Terrorist Ties Exposed

The Washington Post has been given copies of a number of memos and emails obtained by the Colombian government in the raid they conducted on a FARC camp just over the border into Ecuador.  The Post  says that the correspondence, if genuine, proves that senior Venezuelan government figures are eagerly seeking ties with the narco-terrorist group. While FARC is very eager to get friendlier with Venezuela. 

BOGOTA, Colombia, March 6 — A trove of correspondence recovered during a raid on a guerrilla camp is providing a rare window into how Colombia's largest rebel group has drawn closer to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in an effort to acquire money, arms and the political recognition the organization craves.

If authentic, the documents would make clear for the first time that Chávez's affinity for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, has translated into more than rhetoric on its behalf.

The documents were discovered Saturday on three laptop computers and two hard drives after Colombian forces bombed a rebel camp 2,000 feet inside Ecuador, killing 24 guerrillas, including Luis Edgar Devia, a member of the FARC's ruling secretariat who used the name Raúl Reyes.

The correspondence appears to show that Venezuelan officials are eager to work with rebel commanders to isolate Colombian President Álvaro Uribe, an ally of the Bush administration. The documents also include letters to Chávez from FARC leader Manuel Marulanda.

There are no missives from Chávez, however, and on Wednesday the Venezuelan president called Colombia's characterization of his ties to the FARC a lie.

"I deny it. I have to deny it as absolutely false," he said.

The e-mails and letters that form the brunt of the correspondence recount meetings with Chávez, top Venezuelan intelligence officials and other emissaries sent by the government in Caracas to convene secretly with FARC commanders. Colombia's National Police released 15 documents culled from the computers and hard drives this week. Another 30 documents, provided on two CDs to The Washington Post by senior government officials, paint a fuller picture of the rebels' ties with Chávez.

"What's important is for your government and the FARC to have ample relations as friends and good neighbors for the future of our two people," Marulanda said in a letter dated Sept. 22. 

The Colombian government has already asked Interpol to examine and authenticate the seized laptop computers that the material was found on. Colombian officials are adamant that the files are genuine and are willing to let experts verify them. The documents apparently show increasing monetary support for FARC by the Chavez goverment, as well as detailing drug transactions and political support for FARC. The picture is not a pretty one. Venezuela is apparently supporting FARC in an effort to isolate Colombia.

It is past time for the US Congress to send a message of support to Colombia. Pass the free trade agreement with that country - it may avert a war.  

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  By clifto, Friday, 7 March , 2008 @ 10:01 am

  Congress won’t lift a finger to help Colombia. Traditionally they’re all too happy to watch as socialists take over non-socialist countries. In at least one case, they went out of their way to help the communists take one over.

Other Links to this Post

1. justbarkingmad.com » Blog Archive » (T)Hugo’s a Genius — Friday, 7 March , 2008 @ 5:21 am

2. This ain’t Hell, but you can see it from here » Blog Archive » Chavez accuses US of cross-border raid (UPDATED) — Friday, 7 March , 2008 @ 10:53 am