[EsclavoDeCristo]

It's a shame that these rebel leaders would manipulate the most vulnerable people, the indigenous, who have been used and exploited by everyone since the Spanish, to achieve their political goals. I get the impression that the gas issue is just an excuse for all these socialist leaders to take over the government.

[okie01]

"Resentment runs deep in this landlocked Andean nation, where up to 8 million Indians and slaves died working in silver mines during hundreds of years of colonial Spanish rule."

I think Major Owens must have written the reporter's textbook. The current population of Bolivia totals 8.5 million, according to the CIA Fact Book (July '03 estimate).

So, it's a little hard to imagine that 8 million would've at one time even worked in the silver mines, much less died in them.

This is a geography that simply can't support that many people -- especially if a significant percentage of the inhabitants are breaking rocks.

Score one for the Department of No Education...