Comments on: An Andean War? Managing Colombia’s Disgruntled Neighbors http://latinamerica.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/03/03/rise-of-an-andean-war-managing-colombias-disgruntled-neighbors/ A Great Decisions 2008 Blog Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:50:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.0 by: Latin America » Blog Archive » Colombia: Ingrid Betancourt Free after Seven Years as a FARC Hostage!! http://latinamerica.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/03/03/rise-of-an-andean-war-managing-colombias-disgruntled-neighbors/#comment-983 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:13:30 +0000 http://latinamerica.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/03/03/rise-of-an-andean-war-managing-colombias-disgruntled-neighbors/#comment-983 [...] Last night many Colombians at home and abroad stayed up into the late hours of the night to hear the first free words from the rescued FARC captive and former Presidential Candidate Ingrid Betancourt. Ingrid was captured by the FARC seven years ago during her presidential campaign and has been used as a symbol of fear against the Colombian government and people ever since. Numerous attempts to negotiate via France, the US, Venezuela and Hugo Chavez and through Colombian leaders themselves had lead to numerous failures, until last night when a Colombian rescue operation used internal operatives and complex logistical planning and intelligence that resulted in a rescue that would outshine any of the four Rambo movies. Along with Ingrid, three American hostages were also freed and 14 other Colombian prisoners. The intelligence and raid that lead up to the rescue culminated over the last few months, beginning with Hugo Chavez obtaining the release of a handful of FARC hostages, rapidly leading to a heavy exchange of words between Chavez and Uribe. Increased tensions arose when Colombia took the fight against the FARC to a camp in Ecuador, killing one of their top leaders and a number of other leaders being captured or killed in the following weeks. Another significant event was the death of Marulanda, the top FARC commander dying of a heart attack. With the confusion in the FARC ranks and dozens of desertions, the command and control structure not only gave Colombian Special Forces the opportunity to win back the hostages, but also is slowly degrading the FARC from a force a few years ago of 18,000 members who were perched outside of Bogotá, to an estimated force of 9,000 troops hiding in the jungles. [...] […] Last night many Colombians at home and abroad stayed up into the late hours of the night to hear the first free words from the rescued FARC captive and former Presidential Candidate Ingrid Betancourt. Ingrid was captured by the FARC seven years ago during her presidential campaign and has been used as a symbol of fear against the Colombian government and people ever since. Numerous attempts to negotiate via France, the US, Venezuela and Hugo Chavez and through Colombian leaders themselves had lead to numerous failures, until last night when a Colombian rescue operation used internal operatives and complex logistical planning and intelligence that resulted in a rescue that would outshine any of the four Rambo movies. Along with Ingrid, three American hostages were also freed and 14 other Colombian prisoners. The intelligence and raid that lead up to the rescue culminated over the last few months, beginning with Hugo Chavez obtaining the release of a handful of FARC hostages, rapidly leading to a heavy exchange of words between Chavez and Uribe. Increased tensions arose when Colombia took the fight against the FARC to a camp in Ecuador, killing one of their top leaders and a number of other leaders being captured or killed in the following weeks. Another significant event was the death of Marulanda, the top FARC commander dying of a heart attack. With the confusion in the FARC ranks and dozens of desertions, the command and control structure not only gave Colombian Special Forces the opportunity to win back the hostages, but also is slowly degrading the FARC from a force a few years ago of 18,000 members who were perched outside of Bogotá, to an estimated force of 9,000 troops hiding in the jungles. […]

]]> by: Latin America » Blog Archive » The War That Never Was: Colombia and Venezuela at the Crossroads http://latinamerica.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/03/03/rise-of-an-andean-war-managing-colombias-disgruntled-neighbors/#comment-153 Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:44:05 +0000 http://latinamerica.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/03/03/rise-of-an-andean-war-managing-colombias-disgruntled-neighbors/#comment-153 [...] The damage to FARC’s reputation will do nothing more than help Uribe gain more support in Colombia’s own “War on Terror”. Political support and nationalism will likely remain high for Uribe, who himself was attacked by the FARC before taking office. Chavez has also saved face among his people, but may not be willing to proclaim another conflict so easily as the FARC’s unintended losses and his own political career depend on the will of the Venezuelan people to support an attack on its neighbor. With half of the country supporting Chavez and the other half opposed, support for FARC kidnappings, attacks on Colombia and spilling blood for those causes may not put Venezuela’s self proclaimed Caesar in a position to hold power in the future. [...] […] The damage to FARC’s reputation will do nothing more than help Uribe gain more support in Colombia’s own “War on Terror”. Political support and nationalism will likely remain high for Uribe, who himself was attacked by the FARC before taking office. Chavez has also saved face among his people, but may not be willing to proclaim another conflict so easily as the FARC’s unintended losses and his own political career depend on the will of the Venezuelan people to support an attack on its neighbor. With half of the country supporting Chavez and the other half opposed, support for FARC kidnappings, attacks on Colombia and spilling blood for those causes may not put Venezuela’s self proclaimed Caesar in a position to hold power in the future. […]

