Peace Talks Off--War on Horizon

[Bill123]

Looks like I picked a great time to be down here! As of today, the peace talks with the Farc have abruptly broken down and Pastrana has given them 48 hours to clear out of an area in the south. After pussyfooting around with them for three years, his re-election is in doubt and he is finally taking a stand, especially with the beefed-up military they now have. The people have been crying out for this for years. Unfortunately, all-out war is a real possibility, including the chance of urban warfare. 2002 could be the worst in the thirty year conflict. Stayed tuned into CNN for news.

[HonkyTonk]

Yes, tough talk but all out war will be diverted again. I have followed Colombian politics for years. The safe haven will be renewed. Pastrana cannot seek re-election. This from todays AP "...Echoing a call by President Andres Pastrana, whose term expires in August and who is barred by law from seeking re-election." Things are not good for our Colombian friends, but talks will resume before a major conflict. I am not implying that the bloodshed will cease, unfortunately it will continue.

Oh yeah, Colombian politics -- don't ya love it. My "connected" Colombian friend told me things would heat up soon. How much of a stand Pastrano will take is anyone's guess. Maybe he'll use just enough force to show he isn't a total pussy. He might be thinking of the history books. The FARC and the other rebel forces will still be around unless the Colombian government starts going after them all big time as we and the Northern Alliance went after the Tailiban. As you'll recall there were a few car bombs that went off earlier in 2001 in Medellin, Cali and Bogota. A few more could go off. When I was in Cali in Feb/March 2001, a helicopter piloted by the rebels dropped a plastic bomb on some poor family's house. It crashed through the roof, second floor, and rested on the first floor. Nobody was injured, luckily. The rebels didn't rig the detonator up correctly so it didn't explode. If the bomb, which was made of several hundred pounds of explosive, had gone off, a block or two would have been wiped out. Boooooom!! Isn't it nice to know the rebels have an air farse now. Cuidado, gringos. Kev

[Bill123]

Sorry to disagree with you HT, but these talks, they ain't a resumin' !! Not this time.... We'll see...