Bloggings by boz

On Sunday, Venezuelan President Chavez said the only solution to the tensions would be the US leaving bases in Colombia. Chavez's speech suggested that he would accept nothing less.

The Colombian presidency issued a statement saying they are handling the issue with "prudencia, respeto, serenidad y dignidad," which they obviously mean to contrast with the bombastic and erratic behavior of their neighbor. Colombia also continues to push the international route. In a new international twist, Colombia took the issue to the WTO, saying Venezuela's closing of the border violated international trade agreements. El Universal says that Colombia's speech to the UN Security Council specifically focused on Venezuela's failure to stop illegal groups and arms trafficking along the border, along with the threats of war.

A Brazilian legislative group will be in Caracas today as Brazil continues to seek a mediation role in the crisis between Venezuela and Colombia. US Ambassador Brownfield also said that the US is willing to participate in talks if it brings the two sides to the table. However, as I wrote in the previous update, statements from Venezuelan officials continue to reject any sort of mediation or negotiation.

The Colombian government returned the four Venezuelan guardsmen who they arrested in Colombian territory. As soon as they were back, Venezuela claimed that they had actually been detained in international waters. Meanwhile, Colombia's DAS said that the one agent arrested in Venezuela was tricked by Venezuelan intelligence and said they were worried for his health and safety.

In the most recent IVAD poll, taken after Venezuela had broken relations but before Chavez ordered the preparations for war, only 30% of Venezuelans agreed with Chavez's position towards Colombia while 66% disagreed. That same poll showed Chavez's approval rating at 49%, which is over a 10 point drop over the past two months and matches other polling trends.

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Two tangential issues. First, Paraguay's Congress held hearings yesterday on a Venezuelan military plane that landed at a Paraguayan Air Force base. There are disagreements over how often it happened, how many people were on board, who authorized the landing and whether Venezuelan military advisors were interfering in the country's affairs. Vice President Franco, who is the acting president with Lugo out of the country, ordered the minister of defense to investigate thoroughly. They haven't yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Colombian government pointed out Venezuela's military operations in other countries in the hemisphere while discussing the current disagreements.

Second, US Southcom wrote an interesting press release yesterday about the US military providing training and equipment to the Ecuadoran military to help them patrol rivers along the Colombian border. Considering all the controversy in the region at the moment, the fact the US and Ecuador continue to have good military cooperation, particularly along the Colombian border, is notable.