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Hugo Chavez Phone Call Allowed Colombians to Locate FARC Camp (Translation)
El Pais (Cali, Colombia) ^ | March 5, 2008 | Elpais.com.co-EFE

Posted on 03/06/2008 10:13:53 AM PST by StJacques

Telephone Call from Chavez to "Reyes" Allowed Colombians to Locate FARC Camp

Elpais.com.co-EFE

A telephone call that the President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, would have made to the guerrilla leader "Raul Reyes,"1 permitted location of the encampment, according to reports from Colombian intelligence, RCN Radio divulged today.

The telephone call took place Wednesday the 27th of February, the day in which four Colombian Congressmen (Gloria Polanco, Luis Eladio Pérez, Orlando Beltrán, Jorge Eduardo Gechem), kidnapped for almost seven years, were liberated.2

"Chavez, emotionally moved by the liberation of the kidnapped prisoners, called Reyes (alias of Luis Edgar Devia) and told him that everything had gone well," RCN broadcast while citing "high Colombian military sources."

Intelligence services traced the call and detected that Reyes was in Colombian territory near the border with Ecuador, he [then] crossed it "and soon afterwards the bombing came," Friday night and early Saturday morning, when the rebel leader and some twenty other guerrillas were taken down.

According to RCN, "the same intelligence official -- who expressly requested anonymity -- said that there is no end to the irony that it has been a call of President Chavez which permitted us to take Reyes down."

Of equal importance, the source revealed that the supreme chief, founder, and leader of the FARC, Manuel Marulanda Vélez, more commonly known as Tirofijo,3 "has taken refuge in Venezuela."

The intelligence services also "have established that (Tirofijo) is ill" and "he has taken refuge on a Venezuelan farm, not near the border, [but] on the other side of the border with the (Colombian) Department of Norte de Santander."

The RCN sources also broadcast that "Chavez ordered the transfer of battalions to the border to protect Tirofijo in order to avoid doing with him in Venezuelan territory what they did with Reyes in Ecuador."

They added that "if they are mobilizing troops (in Venezuela and sending them to the border) it is for protecting Tirofijo," the source said.

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Translator's Notes:

1 "Raul Reyes" was the alias of Luis Edgar Devia, previously 2nd in command of the FARC until killed by Colombian troops at his FARC encampment in Ecuador this past Monday.

2 The FARC currently hold dozens of high-profile hostages, including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three American defense contractors, who they are using as bargaining chips to secure the release of FARC prisoners jailed in Colombia. They also hold an untold number of lower-profile hostages that may go into the hundreds.

3 "Tirofijo" is a nickname that roughly translates to "steady shot." Marulanda has been the leader of the FARC from its inception in 1964.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chavez; colombia; ecuador; farc; farctrans; hugochavez; hugotrans; manuelmarulanda; marulanda; raulreyes; reyes; stjtranslation; surveillance; venezuela
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Apparently the aid we are giving Colombia in their fight against the narco-trafficking FARC terrorists extends to radio intercept training for their intelligence services. If taking Reyes down is an example of my taxes at work, I'm rather pleased right now.

I love the comment from the Colombian intelligence official about the "irony" of the fact that it is Hugo Chavez who gave up the location of the FARC encampment. Hugo got sloppy here and didn't scramble the call. Shame on you Hugo!

And if I may post a message to other bloggers with whom I am in contact, you are welcome to copy the translation and use it as you wish.

This is my favorite news story of the year thus far.
1 posted on 03/06/2008 10:13:55 AM PST by StJacques
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To: ElCapitanAmericaLives; El Conservador; Alia; livius; proud_yank; Kenny Bunk; Founding Father; ...
A ping for some who are interested.

I still have not retrieved my "Latin American Left Watch" ping list from my old PC yet, but I'll get to it soon.

