An article for to read...

[Guest guest]

I'm nearly willing to bet that there will be a raid in Venezuela

soon. The Columbians will deny it, and rightfully so given that

Chavez would have staged one.

It occurs to me that Chavez has no way to come through on all his

promises to his own people, and if he goes to war with the

Columbians, he can blame the Columbians for his failure to carry out

his reforms and still stay in power looking like a war hero.

Can't wait to see what gas/oil prices would look like if that

happened.

Comments?

Adminsitrator

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7273413.stm

Chavez in Farc raid 'war' warning

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has warned Colombia a strike against

Farc rebels inside Venezuela like that in Ecuador on Saturday could

start a war.

He was speaking after Colombian air and ground forces killed a senior

member of the leftist rebels operating just inside Ecuadorean

territory.

Farc spokesman Reyes died along with at least 16 other rebels

and one Colombian soldier, Bogota said.

Ecuador has protested to Colombia over the incursion.

'Very serious'

Venezuela's leftist leader has been mediating with Farc to secure the

release of hostages the rebels hold.

The rebels recently freed four of about 40 political captives into

the care of Mr Chavez.

Speaking at a televised meeting of his cabinet in Caracas on

Saturday, Mr Chavez warned Colombia about attempting cross-border

operations.

" Don't think about doing that over here because it would be very

serious, it would be cause for war, " he said.

The death of Reyes was described as the " biggest blow so far " to Farc

by Colombian Defence Minister Santos.

Reyes was killed in an air raid followed by a ground operation, the

minister said.

The rebels had been in a camp 1.8km (1 mile) on the Ecuadorian side

of the border across from the province of Putumayo when the attack

was called in, Mr Santos said.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe had earlier thanked Ecuador for

its " co-operation " , saying that " terrorism " did not respect borders.

Ecuadorean President Correa initially said he wanted

clarification of the raid, which Mr Uribe had informed him about.

But Mr Correa has now said Ecuador will send a diplomatic note to

protest at the " scandalous actions that are an aggression on our

territory " .

" The [Colombian] president either was poorly informed or brazenly

lied to the president of Ecuador, " Mr Correa said.

Aura evaporates

Reyes, 59, also known as Edgar Devia, is the first member of

Farc's ruling secretariat to be killed in combat in the group's 44-

year history.

The BBC's McDermott, in Medellin, says the military defeat of

the Farc has been a cornerstone of President Uribe's administration

since he came to power in 2002.

The killing of such a leading figure within Farc's secretariat means

the group's aura of invincibility has evaporated, our correspondent

adds.

With the ageing of Farc's leader, " Sureshot " Marulanda, Reyes

had frequently been mentioned as a potential successor.

Colombia's government has received billions of dollars in aid to

fight the guerrillas from the US administration which, along with the

EU, views Farc as a terrorist organisation.

While Colombian troops have recently retaken control of areas

previously held by rebel groups, Farc retains a strong hold over

Colombia's more remote regions.