So, Bush will invade Venezuela via Columbia....

[RethugAssKicker]

Smart !... make it look like they're helping Columbia.

Fucking sneaky bastards !...I should have realized this a long time ago!

[MonkeyFunk]

1. Um, to quote an old line...

with whose army?

We're not invading Venezuela.

[Warpy]

4. Absolutely not. However, the CIA might be leaning on the

Colombians to do so. After all, what caused this standoff is the Colombians crossing the border into Ecuador to assassinate a FARC leader there.

Right now, Chavez looks very prudent in his action. Just because this country doesn't like a foreign leader doesn't mean that leader is irresponsible. After all, Iranian troops have been massed on the Iraq border since Stupid invaded. Other than a few exchanges of rockets with the Kurds, they have not crossed that border. They're only there as a very wise precaution.

[RethugAssKicker]

21. It will be a proxy war...

They will use Columbians backed by American $$$ for weaponry. Perfect
scenario to start the war agains the Latin American Revolution !

[Warpy]

27. Colombia will still be fighting on at least 2 fronts.

They're not going to win.

[annabanana]

8. With Lockheed Martin's army, of course..

or any one of a number of contracted firms CACI, Blackwater etc...

[RethugAssKicker]

22. They will use the Columbian Army, mercenaries, and

about 1-2000 American soldiers who are already there in the BS war on drugs.
Plus with billions of dollars in new weaponry

[Hydra]

2. That's my guess

Although this is risky- war in Afghanistan, Iraq, Possibly Iran and now South America? That's a lot of fronts.

[elizfeelinggreat]

11. you said it

"That's a lot of fronts."

Where have we heard that before?

Fight and decisively win in multiple, simultaneous theater wars
PNAC all the way ...

[Hydra]

12. Good insight

I supposed they'll burn Venezuela to the ground. That WILL send a message.

[Richard D]

3. That was my first impression as well . . .

. . . though the lack of forces and resources would be a pretty big problem. War tends to be good for the economy though, especially if Venezuelan oil is part of their plan.

[Winterblues]

5. In what world is "war" good for the economy?

If that was the case the Republicans would have a strong history of good economies and the opposite is the truth. It is good for a few "War Profiteers" that is true but for the economy in general it is quite the opposite.

[Richard D]

7. In the republican world

Tax money goes to the richest people in the form of defense contracts. People get employed. Money gets spent.

A really bad system, but one I've heard promulgated by RRW's.

[Fleshdancer]

13. Plus it gives them an excuse to lower spending on social programs

It's the perfect neocon setup, isn't it? Contractors get more money, less money is spent on the programs they don't like, and they get to pretend they are spreading "American Democracy" around the world.

The PNAC members must be in a constant state of orgasm right now.

[RethugAssKicker]

18. scary isn't it....

I think they're going to use Columbia in a big way.. to try to turn
the Latin American Revolution around.

Fucking Columbians are fucking stupid... they are being used as puppets for
American Imperialism

[Fleshdancer]

23. it is. I have a lot of homework to do too....

My foreign affairs focus has been on the ME for so long that I admit to being somewhat ignorant on the latest developements in South America. I do know that I'm uncomfortable with the idea of Bush getting involved, but that's a given in any situation I guess.

[RethugAssKicker]

25. Please learn about the incredible things going on in

South America.. It is truly an amazing revolution...

Finally, after 500 years the indigenous people are having a voice , they are
taking control of their country and electing indigenous presidents who are doing
wonderful things for their people, rather than continue to be exploited by the American Corprotacracy... and in a large degree becuase of Hugo Chavez..

However, the American press has painted it as a socialist movement that is against democracy and freedom (sound familiar?).. They call it a leftist movement... But for the most part it is not discussed at all !

Yes, please take some time and learn about the Bolivarion Revolution taking hold of Latin America.

[RethugAssKicker]

19. They don't have to use many of our soldiers.

They already have quite a number of soldiers in Columbia in their fake war
on drugs (Plan Columbia).... plus they will use mercenaries and the Columbian
military.. back by billions of dollars of new weapons.

[damntexdem]

6. And Ecuador, and Peru, and Brazil?

Well, at least it would mean that Dubya was no longer ignoring South America. ;-)

[L. Coyote]

9. NO, but they sure need a new disatraction! Everyone is seeing the naked emporer

and that's not a pretty picture :rofl:

[Doctor Cynic]

10. He's running out of coke so he needs to secure supplies.

[spanone]

14. have oil?, will invade

[bdamomma]

15. hmm... what is Cheney and Negroponte been up to lately??

