President Hugo Chavez, seen here in April 2008, said Sunday on his radio talk show that neighboring Colombia is trying to provoke Venezuela into a war so as to draw in and "justify" an armed intervention by the United States. (AFP/File/Juan Barreto
Posted on 05/11/2008 3:50:49 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday denied backing Colombia's Marxist FARC rebels following renewed charges by U.S. officials that have heightened tensions between the United States and the OPEC nation.
U.S. officials, speaking anonymously, last week said Chavez's ties to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, were more extensive that previously thought, citing files found in a slain FARC commander's laptop computer.
"Whatever they want they will find -- it's ridiculous," Chavez said during a weekly broadcast in which he accused Colombian authorities of faking the computer files to smear his government.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that the files indicate Venezuela offered to arm the rebel group and sought FARC guerrilla warfare training, possibly to prepare for a U.S. invasion that Chavez contends Washington is plotting.
Colombia's government had previously released files from the laptop that they said proved Chavez's links to the FARC.
Critics said the e-mails -- filled with FARC military jargon -- were often ambiguous and did not provide conclusive evidence of any collaboration.
Venezuela has repeatedly denied accusations that it has helped the FARC or given guerrillas refuge in its territory.
But Chavez, a self-styled socialist revolutionary, has expressed sympathy for the FARC, urging the European Union in January to take the group off its list terrorists.
In March Colombia attacked a rebel camp in Ecuador, killing a senior FARC leader and sparking a regional diplomatic crisis as Ecuador and Venezuela moved troops to their border with Colombia.
Latin American leaders eased the crisis in a regional summit, but Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa has not restored diplomatic ties with Colombia over the attack -- which killed an Ecuadorian citizen.
"It's difficult to maintain relations with a government like that ... President Correa is right not to restore relations with Colombia," Chavez said.
President Hugo Chavez, seen here in April 2008, said Sunday on his radio talk show that neighboring Colombia is trying to provoke Venezuela into a war so as to draw in and "justify" an armed intervention by the United States. (AFP/File/Juan Barreto
In this photo released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez speaks on his weekly radio and television show 'Hello President' in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Sunday, May 11, 2008. Chavez said that the documents Colombia unveiled as proof that he sought to help arm and finance Colombian rebels are fake. (AP Photo/Miraflores Press Office)
“Whatever they want they will find — it’s ridiculous,” ........................ See, he had nothing to do with it. sarc/ Like we expected him to say anything else?
US intelligence officials believe seized computer files showing strong ties between Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez (centre) and Colombian rebels are authentic, The Wall Street Journal reported (AFP/HO/Juan Carlos Solorzano)
“Hey W, pull my finger!”
Maybe we can get the tin horn dictator a cell next to Manuel down in Miami. Isn’t that guy set to be released soon?
FARC has captured Venezuela without firing a shot. Chavez is FARC. He has been openly backing FARC from the beginning, supplying them with weapons, air support, financial support, political and diplomatic support, allowing them to use Venezuelan territory for their safe rear area. FARC operatives live openly in Venezuela, they travel with Venezuelan documents, they are members of Chavez' inner circle. They appear at Venezuelan military ceremonies.
They supplied Chavez with financial backing during the years he was in jail and during his early years. He returned the favor in spades.
Chavez is FARC. The Venezuelan military is FARC.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.