Hugo Chavez: Columbia Planning To Wage U.S.-Backed War On Venezuela
CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez on Friday accused neighboring Colombia and the United States of plotting a military “aggression” against Venezuela.
“I accuse the government of Colombia of devising a conspiracy, acting as a pawn of the U.S. empire, of devising a military provocation against Venezuela,” Chavez said.
“A military aggression is being prepared,” Chavez added. He did not offer evidence to support his claim.
But he warned Colombia not to attempt a “provocation” and said Venezuela would cut off all oil exports in the event of a military strike from the neighboring country.
“In that scenario, write it down: the price of oil would reach $300, because there wouldn’t be oil for anyone,” Chavez said. “The invaders would have to step over our dead bodies.”
Chavez has repeatedly accused Washington of plotting to oust or kill him, though it was the first time he has accused Colombia’s U.S.- allied government in such strident terms.
Relations between the two countries have sharply deteriorated since a dispute that erupted during Chavez’s mediation efforts to free hostages held by Colombian rebels.
Chavez spoke as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in Colombia, saying she and two other senior American officials who have visited Bogota recently “came to attack Venezuela” in their remarks. Rice did not mention Chavez during her earlier statements in Colombia.
Cesar Mauricio Velasquez, spokesman for Colombian President Uribe, said his government had no immediate comment.
Chavez said he expects relations with Colombia, which he and Uribe once managed to maintain cordial “are going to continue deteriorating,” predicting that it will hurt cross-border trade.
(AP)
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Hum . . . Noonan was right, Pat.
January 25th, 2008 at 5:34 pmWe have been aligned with Columbia for a very long time … Chavez has always known that…we train their guerrilla fighters and handle much of the surveillance. Chavez will never break our hold and has every reason to fear us.
January 25th, 2008 at 6:01 pmThank You, Pat.
January 25th, 2008 at 6:03 pmIn 1991 alone, U.S. aid to Colombia included 10,000 M14 rifles, 700 M16 rifles, 623 M79 grenade launchers, 325 M60 machine guns, 46,000 rifle grenades, 37,000 hand grenades, 3,000 Claymore mines, and about 15,000,000 rounds of ammunition. By now it has more than triple.
January 25th, 2008 at 6:08 pmWhat the Sam Hell is that fooking frog troll doing with Lord Stanley’s Cup?
January 25th, 2008 at 6:14 pmIn the early 80’s we (Marines) trained (*groups*) out of Panama specifically to attack infrastructure…Chavez is not stupid because he knows we are sneaking up on him
January 25th, 2008 at 6:24 pm“…the price of oil would reach $300…” Chavez said. “The invaders would have to step over our dead bodies.”
Sounds like a bargain to me.
January 25th, 2008 at 9:25 pmHe’s always running his mouth, i don’t even think we would need a full scale war to take care of him.
January 25th, 2008 at 10:45 pmA full scale war on Venezuela would be the biggest waste of American muscle. would just take a very small special forces team to go in and take his ass out. Anyone else in power of that country would be a tolerable alternative im sure.
January 25th, 2008 at 11:57 pmColombia has no intention of attacking Hugo. This is just an effort by Chavez to divert attention from all his homegrown problems. Rhetoric is a poor replacement for knowledge and wisdom when it comes to actually running a government
January 26th, 2008 at 2:37 amBingo! Can a declaration of matial law and offensive actions against Columbia as a way to hang onto power.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:31 am