LAT: Colombian rightwing paramilitaries had planned to kill Hugo Chavez

[Peace Patriot]

The Los Angeles Times reports that, amidst the widening scandal about rightwing paramilitary activity in Colombia, plans were uncovered to assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. (See below.) The paramilitary scandal threatens to engulf the presidency of Colombia's Alvaro Uribe, friend of the Bush regime, on the eve of Bush's visit to South America, where Bush is set to deliver more billions of US taxpayer dollars to the Colombian military for the so-called "war on drugs." Bush can't visit the neighboring Andean democracies--Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela--where the US "war on drugs" is considered little more than an excuse to kill peasants, union leaders and leftists, and an intrusion on the sovereignty of South American countries. In fact, there are a lot of countries in Latin America that Bush can't visit, for a lot of reasons, primarily that they are real democracies, with decent governments, and want nothing to do with George Bush. But the one with the huge corruption scandal, involving rightwing paramilitary drug trafficking, mass murder and lawlessness, welcomes him with open arms.

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"Arrest moves Colombian scandal closer to Uribe

"The former chief of the nation's top investigative agency is the latest official held on suspicion of having ties to illegal right-wing militias.

By Chris Kraul and Jenny Carolina Gonzalez, Special to The Times
February 23, 2007


"BOGOTA, COLOMBIA — (snip)

The arrest of Jorge Noguera, who directed the Department of Administrative Security, or DAS, follows the resignation Monday of Foreign Minister Maria Consuelo Araujo. Araujo's brother is among five congressmen, all staunch (President Alvaro) Uribe supporters, who have been arrested on charges of having links to illegal right-wing militias.

"Four other current and former members of Congress were arrested in November on charges ranging from mass murder to extortion and electoral fraud.

"Noguera, 43, was a close associate of the president. Noguera organized Uribe's 2002 presidential campaign in Colombia's coastal zone.

(snip)

"Informants accused Noguera of doing the bidding of right-wing paramilitary commanders while heading the agency, a post roughly equivalent to FBI director in the United States. One informant said Noguera ordered him to destroy the criminal files of some alleged paramilitary leaders.

(snip)

"Noguera was arrested after giving testimony at the federal prosecutor's office in the capital, Bogota. He was charged with criminal conspiracy. Further details of the case were not released.

"Noguera also was accused of playing host to men accused of plotting to kill Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez."

(MORE)

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-colombia23feb23,1,3783018.story?coll=la-news-a_section

[aquart]

1. Does this mean they stopped trying?

[BayCityProgressive]

2. and people wonder why

Chavez says people are out to get them and Venezuela actually arms themselves. it is common sense.

[AX10]

3. Whatever you think of Hugo Chavez....

there is no right to anyone to take such an action. Also, like it or not, he was elected twice.

[BayCityProgressive]

4. Don't hold your breath

waiting for Bush to call this terrorism though. It's only terrorism if it's a right winger being threatened.

[AX10]

6. I have several differences with Mr. Chavez, but one must...

respect that he was elected. Also, he cannot be worse than Bush.

[Vidar]

5. Negroponte's Angels.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

7. !!!!!!!