Posted on 09/25/2010 1:02:28 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Top FARC commander "Mono Jojoy" was killed by Colombian state forces. President Juan Manuel Santos confirmed the death of the rebel leader from New York City, where he is attending the U.N. General Assembly.
The head of the FARC's Eastern Bloc and member of its Secretariat was killed in a massive air strike in a region called La Macarena in the central Colombian Meta department, 200 miles south of Bogota.
Some 20 other guerrillas were killed and five members of the security forces were injured in the attack, the government's Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera said.
Mono Jojoy, also known as "Jorge Briceño Suárez," but born under the name Victor Julio Suarez Rojas, was thought to be group's second-in-command, and military leader of virtually all guerrillas in the rebels' war with the state.
Mono Jojoy was considered a hardliner within the command structure of the country's largest guerrilla group. He was responsible for holding hostages including politicians, policemen, and soldiers. The veteran guerrilla had a $1.3 million reward on his head, and 62 arrest warrants against him. The United States had requested his extradition to face drug trafficking charges.
The FARC has faced serious setbacks in recent years, with high-level commander "Raul Reyes" killed by a Colombian air strike on Ecuadorean territory in March 2008. The group's founder and supreme leader "Manuel Marulanda" died of natural causes in 2008.
An airstrike by the Colombian armed forces on Sunday killed FARC commander "Domingo Biojo," political leader of the organization's 48th Front, along with at least 26 other rebels.
Current supreme commander "Alfonso Cano" remains at large.
Alfonso Cano proposed dialogue to the Santos administration, but refused to meet the government's demand that the rebels cease violence and release all hostages before talks begin.
The rebel group began a campaign of attacks which have killed at least 56 members of the armed forces since Santos took office on August 7. Santos responded by categorically ruling out peace talks, declaring his government's determination to beat the rebels.
Will Clinton be attending the funeral?
No. I believe that former President Jimma Carter is in line for this one. Clinton I believe is in Mass. to stump for Bwarney Fwank.
I say pretend because Columbia would kick the living chit out of Venezuela in actual warfare and Baby Hugo knows it and will use this as propaganda
Columbia should invade his little dirt bag county and hang Hugo like the thug he is.
As a side note, I'm sure this saddens Obama to no end thinking of his fellow traveler and comrade is now worm food
What a wonderful day!
President Obama told President Santos he approved.
Why get themselves killed in Colombia when Hugo has invited them into Venezuela? From what I’ve heard they could have a much easier time simply relocating their entire operation with Hugo’s blessing. Indeed, they could shoot his ass and take over any time but it’s hardly necessary to do that.
Carter will be accompanied by half of Hollywood and the entire Congressional Black Caucus. :)
Hey Macarena! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv5zKd1rqcM&feature=related
I can't believe I'm the first person to notice this!
Santos is a no nonsense type of guy. Uribe created a pathway for Colombians to live normal lives, Santos will turn it into aa freeway. BTW the Colombian military is highly skilled and motivated.
What FARC is really about is Drugs and Drug money. Most of the members can’t read and their ideology is just what they have been told by their leaders.
He will not be missed.
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.