If any of you know some who may be interested, and especially those I've left out, send them a ping for me.
2 posted on 03/06/2008 10:16:01 AM PST by StJacques (Liberty is always unfinished business)
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To: StJacques
According to RCN, "the same intelligence official -- who expressly requested anonymity -- said that there is no end to the irony that it has been a call of President Chavez which permitted us to take Reyes down."

Delicious.

3 posted on 03/06/2008 10:16:15 AM PST by sauropod (Will Hillary bring the silver back to the Whitehouse, or is this all about finishing up the set?)
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To: StJacques
Hugo got sloppy here and didn't scramble the call.

Wouldn't have made any difference...............

4 posted on 03/06/2008 10:16:53 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: StJacques

5 posted on 03/06/2008 10:17:19 AM PST by listenhillary (Michelle Obama - America is Just Downright Mean)
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To: StJacques

Fortunately for the Colombian government, they don’t have a democrat congress in control of their international security and homeland defense policies.


6 posted on 03/06/2008 10:18:26 AM PST by VRWCmember (McCain 2008 - If it's inevitable, you might as well lay back and try to enjoy it.)
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To: StJacques

Hugo Chavez gave up the location of the FARC encampment.
.
.
.
.
Thanks Hugo YOU DA MAN !!!!


7 posted on 03/06/2008 10:18:38 AM PST by IrishMike (I am not a Republican first. I am a conservative.)
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To: StJacques
If taking Reyes down is an example of my taxes at work, I'm rather pleased right now.

I'll second that.

8 posted on 03/06/2008 10:20:59 AM PST by Bahbah
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To: StJacques

bookmark


9 posted on 03/06/2008 10:21:30 AM PST by Free Vulcan (Don't think I can vote for you John, I'm feelin' like a maverick.)
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To: StJacques
Hugo got sloppy here and didn't scramble the call. Shame on you Hugo!

We should encourage speculation that Chavez did this on purpose, and that he betrayed FARC.

10 posted on 03/06/2008 10:21:44 AM PST by gridlock (They don't call us "The Stupid Party" for nuthin'!)
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To: StJacques
Hey Hugo, I hear barbiturates are great for insomnia.
11 posted on 03/06/2008 10:22:37 AM PST by BallyBill (Serial Hit-N-Run poster)
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To: StJacques

This is why Hugo was spitting nails and got so hot and full of bluster.


12 posted on 03/06/2008 10:22:49 AM PST by listenhillary (Michelle Obama - America is Just Downright Mean)
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To: Red Badger

Would it have been necessary to scramble the call, or were they able to triangulate a position?


13 posted on 03/06/2008 10:23:35 AM PST by kidd
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To: kidd

Triangulation, Satellite data, etc. The towers that are activated provide all the necessary data.......


14 posted on 03/06/2008 10:24:47 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: All

Gohs... It makes you long for the good old days when the CIA were really something :)


15 posted on 03/06/2008 10:25:00 AM PST by ElPatriota (Duncan Hunter 08 -- I am proud to support this man for my president and may be Huck :))
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To: kidd

They would have to know who was talking I would presume.


16 posted on 03/06/2008 10:25:14 AM PST by listenhillary (Michelle Obama - America is Just Downright Mean)
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To: StJacques

Fantastic news! Thank you for posting.


17 posted on 03/06/2008 10:25:28 AM PST by tanuki (u)
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To: StJacques

Thanks for your work and the ping, StJacques!

Even though Hugo is a few bricks short of a load, I hope he keeps up the good work. lol


18 posted on 03/06/2008 10:30:49 AM PST by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.org | DefendOurTroops.org)
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To: StJacques

I thank God that Hugo is a retarded monkey.


19 posted on 03/06/2008 10:32:47 AM PST by Niteranger68 (Where are they hiding Obama’s white half?)
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To: StJacques

Thanks for the ping!

I’m mainly monitoring this whole mess via http://noticias24.com they seem to have the latest and greatest on anything about this conflict.

I read another article indicating that INTERPOL had warned the president of Ecuador about this guy’s location in their country, also France has started to take a harsher stance against the FARC, it seems Sarkozy is losing his patience at the lack of progress with the “Ingrid” situation.


