I'm sure this is old news by now, but Colombian President Uribe's revelation that the child Emmanuel that the terrorist FARC rebels claimed to have had actually been in foster care in Bogota. DNA tests proved that fact.
The childs mother, Clara Rojas, and fellow hostage Consuelo Gonzalez, were released today in the Colombian state of Guaviare.
Here is the article from the AP.
I find it interesting the bent of this article against President Uribe, basically blaming him for the breakdown in the original hostage turn over at the beginning of this year. While they mention that the FARC didn't have Emmanuel, they did fail to mention that Uribe is the one who revealed that the FARC didn't have the child and thus revealing the FARC for the sham of rebel group that they are.
By the way, where is the condemnation from Chavez for the FARC lie? In a previous article I posted a link to, I think he said shame on the FARC if they lied about not having the child.
Also note Chavez' indication that he, or his government, are in contact or communication with the FARC. Lends further credence to the article from El Pais that there is a strong connection between upper levels of the Venezuelan government and the FARC.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Angel Rebelde
That award winning, maid hitting journalist Naomi Campbell scored the ultimate interview with Hugo Chavez for GQ magazine. Who knows what GQ wants with an interview with Chavez, but they got one. (Maybe those sassy red berets are coming back into fashion, and she's just got to find out where to pick one up.)
Anyway, here is the article from the AP. This isn't the article that Ms. Campbell wrote, just an article the AP wrote about her interview. You can pick up the latest edition with the article on Thursday to find out the hot details of Ms. Campbell's interview with El Comandante.
Some highlights from the AP article.
El Burro astutely noted that Dubya is on his way out. I think any person with a firm grasp on how term limits for the President of the US work would be able to make that very same brilliant observation. Of course, they wouldn't be able to aptly further deduce that the 'empire' is falling.
And by the way, does the Venezuelan military have a "don't ask, don't tell policy?" When asked by Ms. Campbell that hard hitting question of who the most fashionable world leader is, Chavez answered with the name of his buddy Fidel. It's the 'elegant beard' and 'polished boots'. Hmmmmm........ Inquiring minds want to know. (I wonder if Ms. Campbell asked the logical follow up question: does he shine his own boots?)
I'll skip any commentary on the muscle touching part. That's just a bit awkward. Besides, he didn't ask Barbara Walters to touch his muscles when she did her patsy interview with him.
This article doesn't mention it, but in the interview Chavez compared himself to, or called himself a "rebel angel".
I wonder if Chavez knows his Bible very well. (He's always crossing himself and comparing himself to Jesus Christ, so one would figure he has some familiarity with La Santa Biblia.) In Genesis, there is another "rebel angel" who goes by the name of Lucifer. So in a sense, Chavez called himself the devil. That's rather interesing, considering he likes to call other heads of state the devil, mainly GW. Freudian slip maybe?
Anyway, here is the article from the AP. This isn't the article that Ms. Campbell wrote, just an article the AP wrote about her interview. You can pick up the latest edition with the article on Thursday to find out the hot details of Ms. Campbell's interview with El Comandante.
Some highlights from the AP article.
El Burro astutely noted that Dubya is on his way out. I think any person with a firm grasp on how term limits for the President of the US work would be able to make that very same brilliant observation. Of course, they wouldn't be able to aptly further deduce that the 'empire' is falling.
And by the way, does the Venezuelan military have a "don't ask, don't tell policy?" When asked by Ms. Campbell that hard hitting question of who the most fashionable world leader is, Chavez answered with the name of his buddy Fidel. It's the 'elegant beard' and 'polished boots'. Hmmmmm........ Inquiring minds want to know. (I wonder if Ms. Campbell asked the logical follow up question: does he shine his own boots?)
I'll skip any commentary on the muscle touching part. That's just a bit awkward. Besides, he didn't ask Barbara Walters to touch his muscles when she did her patsy interview with him.
This article doesn't mention it, but in the interview Chavez compared himself to, or called himself a "rebel angel".
I wonder if Chavez knows his Bible very well. (He's always crossing himself and comparing himself to Jesus Christ, so one would figure he has some familiarity with La Santa Biblia.) In Genesis, there is another "rebel angel" who goes by the name of Lucifer. So in a sense, Chavez called himself the devil. That's rather interesing, considering he likes to call other heads of state the devil, mainly GW. Freudian slip maybe?
Friday, January 4, 2008
The Shake-up Begins
As the primaries kick off here in the US, Chavez is revamping his cabinet after his defeat in the Constitutional referendum. First to go was his Vice President Jorge Rodriguez. He is being blamed for the loss.
Here is the article from Reuters.
With these changes, Chavez hopes to reach out to the middle class and make amends, or so he says. We'll see what happens.
