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which prevented Betancourt's release at that time (French, Spanish and Swiss envoys, the presidents of Ecuador, France, Venezuela, and Argentina, and others, all involved in a negotiation with Reyes about Betancourt's release, which was imminent on March 1) grows in importance as to understanding Alvaro Uribe and Bushite motives in this entire saga. Uribe/Bush were under great international pressure to free Betancourt, but they didn't want it to be a victory for the leftist peacemakers in South America, so they murdered the chief FARC hostage negotiator, Reyes, on the eve of his release of Betancourt in March, and planned this recent operation, which--if the European news reports are true--involved paying the FARC (or some turncoat members of FARC) a $20 million ransom. Chavez was getting hostages released WITHOUT CONDITIONS. Betancourt was about to be released (primarily with Chavez's and Correa's help) WITHOUT CONDITIONS. Uribe had said he wanted hostages released "without conditions" (wouldn't negotiate with FARC), and then, when that very thing started happening--hostages being released without conditions--he and the Bushites devised a way to stop it, by murdering Reyes and 24 others without benefit of trial, and furthermore on Ecuadoran territory (almost starting a war).
It is supremely ironical that, just after bombing Reyes camp, with U.S./Bush help, Uribe began his series of wild accusations in the press against Chavez and Correa--one his charges being that Chavez gave FARC $300,000. (There is no evidence for this other than an item in what Uribe claims is Raul Reyes' laptop computer, allegedly retrieved from the bombed camp, referring to the number "300"--not $300,000.) If Uribe paid the FARC $20 million, that certainly dwarfs any help Chavez gave them (which was probably zilch).
It is also important to know that Uribe had requested Chavez's help in negotiating with the FARC for hostages releases, last year, and then, when Chavez started being successful at, BOMBED the location of the first two hostages that Chavez negotiated the release of, driving them back into the jungle. (Chavez got them out safely some time later.) I think this was pretty obviously a set up of Chavez, intended to hand him a diplomatic disaster, with dead hostages. It was never a sincere request. It was a trap. Then, under great international pressure, Uribe refrained from further attempts to murder hostages, and Chavez was able to free a total of six hostages, through Feb 08 (at which point Uribe & co. targeted and bombed Reyes' camp, killing him and 24 others).
So Uribe/Bush purposes seem to have been, a) to use the hostage situation to embarrass and discredit Chavez (failed); b) failing that, to STOP Chavez's successful negotiations (by killing Reyes); c) to, above all, prevent Betancourt from being released to leftist presidents (Chavez, Correa) (which killing Reyes accomplished); d) to devise a way to get credit for Betancourt's release ($20 million ransom, probably--buying off someone in FARC to arrange the rescue stunt); and e) to continue this very lucrative civil war ($5.5 BILLION in boondoggle military/police state contracts in Colombia), or, if pressured to settle it, to settle it on their terms (favorable to the "war on drugs" boondoggle, the Uribe/Bush Cartel cocaine trade, and U.S./corporate predator rule in Colombia).
I was recently apprized--by Judi Lynn--of the term "lily pad," as used by Donald Rumsfeld. Colombia is a Bushite/U.S. military "lily pad" in South America, from which to jump into action against the leftist governments which now cover most of South America. So it is very important, from many Bushite perspectives, to prevent a peaceful settlement of Colombia's long civil war, or, if there is some kind of settlement, to retain fascist power over the Colombian government. The Bushites need Colombia as a "lily pad" to promote the interests of Exxon Mobil & brethren in the region, and to continue plotting against Venezuela and Ecuador in particular (big oil reserves), and against their many allies. This does not bode well for peace in Colombia. The last time the FARC tried to demobilize and join the political process (late 1980s), the fascists murdered 4,000 FARC office holders, candidates, supporters and voters, and the FARC returned to the jungle and took up arms again. They are said to now control 20% to 30% of Colombian territory. (Rafael Correa has said that his country, Ecuador, is not bordered by Colombia--it is bordered by the FARC). I've seen an estimate of 700 other hostages still held by the FARC. That is no small endeavor--to hold, hide, feed, keep alive, 700 hostages. It is a measure of FARC's organization and power, and also of local community support. Colombia and its echo chamber (the Associated Pukes, Robo-Rooters, the Bush State Dept., etc.) are forever announcing that the FARC is in disarray and about to collapse. This rescue of Betancourt (ransom, stunt--whatever it was) was occasion for repeating this meme. (The FARC is is finished!, etc.) All I can say is, we'll see--because Colombia and its echo chamber are such goddamn liars.
Bottom line--whether FARC is 'finished' or not, and whatever one thinks of their tactics (which even Fidel Castro has criticized)--the FARC represents, or is an expression of, a vast population of poor Colombians who have been excluded from the political process, and who have suffered torture, murder and brutal repression by the likes of Uribe, his army and their death squads. Thousands of innocents have been killed. According to all human rights groups, most of the violence (80% to over 90%) has been perpetrated by Uribe & co. (with $5.5 BILLION in funding from U.S. taxpayers via the Bush Junta). ANY settlement of this civil war has to involve SAFETY for Colombia's poor majority within the political process. I've heard astute commentators on Iraq say that "there are no solutions" in Iraq. The Bushites have fucked things up so badly, that there IS no way to achieve civil order and a viable country. Colombia may be another case of Bushitism. And the only hope for it, I think--and how it is distinguished from Iraq--is that it is now surrounded by countries with peaceful, democratic, leftist (majorityist) governments--an achievement of the awesome democracy movement all over the continent. These governments are beginning to act in concert for common purposes--such as social justice and regional self-determination. They recently laid the foundation for a South American "Common Market" (and, proposed by Brazil, a common defense--neither thing including the U.S.). This is Colombia's hope and its future--not Bush supported fascism.
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