camp inside Ecuador, killing 25 people including a FARC commander. That attack triggered sharp tensions with Ecuador and Venezuela.
Chavez's accusations are the latest in a protracted diplomatic conflict with Colombia that has led to a sharp drop in trade this year and has prompted the Venezuelan leader to warn of a possible armed conflict.
Chavez has accused Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's government of allowing the United States to expand its military presence at its bases to prepare a possible attack against Venezuela.
Both the U.S. and Colombia say the American troops are solely aiding Colombia to combat drug trafficking and guerrillas internally. They both have repeatedly denied planning to invade Venezuela and his opponents have accused Chavez of using an invasion threat to distract attention from domestic problems.
Chavez addressed troops at Fort Mara, where he said a group of soldiers recently reported spotting an unmanned spy plane.
Colombian Defence Minister Gabriel Silva has ridiculed that claim, saying Venezuelan troops might have mistaken Santa's sleigh for a drone and that his military doesn't have aircraft that could perform such an espionage mission.
Soldiers who stood facing Chavez displayed some of the weapons that Venezuela has recently bought from Russia, including shoulder-fired Igla-S surface-to-air missiles and Dragunov sniper rifles. Chavez said his military now has thousands of Igla-S weapons.
"They're defensive weapons. This is like the boxer's jab," Chavez said.
He said the military will soon be receiving new arms including Russian-made T-72 tanks.
Venezuela has already bought more than $4 billion worth of Russian arms since 2005, including 24 Sukhoi fighter jets, dozens of helicopters and 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles. In September, Russia agreed to lend Venezuela $2.2 billion to buy more weapons. (The Canadian Press)
Bluebird
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... Last thing Chavez needs is a McDonalds....he seems to be getting more pudgy every day! LOL If he starts hanging out at McDonalds he wont be able to fit in his army fatigues anymore!!! |
tomtom33
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... I have evidence that Hugo is certifiable. I believe that he could bring himself to believe any kind screwy scenario that he thinks could further his ends. Of course, I don't believe that he even knows what those ends are. |
oblate
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... The wisest thing that Colombia & the US could do is to sever all ties with Venezuela. Yes, there would be an economic set back but, that would be short lived at the worst. The U.S does not do much business with Venezuela outside of some commodities exports which tax relief could offset any monetary loss. Also, New Jersey (I think) has an oil contract through an oil company CITGO that is owned by Chavez that should be ended. Just end any relationship, do not comment in any way to anything Chavez says and completely ignore his rantings either in the press or at the UN or OAS. The citizens of Venezuela would soon see what is going on and take some action of their own. Chavez is a disgrace to the community of nations and has not made one positive contribution to the world body of nations since he has been President. This is a shame for a leader of a great nation like Venezuela to have to live with. For the friends of Chavez I would dearly like to know what he has done as President to foster a great nation and one worthy of belonging to any world body. |
Loco
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... It wouldn't be the first time the US faked an international incident to start a war. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_Incident |
Loco Pollo
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... Oblate what are you talking about? Venezuela supplies like 10-20% of the US gas market. An embargo would mean a spike in oil prices, which would only benefit Hugo Chavez anyhow as higher oil prices allows him to finance his socio-economic model, which is the root of his political power at home (not his never-ending confrontations with the US and Colombia). Also, Venezuela has made far greater accomplishments reducing poverty and other social ills than many other governments in the area, according to the UN figures. Anyways, as mad as Chavez seems to Americans, it's important to remember that the US actively tried to overthrow both Hugo Chavez and almost all of his international allies using subversion at some point. That he thinks America will try it in 2010 means he probably doesn't get how wary the US political establishment is of imperialism after the failures in Iraq. But its hardly like America or its allies have never ever destabilized foreign governments or framed them for things they haven't done. |
tomtom33
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... "...Venezuela has made far greater accomplishments reducing poverty and other social ills than many other governments in the area, according to the UN figures." I could let the rest slide. Surely you jest. Hugo has used the oil money to subsidize some foodstuffs and gasoline while he has chased capital out of the country and devastated the economy. How safe is Caracas or even Maracaibo these days? |
