Potential war adverted in Santo Domingo?

[PICHARDO]

Potential war averted in Santo Domingo?

So far the Prez of Colombia was shown walking towards the prez of Venezuela, Ecuador and Nicaragua to hug all and the whole room came to their feet in applause…

Seems to be that the tensions have been deflated over the recent FARC border attack by Colombia’s military…

Will it last?

More importantly should they just brush the whole thing aside or build on it to make sure no country provides a platform to any military group or dissenter to plan, fund and launch attacks into any neighboring country in L.A.???

I see Fernandez's fingerprints all over the place on this one...

[ExtremeR]

What a way to end a very tense moment, I really tip my hat off Leonel Fernandez. AMAZING

[Mr. Lu]

This is fascinating, its a great thing politically for Leonel. Shows him as a peace maker, gets him confidence in the region and helps his re-election bid. He couldnt have asked for anything better.

As for the Farc thing, they are all culpable. Colombia for invading, Ecuador for receiving Farc funds and Venezuela for funding the Farc. I love international politics. It's like a soap opera for nerds.

[Chirimoya]

If you go to the main BBC site NOW, it's the lead story - BREAKING NEWS:
BBC NEWS | News Front Page

The actual story - BBC NEWS | Americas | Leaders say Colombia crisis over

LF gets the credit: great PR for the DR, and good news for the region as a whole.

[Chirimoya]

Originally Posted by Mr. Lu

I love international politics. It's like a soap opera for nerds.

I totally resemble that remark - and have done since about 1970.

[aegap]

The way Chavez acted during this event is pretty revealing.

It effectively means las FARC would now officially have a safe heaven inside Venezuela.

Which would effectively mean he's harboring what both the United States and the EU consider a terrorist organization..

[Mr. Lu]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

I totally resemble that remark - and have done since about 1970.

It's OK us poli nerds can unite....!! So what do you think of these developments? Nationally, Regionally and Internationally? What are the implications?

Lu

[Chirimoya]

No one comes out looking good, apart from maybe our Leo.

Chavez's double dealings come as no surprise, Correa should take a look at who they have been harbouring, the Colombians need to look at the equally bloody record of the paramilitaries, who may or may not be state sanctioned, meanwhile the ordinary people of Colombia are caught between two fires, like in Peru in the 1980s, and will continue to suffer.

So it's a kind of stalemate, and apart from a momentary PR victory for LF, it's not likely that too much will change. OTOH things are not looking good for FARC either, with the huge popular mobilisation last month and the killing of two of their leaders, but whether they are on the brink of collapse/surrender is not clear. I fear for the hostages - who knows what FARC might do to Ingrid Betancourt and co when their backs are against the wall.

Oh, and Daniel Ortega is pathetic.

[aegap]

Yeah, but there's a big difference between the possibility of some one high-up within Uribe government sanctioning domestic paramilitaries - or the probability some Colombian Congressmen were doing such - and Chavez himself effectively announcing Venezuela as a harbor of the most dangerous international terrorist group based in this Hemisphere ..

[korejdk]

it was just mentioned on NBC...great play Leonel...I would love to see the transcripts of what was said behind the closed doors