20 posted on 03/06/2008 10:34:26 AM PST by ElCapitanAmericaLives
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To: StJacques; ElCapitanAmericaLives; El Conservador; Alia; livius; proud_yank; Founding Father
So, all of this military bluster is really about protecting Marulanda. Pity the Colombians didn't get to him first.

But how are these FARC people ever going to be run to Earth if Ecuador and Venezuela give them sanctuary, which is now how OAS has effectively arranged it?

Diplomatic question: Does this not place the responsibility of releasing any hostages held in Ecuador or Venezuela solely on the governments of those countries?

21 posted on 03/06/2008 10:34:31 AM PST by Kenny Bunk (Nobama08. Get me a general for President and Steele or Blackwell for VP.)
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To: StJacques
equal importance, the source revealed that the supreme chief, founder, and leader of the FARC, Manuel Marulanda Vélez, more commonly known as Tirofijo,3 "has taken refuge in Venezuela Okay, our turn now. We've extracted criminals from Venezuela before, circa 1990 I think.
22 posted on 03/06/2008 10:35:05 AM PST by GulfBreeze (There's little difference between those who are left running for GOP nod... a little but not much.)
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To: StJacques
We've been doing this for years to intercept narco traffic. I wonder if they had a warrant to listen in. Wait till Pelosi finds out.
23 posted on 03/06/2008 10:35:56 AM PST by chuckles
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To: StJacques
Hugo is his own worst enemy (or his mouth is).

El Tiempo has a piece today that says Interpol warned the Ecuadorean authorities last June that Raul Reyes was in the Sucumbios area of Ecuador, where the Colombians eventually killed him. Also, Interpol experts are going to Colombia next Monday in order to examine Reyes' laptops.

http://www.eltiempo.com/justicia/2008-03-06/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3988542.html

24 posted on 03/06/2008 10:37:10 AM PST by King of Florida (A little government and a little luck are necessary in life, but only a fool trusts either of them.)
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To: StJacques
Good morning.

Por favor, if I'm not on your ping list, could you add me to it.

Michael Frazier

25 posted on 03/06/2008 10:38:32 AM PST by brazzaville (No surrender, no retreat. Well, maybe retreat's ok)
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To: StJacques

Can you hear me now?


26 posted on 03/06/2008 10:40:19 AM PST by SmithL (That's my story & I'm sticking to it!)
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To: StJacques; Brucifer; fanfan

The feel good story of the day.


27 posted on 03/06/2008 10:40:20 AM PST by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life)
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To: StJacques

¿Hola, Paul, es usted todavía allí? ¿Hola?


28 posted on 03/06/2008 10:41:19 AM PST by keat (You know who I feel bad for? Arab-Americans who truly want to get into crop-dusting.)
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To: brazzaville

I got you down brazzaville.


29 posted on 03/06/2008 10:42:35 AM PST by StJacques (Liberty is always unfinished business)
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To: StJacques
...have established that (Tirofijo) is ill" and "he has taken refuge on a Venezuelan farm, not near the border, [but] on the other side of the border with the (Colombian) Department of Norte de Santander."

The RCN sources also broadcast that "Chavez ordered the transfer of battalions to the border to protect Tirofijo in order to avoid doing with him in Venezuelan territory what they did with Reyes

Surely we have an extra Predator drone with a Hellfire missile that could be brought into service.
30 posted on 03/06/2008 10:43:38 AM PST by SmithL (That's my story & I'm sticking to it!)
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To: StJacques

Actual it was the scrambeling that drew attention to the call.


31 posted on 03/06/2008 10:45:23 AM PST by fella (Is he al-taquiya or is he murtadd? Only his iman knows for sure.)
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To: StJacques

Now if we can just get Hugo to give Bin Laden a call on his cell.