]]> by: Matt Bladowski http://latinamerica.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/03/03/rise-of-an-andean-war-managing-colombias-disgruntled-neighbors/#comment-111 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:51:43 +0000 http://latinamerica.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/03/03/rise-of-an-andean-war-managing-colombias-disgruntled-neighbors/#comment-111 Very well captured. The thing I would like to add that FARC is considered as a terrorist group by both the US and Europe. We need to stop referring to FARC as rebels, because it is unfair to many true rebels around the world who are fighting for something good. Whether you are a communist or extreme right wing doesn't matter. The fact is that what FARC does defines terrorism. As far as Chavez, it is obvious that he is using FARC only as a tool to fuflill his plan. He cares as much about FARC as Stalin or Castro cared about his people. Very well captured. The thing I would like to add that FARC is considered as a terrorist group by both the US and Europe. We need to stop referring to FARC as rebels, because it is unfair to many true rebels around the world who are fighting for something good.

Whether you are a communist or extreme right wing doesn’t matter. The fact is that what FARC does defines terrorism. As far as Chavez, it is obvious that he is using FARC only as a tool to fuflill his plan. He cares as much about FARC as Stalin or Castro cared about his people.

]]> by: G. Marcela http://latinamerica.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/03/03/rise-of-an-andean-war-managing-colombias-disgruntled-neighbors/#comment-96 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 03:14:09 +0000 http://latinamerica.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/03/03/rise-of-an-andean-war-managing-colombias-disgruntled-neighbors/#comment-96 As a Colombian citizen I can say that the chain of current events deeply hurt the very heart of our beloved country. There is nothing we want and desire more as a nation than the freedom of those that are kidnapped in the hands of the armed rebel groups including FARC. The propaganda and cheap politics used by these fragile emerging socialist countries have tried to use OUR armed conflict to gain political adepts. The death of Raul Reyes exemplifies how manipulative and short sighted these socialists are. As a Colombian citizen I can say that the chain of current events deeply hurt the very heart of our beloved country. There is nothing we want and desire more as a nation than the freedom of those that are kidnapped in the hands of the armed rebel groups including FARC. The propaganda and cheap politics used by these fragile emerging socialist countries have tried to use OUR armed conflict to gain political adepts. The death of Raul Reyes exemplifies how manipulative and short sighted these socialists are.

]]> by: R.Basas http://latinamerica.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/03/03/rise-of-an-andean-war-managing-colombias-disgruntled-neighbors/#comment-90 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:20:07 +0000 http://latinamerica.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/03/03/rise-of-an-andean-war-managing-colombias-disgruntled-neighbors/#comment-90 Whether true or not about Uribe, the effect the FARC and other groups have had on Colombia has been to keep the country from progressing and creating an environment which has lead to constant conflict and many of Colombia's best and brightest having to leave in order to make a decent life. This was the case before Uribe and Chavez and will be the case after most likely. In the end it was not Chavez or Uribe who took hostages and they do not have the power to release them either. Hostages have been taken from a number of countries and I would give sympathy to anyone who took efforts to get their family released from the FARC. Im sure you would as well. Whether true or not about Uribe, the effect the FARC and other groups have had on Colombia has been to keep the country from progressing and creating an environment which has lead to constant conflict and many of Colombia’s best and brightest having to leave in order to make a decent life. This was the case before Uribe and Chavez and will be the case after most likely. In the end it was not Chavez or Uribe who took hostages and they do not have the power to release them either. Hostages have been taken from a number of countries and I would give sympathy to anyone who took efforts to get their family released from the FARC. Im sure you would as well.

]]> by: ix http://latinamerica.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/03/03/rise-of-an-andean-war-managing-colombias-disgruntled-neighbors/#comment-79 Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:03:07 +0000 http://latinamerica.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/03/03/rise-of-an-andean-war-managing-colombias-disgruntled-neighbors/#comment-79 amazing how the news propogates this. amazing how Chavez was embarresing Uribe by mediating hostage releases. amazing how Uribe takes out the one Guerrilla that was mediating the releases. Amazing how Uribe does not want HOstages Free. Embaresses his administration. And we know if Uribe the puppet is embarressed, the puppeteer is also.. (especially when the puppeteer needs to meet with Chavez to see if he can get 3 contractors release).. amazing how the news propogates this.
amazing how Chavez was embarresing Uribe by mediating hostage releases.
amazing how Uribe takes out the one Guerrilla that was mediating the releases.
Amazing how Uribe does not want HOstages Free.
Embaresses his administration.
And we know if Uribe the puppet is embarressed, the puppeteer is also..
(especially when the puppeteer needs to meet with Chavez to see if he can get 3 contractors release)..

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