Chavez sends tanks to Colombia border in dispute

Methos · Mar 2, 2008

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela President Hugo Chavez ordered tank battalions to the Colombian border on Sunday after Colombian troops struck inside another of its neighbors, Ecuador, in an attack on rebels.

He also ordered the shutting of Venezuela's embassy in Colombia and the withdrawal of all diplomatic staff in the dispute, warning Colombia's actions could spark a war in South America.

(Reporting by Saul Hudson, editing by Philip Barbara)

RedRalph · Mar 2, 2008

He's entitled to defend his borders. Unlike Columbia, he isnt sending his troops outside his territory.

ArneHD · Mar 2, 2008

Why have Colombia attacked something inside Ecuador?

Edit: What I meant is that Chavez is really uninteresting. It's much more interesting to learn why on earth Colombia and Ecuador have something between them. Unless it's the FARC again.

skadistic · Mar 2, 2008

Its less about defending his border as it is defending his narco-terrorist buddies.

RedRalph · Mar 2, 2008

ArneHD said:
Why have Colombia attacked something inside Ecuador?

Edit: What I meant is that Chavez is really uninteresting. It's much more interesting to learn why on earth Colombia and Ecuador have something between them. Unless it's the FARC again.

It is FARC. columbia violated Ecuadorean sovreignty over thw eekend and sent troops itno Ecuador. Chavez is making sure the same dosent happen to Venezuela.

Methos · Mar 2, 2008

ArneHD said:
Why have Colombia attacked something inside Ecuador?

As someone said, it's due to FARC. I'm not positive, but I believe they recently did it a second time.

MobBoss · Mar 2, 2008

Exactly what kind of 'tanks' are we talking about here? Anyone know?

RedRalph · Mar 2, 2008

Actually I was wondering that myslef. I'd be surprised if Venezuela maintains any decent sort of tank force.

ArneHD · Mar 2, 2008

MobBoss said:
Exactly what kind of 'tanks' are we talking about here? Anyone know?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_Venezuela#Armor

MobBoss · Mar 2, 2008

RedRalphWiggum said:
He's entitled to defend his borders. Unlike Columbia, he isnt sending his troops outside his territory.

And I disagree. If he is going to allow FARC to attack across the border, then his neighbors have every right to take action.

DNK · Mar 2, 2008

His ratings must be getting worse... time to start a war.

skadistic · Mar 2, 2008

MobBoss said:
Exactly what kind of 'tanks' are we talking about here? Anyone know?

Wiki says :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_Venezuela#Tanks_and_combat_vehicles

Not very heavy by the looks of it. Any number of Colombian attack-helo should be able to at the least take out mobility.

RedRalph · Mar 2, 2008

MobBoss said:
And I disagree. If he is going to allow FARC to attack across the border, then his neighbors have every right to take action.

Has he allowed this? From what I can see he was making very successful attempts to negotiate agreements between FACR and Columbia recently.

MobBoss · Mar 2, 2008

ArneHD said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_Venezuela#Armor

Oh wow, I am surprised some of those are actually still running after 50 years.

MobBoss · Mar 2, 2008

RedRalphWiggum said:
Has he allowed this? From what I can see he was making very successful attempts to negotiate agreements between FACR and Columbia recently.

Well, the concern/fear is that Colombia will attack into Venezuela to hit FARC is it not?

Or is Chavez saying that Colombia is merely using this as an excuse to attack its neighbors?

ArneHD · Mar 2, 2008

MobBoss said:
Oh wow, I am surprised some of those are actually still running after 50 years.

Actually, the French used them during the first Gulf war and their performance was considered excellent. And the Venezuelan version is the latest.

h4ppy · Mar 2, 2008

I don't blame him for the tanks but the embassy closing is just more of his childish posturing bs.

MobBoss · Mar 2, 2008

ArneHD said:
Actually, the French used them during the first Gulf war and their performance was considered excellent. And the Venezuelan version is the latest.

The first gulf war was almost 20 years ago.

RedRalph · Mar 2, 2008

MobBoss said:
Well, the concern/fear is that Colombia will attack into Venezuela to hit FARC is it not?

Or is Chavez saying that Colombia is merely using this as an excuse to attack its neighbors?

You said

If he is going to allow FARC to attack across the border

, where is the suggestion he is going to do this?

h4ppy · Mar 2, 2008

RedRalphWiggum said:
, where is the suggestion he is going to do this?

Why else would he have reason to fear the Colombians crossing his border? Oh right, his usual paranoid conspiracy stuff.

Chavez sends tanks to Colombia border in dispute

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