:hide:

[EFerrari]

16. You got it. Even if BushCo just uses it to discredit Chavez, they win.

[RethugAssKicker]

17. Yeah, perfect situation...

[hunter]

20. Columbia is brittle. The harder we push it, the more likely it is to shatter.

Bush conferred his blessings upon the Columbian government today. They are doomed.

[goforit]

24. Failure in Iraq is motivation to grab Venezuela. Chavez was right.

[spanone]

26. yep, and he's marshalling the boy scouts

[Peace Patriot]

28. It's a Rumsfeld scheme...

"The Smart Way to Beat Tyrants Like Chávez," by Donald Rumsfeld, 12/1/07
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/30/AR2007113001800.html

a) Arm Colombia to the teeth, with billions of our taxpayer dollars in military aid (already accomplished), and create a "free trade" zone (free fire zone against union organizers, who have short lives in Colombia), and batter neighboring Venezuela's economy (and that of the region) with items like Exxon Mobil suing to freeze $12 billion in Venezuela's assets (over a dispute about Venezuela's 60% share in its own oil--a deal that Norway's Statoil, France's Total, British BP and even Chevron have agreed to)--to destabilize Venezuela and "divide and conquer" it from its many allies (Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil and others); and

b) Take "swift" U.S. action (i.e., military intervention) in support of Bushite "friends and allies" in South America (i.e., fascist thugs planning coups in democratic countries, and "defense" of Bush Cartel client state, Colombia).

Oil War II, is what it is. All of these are oil rich countries--Venezuela and Ecuador are members of OPEC; Bolivia has oil and lots of gas; and there was just a big oil find in Argentina. All four are close allies, and have very democratic, elected, leftist governments, with goals of social justice and regional self-determination. Rumsfeld wants to destroy this nest of democrats, and reinstall fascist juntas that will do Exxon Mobil's bidding. He also wants to maintain the war profiteer boondoggle in Colombia.

And you thought he was "retired"?!

Note: We do have boots on the ground in Colombia ("war on drugs") including Blackwater (training and recruiting there "for Iraq"), and in Ecuador (U.S. spy base in Manta--which probably directed the Colombia bombing of Ecuador), as well as U.S.-funded rightwing paramilitaries, militias and death squads, in Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador (don't know about Argentina). Enough to cause a helluva lot of grief and suffering in support of fascist coups. Rumsfeld (Bush) also has naval and air forces in the region. Rafael Correa--the new, young, U.S.-educated, leftist economist president of Ecuador, and strong ally of Chavez--has pledged to kick the U.S. base out of Manta, when its lease comes up for renewal in 2009. That is no doubt part of the mix here. The U.S. is in profound disrepute throughout the region, for many dirty, scheming, nefarious activities, of which this recent murder of the FARC hostage negotiator (on whom Chavez, Correa and the rightwing President of France were depending for more hostage releases, and peace talks for Colombia's 40+ year civil war) is just the "tip of the iceberg" (believe me). The Bushites have almost no strategic ground, and are losing ground. They have failed in all their dirty schemes--as more and more countries elect leftist leaders.* That's why they are striking out in this way (with the slaughter in Ecuador, not just of guerrillas, but of THE guerrilla, Raul Reyes, most amenable to hostage releases, and peace talks)--to create "chaos and opportunity"--a Rumsfeld signature.

*(Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile and Nicaragua--and next Paraguay (this year)--all now with democratically elected, leftist governments--and strong new alliances.)

[Peace Patriot]

29. Two good info sources to get up to speed on this situation...

www.venezuelanalysis.com
www.BoRev.net (hilarious AND informative!)

I'll post some other links in a moment.

[Peace Patriot]

31. More links on this situation, and some background...

Washington’s role in the current conflict between Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador
March 3rd 2008, by Cory Fischer-Hoffman - Upside Down World
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/3224

Plan Colombia: The Real Destabilizing Force in South America
March 4th 2008, by Carlos Martinez - Global Exchange Venezuela Program
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/3231

Prominent British Figures Call on ExxonMobil to Respect Venezuelan Sovereignty
February 28th 2008, by Venezuelan Information Centre
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/3209

PDVSA in London courts to defend Venezuelan oil sovereignty in Exxon dispute
February 28th 2008, by James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/3211

Background: The Irish filmmakers' documentary "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" (available at YouTube and at www.axisoflogic.com). Reveals some of Bush/U.S. complicity in the 2002 coup attempt, RCTV's complicity, and also the awesome courage of the Venezuelan people in turning back the coup, after the coup plotters kidnapped their elected president, and suspended their Constitution, the National Assembly, the courts and all civil rights. A very inspiring film--and it tells you who really has the power in Venezuela--the people!

[arcos]

30. I think you mean Colombia... nt