Here is the article from Reuters.
With these changes, Chavez hopes to reach out to the middle class and make amends, or so he says. We'll see what happens.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
A New Year, a New Chavez
Apparently Chavez isn't completely blind to what is going on in his country besides visits by Hollywood stars and his attempts to rescue his reputation.
In 2008, he pledges to be a kinder, gentler president that is going to address things like the trash in the streets and the increase in crime (which includes kidnappings and murders).
Here is the article from Reuters. (By the way, Reuters is the same news agency that declared the last referendum was won by Chavez before it was officially announced by CNE. I saw the story on Yahoo! while watching Globovision on the web. It was curious that the report came out so fast. It was up for a bit, and then pulled down. After the announcement came from the CNE that the referendum lost, then they posted a story indicating such.)
He's very magnanomous by pardoning the plotters of the coup in 2002, but not as magnanomous as the government was when they pardoned him and all of his cohorts that attempted a coup in 1992. Those coup plotters were pardoned unconditionally, and the pardon extended to all involved. Chavez is not as generous. Some polic officers won't be included along with others who fled the country.
But, maybe his defeat will at least get him to come back to earth a bit and face the needs of his constituents, not the lofty ideals of 21st century socialism.
At least the author was honest and did mention that this softening could be temporary. Maybe with a few victories under his belt, Chavez will once again feel invincible. Let's hope not.
In 2008, he pledges to be a kinder, gentler president that is going to address things like the trash in the streets and the increase in crime (which includes kidnappings and murders).
Here is the article from Reuters. (By the way, Reuters is the same news agency that declared the last referendum was won by Chavez before it was officially announced by CNE. I saw the story on Yahoo! while watching Globovision on the web. It was curious that the report came out so fast. It was up for a bit, and then pulled down. After the announcement came from the CNE that the referendum lost, then they posted a story indicating such.)
He's very magnanomous by pardoning the plotters of the coup in 2002, but not as magnanomous as the government was when they pardoned him and all of his cohorts that attempted a coup in 1992. Those coup plotters were pardoned unconditionally, and the pardon extended to all involved. Chavez is not as generous. Some polic officers won't be included along with others who fled the country.
But, maybe his defeat will at least get him to come back to earth a bit and face the needs of his constituents, not the lofty ideals of 21st century socialism.
At least the author was honest and did mention that this softening could be temporary. Maybe with a few victories under his belt, Chavez will once again feel invincible. Let's hope not.
The Suspense Grows.
The Colombian government has been able to obtain DNA samples from the Rojas family who are in Caracas eagerly anticipating the reunion with the FARC hostages Clara Rojas and her son Emmanuel.
The DNA samples will be matched against samples taken from Juan David Gomez, a boy that matches the description of Emmanuel given by a former FARC rebel and has been living in a foster home in Bogota.
Here the article from the AP.
We'll see in about 48 hours who has egg on their face, Uribe or Chavez.
I'm hoping it's Chavez.
The DNA samples will be matched against samples taken from Juan David Gomez, a boy that matches the description of Emmanuel given by a former FARC rebel and has been living in a foster home in Bogota.
Here the article from the AP.
We'll see in about 48 hours who has egg on their face, Uribe or Chavez.
I'm hoping it's Chavez.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
One more nail in the coffin.
The first nail in Hugo Chavez' coffin was the defeat of his Constitutional referendum. The second nail will be his lack of success in securing the release of the FARC hostages.
As I stated in a previous post, he wanted to use the hostage release to one-up Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. Chavez failed.
Here is an article from the New York Times which reiterates my supposition that Chavez was trying to trump Uribe.
Please pay special note to the second to last paragraph:
This is the first article I've read that mentions the issue of kidnappings in Venezuela. I've hearcd from my friend in Venezuela that kidnappings are increasing, especially along the border with Colombia, but nothing in the mainstream media.
A rather 'unbiased' article from the New York Times I'd say.
As I stated in a previous post, he wanted to use the hostage release to one-up Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. Chavez failed.
Here is an article from the New York Times which reiterates my supposition that Chavez was trying to trump Uribe.
Please pay special note to the second to last paragraph:
Now the failed mission has exposed Mr. Chávez to criticism of misplaced priorities. As he worked to mediate the release of hostages in Colombia, in Venezuela kidnappings are spiraling. Some estimates show that Venezuela has more abductions per capita than Colombia now, but the Venezuelan government has done little to tackle the problem.
This is the first article I've read that mentions the issue of kidnappings in Venezuela. I've hearcd from my friend in Venezuela that kidnappings are increasing, especially along the border with Colombia, but nothing in the mainstream media.
A rather 'unbiased' article from the New York Times I'd say.
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