oblate
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... I really do not have time to debate this but; Ven supplies 11% to the US which is really not that much since the bulk of it goes to one state, New Jersey. Any spike in oil prices devastates Ven and you know that. Why can't you give credit to the US for not doing anything to Chavez? And the comment, "Also, Venezuela has made far greater accomplishments reducing poverty and other social ills than many other governments in the area, according to the UN figures." This is ridiculous and misleading statement offered with no proof at all. Show me where he has reduced poverty? Oh yeah to the people who voted for him. And when has the UN ever criticized anything that a socialist organization does? Certainly nothing in recent times. Don't get carried away by the rhetoric that Chavez and the UN spills. If Chavez was the second coming as you seem to portray why doesn’t that piece of garbage stop shipping cocaine to the US and Europe for which there is proof. Why doesn't Chavez stop supporting an organization that murders, rapes, and seeks to ruin a freely elected democracy for which there is proof? more... |
oblate
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... Then you make another carless comment, "the US actively tried to overthrow both Hugo Chavez and almost all of his international allies using subversion at some point. That he thinks America will try it in 2010 means he probably doesn't get how wary the US political establishment is of imperialism after the failures in Iraq. ." Where is the proof? This is more crap from Chavez but, no one has ever proven US involvement. And finally, anyone who ties the US to the term of "imperialism." is truly ignorant of what the word means but, then again nothing new for socialist do gooders who talk out of one side and lies out of the other just to make their point. My ignorant friend imperialism is the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies. The US has done nothing like this with Ven or any other country in the last 65 years I have been alive. Britain…yes they have. Don’t show how stupid you are because you destroy what little credibility socialists have. All talk and no solutions and little proof of what they pretend. |
Bluebird
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... @ pollo loco........ you may just be on to something here........you know how sneaky those americans can be! I'll bet you that the FARC camp of Paul Reyes that was "found" in Ecuador and "bombed" was actually carried there piece by piece from Colombia and then the bodies of Reyes and the others were placed strategically around the camp in an attempt to make make Ecuador and Venezuela look bad. Oh......those tricky, tricky americans...... |
oblate
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... For those who adore the hitlerisms of Chavez please note that Chavez has now called for an end of Christmas "consumption insanity" and replace presents for children with stories about national independence hero Simon Bolivar. "For the love of God, let's halt this, let's put the brakes on this consumerist, capitalist insanity, that leads us to lose our spiritual values," said Chavez. "Let's sit with the children and tell them stories of Bolivar, of the motherland," the Venezuelan President said, adding that he makes this appeal from his heart "to put aside these vices." This is a very sick person who should not be let alone for any amount of time without restraints. |
Adriaan
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... @ Oblate, With the economy going down 2.9% in 2010 that may not be such a stupid idea ;) |
Bluebird
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... @oblate....This call by Chavez is actually more about an attempt to de-emphasize the religous aspects of Christmas more than any real objections to people buying Christmas gifts for their children. He obviously feels it is necessary to keep the focus on him self and the "bolivarian" bullcrap even during the Christmas season. Perhaps during the week of Easter they will begin regaling the Venezuelan children with tales of the "brave comrade" Cordoba in Colombia who is working so hard to bring the "bolivarian" bullcrap movement to Colombia!!!! |
Bluebird
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... They may even invent some new holiday stories for the children such as " A FARC Christmas" or mabe "An ELN Easter" LOL |
oblate
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... In the last 40-50 years Communist and Socialist regimes have forbade the role of religion in anything. They want total control over the people. It didn't work there and it won't work in Venezuela. Even in China the role of religion increases daily. Instead of singing a Partridge in a pear tree we could sing a fat little piece of crap in any tree still alive. |
Compatriota
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... When you cant fix problems in your own country there always has to be a scapegoat. In Germany in the 30's it was the Jews in Venezuela it is the North Americans. ?What would happen if the US would suddenly be the good guy? Then Chavez would have to admit that his administration is the real cause for the problems and he would not be in power for very long. |