32 posted on 03/06/2008 10:49:50 AM PST by Rameumptom (Gen X= they killed 1 in 4 of us)
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To: StJacques
US played role in rebel strike - March 04, 2008 - A highly placed official in the Colombian defence ministry said it was a US intelligence agency which first told Bogota several weeks ago Reyes was sporadically using a satellite telephone, whose signal could be pinpointed. "The US handed over the identification of the satellite telephone to (Colombian) police intelligence units, which in turn processed the information and was tasked with finding the location of the telephone,'' the official said.
33 posted on 03/06/2008 10:50:10 AM PST by Tailgunner Joe
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To: StJacques
And somewhere, toasting on red-hot coals, Reyes is saying, with great feeling,

Ay, Hugo! Porque no te calles?

34 posted on 03/06/2008 10:51:03 AM PST by AnAmericanMother ((Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment)))
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To: fella
>>>Actual it was the scrambeling that drew attention to the call.

"Actually" you seem to be well versed in "scrambling" as well ;-)

35 posted on 03/06/2008 10:51:10 AM PST by Rameumptom (Gen X= they killed 1 in 4 of us)
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To: Tailgunner Joe
"US played role in rebel strike - March 04, 2008 - A highly placed official in the Colombian defence ministry said it was a US intelligence agency which first told Bogota several weeks ago Reyes was sporadically using a satellite telephone, whose signal could be pinpointed. "The US handed over the identification of the satellite telephone to (Colombian) police intelligence units, which in turn processed the information and was tasked with finding the location of the telephone,'' the official said."

Thank you for this Joe. It's the first I've heard of our role in the matter.

And I submit it offers further evidence that Plan Colombia is working.
36 posted on 03/06/2008 10:56:23 AM PST by StJacques (Liberty is always unfinished business)
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To: StJacques; marron; river rat; Squantos

Most likely airborne electronic warfare/radio direction finding support. Like when we helped them find Pablo Escobar.


37 posted on 03/06/2008 10:57:02 AM PST by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
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To: Red Badger

If Colombian Intelligence had his number(likely), then scrambling the call would not help. They might not be able to listen in to the call, but they would have gotten the location information regardless.

It was probably a satellite call, and the Colombians have some nifty US gear that tracks the transmissions of the phone. He probably forgot to turn it off after the call, which is how they were able to follow him.


38 posted on 03/06/2008 10:57:22 AM PST by Mr. Quarterpanel (I am not an actor, but I play one on TV)
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To: Mr. Quarterpanel

Eggsackley!...........


39 posted on 03/06/2008 10:58:44 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: AnAmericanMother
Ay, Hugo! Porque no te calles?

LOL!

40 posted on 03/06/2008 11:03:10 AM PST by Armando Guerra
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To: StJacques

Looks like there are other benefits to busting up FARC leadership, since that raid may well be where we got the intel to bust up this worldwide arms network:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1981446/posts

[quoted from NY Times article]:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/world/europe/07dealer.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

BANGKOK — One of the world’s most notorious arms dealers, suspected of supplying weapons to the Taliban and Al Qaeda and of pouring huge arms shipments into Africa’s civil wars with his own private air fleet, was arrested by Thai authorities in a hotel here Thursday. His capture was prompted by a tipoff from the United States in connection with the procurement of weapons for the Colombian FARC rebels.

The Justice Department said that federal prosecutors in New York would unseal criminal charges against the arms dealer, Viktor Bout, 41, and one of his associates later Thursday, charging them with conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization. Such a step would mean that American prosecutors think it likely Mr. Bout will be brought to the United States to stand trial.

Mr. Bout, who is wanted by the police in many countries, is a former Soviet Air Force officer. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, he built a network of air cargo companies in the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and the United States, according to the United States Treasury,.

United Nations reports and other investigations have concluded that Mr. Bout may have run the world’s largest arms-smuggling network. Peter Hain, a former British minister for Europe, who investigated the arms-for-diamonds trade, has called him “Africa’s chief merchant of death.”


