Chavez: US base in Colombia means war

The US will likely receive an eviction notice at the end of its ten-year lease from Ecuador for its base in Port Manta. Rumor has the Bush administration negotiating with Colombia to move the only American military base in South America to a peninsula on the Caribbean Sea, near the border with Venezuela. Hugo Chavez vociferously protested that idea, calling it a provocation and warning Alvaro Uribe that Chavez won’t allow it:

President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday warned Colombia not to allow a U.S. military base on its border with Venezuela, saying he would consider such an act an “aggression.”

Chavez said he would not permit Colombia’s U.S.-backed government to establish an American military base in La Guajira, a region spanning northeastern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela.

The Venezuelan leader said if Colombia allows the base, his government will revive a decades-old territorial conflict and stake a claim to the entire region. …

Chavez urged his Colombian counterpart, Alvaro Uribe, to “think it over well” before making such a decision because Venezuela will do “whatever it takes” to ensure that a U.S. military base is not built on the peninsula in the Caribbean Sea.

Currently we have an agreement with Ecuador that runs out in November 2009 that allows us to use Eloy Alfaro Air Base to stage drug-interdiction flights throughout the region. We have as many as 475 military personnel stationed at the bas, and the base primarily looks for drug-runners in boats coming out of Colombia. In 2007, the Manta base caught 200 such transports in approximately 1200 missions.

The US does not want to end this program and surrender to the cartels, but Manta simply won’t be available. Ecuador’s Rafael Correa has refused to negotiate an extension, not surprisingly given his ties to Chavez, but it will be akin to cutting off his nose to spite his face. The US base pumps almost $7 million into the local economy and spent over $70 million refurbishing Eloy Alfaro Air Base. Correa offered a deal: he’d extend the lease if we allowed an Ecuadorian military base in Miami. Bush passed on that offer.

Afterwards, the Bush administration said the US would operate from already-established bases in Key West, El Salvador, and Curacao. However, a closer alliance with Colombia would make sense. First, the trafficking originates there, but strategically, strengthening Colombia and Uribe against Chavez would certainly help contain Venezuela’s nuttiness. Their exposure as a terrorist-supporting regime makes it even more important for the US to pressure Chavez into either retreating or cracking up, and a base near his border would do nicely.

Chavez may discover that he can’t dictate terms to Uribe, especially when he’s busily undermining him by funding FARC. Colombia can do what it likes with its territory, including leasing bases to the US, and particularly when Colombia keeps hearing threats from Caracas.

3 posted on 05/15/2008 4:36:51 AM PDT by Westbrook (Having more children does not divide your love, it multiplies it.)

Dear Hugo:

When you stop your influence peddling in Ecuador, Bolivia, El Salvador, etc., we’ll stop peddling ours in Columbia.....

NOT!

We’ll build a MONSTEROUS airbase there and then build out a port big enough for a CSG. How’s that?

You Fat, miserable porker of a Communist.

4 posted on 05/15/2008 4:42:42 AM PDT by roaddog727 (BS does not get bridges built - the funk you see is the funk you do)

However, a closer alliance with Colombia would make sense.

I agree, Colombia is a strategic point there for us. But the Dems will never let it happen. They hate Colombia and have sabotaged virtually every attempt to help it.

I think he is one of those that would go to a lynching but be too afraid to bring the rope.

Hugo is a coward.

6 posted on 05/15/2008 4:49:56 AM PDT by commonguymd (Let the socialists duke it out. All three of them.)

I am curious how McCain views Columbia. I would assume that Obama would give them the finger, unless DoD gives him the 5th degree to do otherwise. Clinton will do whatever is in her best interest. Yes Dubya will need to build that base yesterday, other wise it stands to get cut if it is still under construction after he leaves office. I think as long as Columbia's military continues to receive funding and training from us then nobody in South America can take her down.

Correa offered a deal: he’d extend the lease if we allowed an Ecuadorian military base in Miami. Bush passed on that offer.

Well, now, why would we turn that down? It might be fun!!

Hugo & Venezuela & 2008 very similar to Hitler & Germany & 1930’s. Granted Hugo hasn't started camps for selected groups of people.

Columbia should keep this comparison in mind because WHEN Hugo-baby starts taking over down there, without a base, it might take a very long time for US help arrive.

The real problem is that the US has stopped believing that evil exists. Some people just aren't intimidated by Jimmy Carter scare tactics.

9 posted on 05/15/2008 6:12:36 AM PDT by mad puppy (Never have I felt so politically radical and I swear I didn't move an inch.)

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.