Andean diplomatic crisis in South America

[ITDEFX]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23481949/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Andean_diplomatic_crisis

Seems this is making news lately.

[speedracer]

I just can't find a reason to be upset about this. They struck a known target on perfect intelligence, a member of the FARC council (the first time they've killed someone that high up), and there was zero civilian collateral damage. Sure, Ecuador is salty about the incursion, but let's be real. They know as well as anyone what the Columbia/FARC fight means to both sides. If they knowingly allow FARC inside their borders (which seems obvious at this point), they shouldn't be surprised that Columbia went after them.

Hell, America should be taking notes.

Zero civilian casualties + perfect intelligence + eliminated targets = GG

[level1online]

Raul Reyes (FARC) was the contact being used to negotiate the release of kidnapped, political activist Ingrid Betancourt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingrid_Betancourt

[speedracer]

From that wikipedia article you posted:

Reyes, speaking about Betancourt: "[She] is doing well, within the environment she finds herself in. It's not easy when one is deprived of freedom."

Two released hostages talking about Betancourt: "exhausted physically and in her morale ... Ingrid is mistreated very badly, they have vented their anger on her, they have her chained up in inhumane conditions." Another said that she has Hepatitis B and is "near the end".

Sounds like good riddance to bad garbage as far as I'm concerned.

[ITDEFX]

Wow, Nicaragua breaks Diplomatic relations with Columbia.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/03/06/nic.colombia/index.html

Looks like a sign that this is getting close to getting out of hand and could really spread out to neighboring countries in South America and affect Central America in the process down the road.

Costa Rica doesn't have much to protect itself if anything were to happen.

[JolietJake]

I wouldn't be surprised if Chavez really was helping them(FARC). Since the US denounces them, thats like an invitation for him to back them.

[elprincipe]

I wouldn't be surprised if Chavez really was helping them(FARC). Since the US denounces them, thats like an invitation for him to back them.

We know he is helping them. The FARC get supplies and medical care from Venezuela, and Chavez obviously knows about it. Colombia recently obtained details of this from a captured FARC terrorist-used PC.