U.S. Rejects Venezuela Charges of Capture

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050125/API/501250766

"Article published Jan 25, 2005
U.S. Rejects Venezuela Charges of Capture

By GEORGE GEDDA
Associated Press Writer

The State Department on Monday night denied Venezuelan allegations that the United States had a role in the capture of a Colombian leftist rebel leader who was using Venezuela as a base of operations.

The department demanded an explanation from Venezuela as to why it allowed Rodrigo Granda, a foreign affairs adviser to Colombia's largest guerrilla group, "to freely move within its territory and even obtain a Venezuelan passport."

Granda was seized on a Caracas street in December by Venezuelan police who were acting on behalf of Colombian authorities and apparently without the authorization of their superiors.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Colombia bribed the Venezuelan security officers. He said the United States also was involved."

[tlcandie]

1. As I am behind Chavez... these two NEW threads today

show something is up, YET AGAIN, with the US stirring the pot trying their darndest to oust Chavez.

I know he's smart and he's made it thus far, PLEASE... don't let him fall into a trap laid by our government.

You've gotta know they are schemeing behind the scenes BIG TIME!

EDIT: And if anyone should wonder why I support Chavez... I support him because THE PEOPLE do!! The normal, every day people...not the rich!

[ladjf]

3. Apparently, the freedom loving U.S. government doesn't

approve of the Democratic process in Venezuela that clearly elected Chavez, a man who appears to be looking out for the poor people's best interests.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

4. They elected him and then he easily survived a referendum which Jimmy

Carter oversaw.

[ladjf]

9. It's likely that their election was more honest than ours.

Jimmy Carter said that he wouldn't have monitored the US elections even if he had been asked to do so because they were unmonitorable.
(my word not his)

[Robbien]

6. There are many more than just these two

There are articles on: Nelson down in Florida is having a hissy fit, the State Department press conference tries to turn up the heat and the oil companies are throwing hissy fits that Chavez will not let them explore for more oil. And many more.

Wonder how much of our money is being pledged today in secret negotiations to go to Colombia to keep the pot stirred.

[Selatius]

2. Watch this, they're going to peg Chavez as a FARC sympathizer

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

5. going to???

[tinymontgomery]

7. Chavez should ask the state department

why the United States allowed the 9-11 hijackers to obtain U S papers and travel around the U S freely. Governments can't stop every illegal act.

[aneerkoinos]

8. Nope

There's nothing illegal in being a spokesperson of FARC. Calling FARC a terrorist organization is mere US fantasy.

Chavez should tell US to obey law and stop giving asylum to all kinds of criminals. Or no more oil...

[rolleitreks]

10. FARC not terrorist?

Didn't they kidnap, and are they not still holding, Ingrid Betancourt, the Green Party presidential candidate in Colombia?

[aneerkoinos]

11. I don't know

I'm not a fan of FARC, but the terrorist label is purely political.

[Igel]

12. Dunno.

Google shows http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4027523.stm (dated last November)

http://web.greens.org/ still has the "Free Ingrid" link.

But my fellow-replier to your posting is right: Naming a group as "terrorist" is a political act. And rejecting the "terrorist" label for a group is a political statement.

Makhno would be proud. (And I don't mean the DUer with that handle.)

[rolleitreks]

13. I understand the point

though I'd be more inclined to do away with the term "freedom fighter."

[aneerkoinos]

14. Guerilla movement

describes FARC pretty good and is impartial.