What stroke of brilliance made him choose Chavez as a mediator?
In theory, a mediator should persuade two sides to each give up something to achieve a common end. The only one who gave up anything, however, was [Columbian President] Uribe, who watched Chavez cavort with terrorists before TV cameras, giving them a legitimacy in Caracas they never had known.
Even worse, Chavez proved to be acting as an agent of the terrorists. Uribe’s sudden cutoff of the mediation effort at a hastily organized press conference last Wednesday suggested disturbing new information.
On Sunday, Chavez confirmed it: “I think Colombia deserves another president, it deserves a better president,” he said.
That followed a discussion in a U.S. prison between extradited FARC terrorist Ricardo Palmera, aka “Simon Trinidad,” and another mediator and Chavez ally appointed by Uribe, Senator Piedad Cordoba. They discussed “a transitional government” with the terrorist as a bargaining chip for the hostage swap.
On Monday, Chavez repeated what he had in mind to make sure Uribe understood. “Reconciliation is impossible,” he said. “We have to wait for a new government in Colombia we can talk with. I hope it arrives sooner rather than later.”
No wonder Uribe lashed out, saying Chavez was less interested in mediating than in overthrowing Colombia’s government. That may have sounded far-fetched, but it’s what the guerrillas have been fighting for since 1964, and Chavez’s admiration for them is no secret. Uribe, who has come down on the guerrillas harder than any other Colombian leader, is the president they want gone.
“You seek continental domination” Uribe said, and “a Marxist FARC government” to replace Colombia’s elected one. He also pointed out that it was prime time for Chavez to be trying this, with the Venezuelan’s public support at home flagging just one week before a constitutional referendum to grant him absolute power.
What better way to make Venezuelans forget their problems than to whip up populist sentiment against Colombia. It also is noteworthy that he’s rousing military support against the neighboring state, something he may really find use for as rebellion grows at home.
Chavez’s boldness will wind up handing him the same fate as Guevarra.
The sooner the better. What a friggin (and dangerous) buffoon.
I was hoping more for the cecesceau type ending….
Danger is he never leaves, like Castro.
This Primate has done enough damage.
What is needed now is a marksman in a tree.
Remember the motto: Kill a commie for mommy!
Chavez needs to eat a bullet. Soon.
Why the hell didn’t the US let their lackies kill the worthless rat when they had their too-brief coup?
I’m predicting that soon, December 2nd being the referendum election, he is going to use all out lethal force on the students that take to the streets again.
It’s always the same with these clowns, the media gets muzzled, the best performing private companies get nationalized, the goon squads get organized, neighboring countries are victimized, the courts become their agents….etc, then, the mass graves start sprouting. He and Putin are synchronized on this trajectory.
Chavez’s Hollywood and lefty patrons are going to have a lot of blood on their hands.
While I don’t think it is in good taste to wish death on someone, or wise to make vague threats on the Internet, I do agree with the sentiment that Chavez has been very bad for Venezuela. Hopefully, he is tried and convicted for his crimes soon, before we see yet another country made into a Marxist train wreck. No one deserves that kind of suffering, even if they were stupid enough (or scared enough) to vote for him in the first place.
What about the connections that Chavez is making with Iran? Both ‘leaders’ have similar ambitions, ie, imperialistic in agenda, intent on conquering in fact or operationally, neighbouring countries and dominating their respective areas.
What time is the world condemnation of Chavez by the UN, the MSM, and world leaders scheduled at?
I mean he’s doing the same thing as Pakistan’s Musharraf right?
Oh wait, Musharraf is supported by a right wing government while Chavez is left wing. I get it.
Venezuela has always had designs on Colombia for a very long time. The Venezuelan government lets the Colombian guerillas hang out there when things get tough (at least that’s what I heard).
I was in Colombia as a teenager in the late 70’s and the Colombians were complaining about Venezuela. After all they were all one country with Equador(Gran Colombia)until Venezuela revolted in 1830 to form its own country. And there is still ongoing negotiations, decades long, about the Gulf of Venezuela, which Venezuela claims but which borders on Colombia. As someone with Colombia blood I don’t trust the Venezuelan government before Chavez, and even less now. I was wondering when Chavez was going to make his move on other countries in Latin America…Colombia would be his first target.
Columbia is a rock-solid ally of the US – any attempt to overthrow the Uribe gov’t by HC will be met with lethal force.
As for wishing him dead being in bad taste, I see him on a par with Castro, the Mullahs in Iran, Hussein in Syria and Mobutu in Zimbabwe – better for everyone that they removed from power by whatever means.
check that… Mugabe of Zimbabwe
I mean he’s doing the same thing as Pakistan’s Musharraf right?
You sure about that? The press is alive and well in Pakistan, so is the culture of courts and free elections. Chavez isn’t dealing with AQ and fundamentalist Islamic freaks within his borders threatening to impose non-secular religious fascism on the country.
Pakistan isn’t the best analogy to Venezuela, just like the Shah versus the Ayatollah had hideous and different oucomes that mattered. forgotten that? Or you don’t think so?
Your lame attempt at symmetry is dumb.
Here in the US many of us believe in selective assassination as an instrument of foreign policy…
Love your title for this writeup. Might I suggest that you guys lock yourself in a garage – or indeed, any closed space – and get a few hours of the exhaust smell. Haven’t tried it? It’s really fun.
Disclaimer for idiots: This will kill you.
So when they chose a mediator, they chose an individual who is all about confrontation, confrontation, and more confrontation. Chavez does not know the meaning of the word mediate. What a stellar choice.
you must spend your entire day watching american cable news. you haven’t a clue what is going on in Venezuala or Columbia. your blog is only good for a laugh at the ignorance of you wingnuts
I tend to see ol Hugo more like the proverbial Chihuahua humping it’s master’s leg. Annoying yes but nothing a swift kick to the chops wouldn’t fix.
Do you people that stick up for Chavez live in Venezuala? Why would anyone stick up for someone like that be he left or right wing.He is following the same path as Stalin,Chairman Mao,the Pal Pot,Hitler(who was socialist) and numerous other monsters that have been responsible for the murder of their own citizens.If you doubt my words go to a library and read a history book,aparently you never read one in school.Read of the Killing Fields in Cambodia,the starvation in Russia after the revolution,the cultural revolution in China and the resulting deaths of millions to name a few.There was more that one holocaust but maybe you dont believe in the German one either.
A little over the top, Spike. Latin American dictators can be bloodthirsty enough, but they don’t play in the big leagues and, if one were to try, he’d wind up dead very quickly. If you want to play with analogies, think Juan and Eva Peron, since Hugito combines the worst characteristics of both members of that charming couple.
And the UN is the biggest supporters of terrorists becuase there are terrorists supporting nations in the UN
No zog,its not over the top.Every one has their hero’s and Chavez’s hero’s were big stars in his mind and it isnt the Peron’s.He liked what Fidel did.If his country was larger he would be in Stalins league.Give him time.