"Chavez knows that if he crosses the border, it would be a terrible mistake"

[KelleyKramer]

That is a quote from a Reuters report, I'm just starting to look into this...

The US press reports seem to be very biased.

Isnt this a response to Columbia, who actually DID cross a national border with military strikes?

Was that a terrible mistake?


http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0337040520080303

(the quote is from page 2 of the article)

[LeftCoast]

1. They didn't cross the Venezuelan border though. NT

[KelleyKramer]

3. Common borders....

There are a lot of common borders in s america..

much like Europe...

if Spain were to conduct military strikes into France, wouldnt Italy have justification to mass troops and threaten a response?

... and crossing a border was a mistake by who?

[LeftCoast]

4. No. I don't think so. It is simply escalating a tense situation.

It's like adding gas to a wildfire. Not helpful.

[KelleyKramer]

5. They are standing their ground

I dont think it is a mistake to stand your ground.

In my OP i pointed to how biased the articles are, in propaganda 101 you take your worst offense and attribute it to your enemy...

Columbia is the only country to cross a border

Who made the mistake?

[LeftCoast]

6. Who made the mistake? Columbia and Venezuela

Columbia should never have crossed the border, but it had nothing to do with Venezuela so they should not be amping up the situation.

[EFerrari]

7. Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela support each other

as a way to balance U.S. screwing around in the region, i.e., using Colombia against Venezuela and Ecuador.

[Bandit]

8. They have been sending incursions into Venezuela for years

One of the main reasons Chavez has been beefing up his military. He is justified in going after them IMO.

[Dark]

2. It could start a war with Colombia, which is backed by the U.S.

How would that not be a mistake?

[BadgerLaw2010]

9. Considering it would start a war with the U.S., I think the article is fair.

http://www.oas.org/juridico/english/charter.html#ch6

[originalpckelly]

10. So I guess peace doesn't have a chance with Chavez?

If you're invaded, all nations have a right to self defense, but these mutual self-defense pacts are what created WWI.

[dantyrant]

11. Say what?

They may have helped ignite the fire of WWI but they most certainly didn't CREATE that war.

[Winterblues]

13. Sure didn't do Haiti much good though did it?

:shrug:

[robcon]

12. The Columbian army has been fighting an insurgency for decades.

The Venezuelan army isn't worth much.

I think the saber-rattling is just for domestic consumption in Venezuela.

[INDIA]

14. Yeah but Hugo's got that sweet money to buy all kinds of new war toys...

like submarines and tanks...while his country has food shortages. Errr..viva chavez?????