41 posted on 03/06/2008 11:03:47 AM PST by Enchante (Obama: I'll eagerly kiss Castro's cold dead ass, that's my foreign policy!!)
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To: Armando Guerra
< grin >

Been saving that one. Fortunately with a donkey like Hugo, one doesn't have to wait very long.

Whatever happened to that cute video where somebody wrote a song with "Porque . . . " as the refrain?

42 posted on 03/06/2008 11:07:01 AM PST by AnAmericanMother ((Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment)))
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To: StJacques

Great story!


43 posted on 03/06/2008 11:07:25 AM PST by SueRae
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To: StJacques

Monkey boy has to be the dumbest dictator there ever was.


44 posted on 03/06/2008 11:09:04 AM PST by kempo (H)
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To: Enchante

Good catch! I just saw that story breaking. There’s gotta be a connection.

I wonder if this string of events has anything to do with President Bush’s demeanor these days...I’ve noticed that he has seemed much more relaxed these past few weeks. ;-)


45 posted on 03/06/2008 11:11:46 AM PST by SueRae
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To: StJacques

(muted trumpet): waa - waa - waa - waaaaaaaaaaaa


46 posted on 03/06/2008 11:12:00 AM PST by unspun (Mike Huckabee: Government's job is "protect us, not have to provide for us." Duncan Hunter knows.)
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To: StJacques

An English language version of the story.

http://english.eluniversal.com/2008/03/05/en_colcd_art_alleged-chavezs-cal_05A1410439.shtml

A phone call Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez allegedly made to rebel leader Raúl Reyes revealed the location of the guerilla leader, according to Colombian intelligence reports radio station Radio Cadena Nacional (RCN) disclosed on Wednesday.

The phone call was made last Wednesday, February 27, the day when the rebel Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) delivered four former Colombian lawmakers -Gloria Polanco, Luis Eladio Pérez, Orlando Beltrán, and Jorge Eduardo Gechem- to Chávez’s government after almost seven years in captivity, Efe reported.

“Chávez was thrilled by the release of the hostages, and called (Luis Edgar Devia, alias Raúl) Reyes to tell him that everything went well,” said RCN, quoting “senior (Colombian) military sources.”

Intelligence agencies detected the call and uncovered that Reyes was in Colombia, near the border with Ecuador. He crossed the border and “then the raid was launched” late February 29 and early March 1, when the FARC leader and other 20 rebel troops were killed.

According to RCN, “the same intelligence agent, who called for anonymity, said ‘it is quite ironic that it was precisely a phone call from President Chávez what allowed us to take Reyes out of action.”

Reyes died in a bomb attack Colombian troops launched against his rebel camp in Ecuadorian territory. The incident ignited a serious diplomatic crisis between the two countries, as Quito severed ties with Bogota.

Quoting the same intelligence source, RCN reported that the top leader and founder of the FARC, Pedro Antonio Marín, also known as Manuel Marulanda Vélez and Tirofijo, “is taking shelter in Venezuela.”

RCN added that the Colombian intelligence services “found that Tirofijo is ill” and “is taking shelter in a ranch in Venezuela located not very close to the border, but to the other side of the border with the Colombian department of Norte de Santander.”

According to RCN’s intelligence source, “Chávez ordered military battalions to move to the border with Colombia to protect Tirofijo, to prevent him from being done in the Venezuelan territory the same thing Reyes was done in Ecuador.”


47 posted on 03/06/2008 11:12:23 AM PST by FewsOrange
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To: Armando Guerra
If I could spell better in Spanish I could have found it . . . .

Porque no te callas?

48 posted on 03/06/2008 11:13:20 AM PST by AnAmericanMother ((Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment)))
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To: StJacques

Please add me to your list again.

Gracias,

cll


49 posted on 03/06/2008 11:14:00 AM PST by cll (Carthage must be destroyed)
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To: StJacques

Thanks for the ping. Hugo is so arrogant it probably never even occurred to him that it was necessary for him to take security precautions. What a jerk.


50 posted on 03/06/2008 11:16:53 AM PST by livius
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