2nd in Command of FARC captured in Venezuela

[a rebel]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110601/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_colombia_venezuela_rebel

Apparently the FARC's second in command was captured in Venezuela. What is your opinion of the FARC, and do you think that this will have any affect on their campaign against the Colombian government?

[Nolan]

FARC has proven they are able to replace leaders fairly easily.

[Spawn of Stalin]

My opinion on FARC is a lot higher than my opinion on Mr Chavez. Which is why I'm pretty disgusted by this news

[Die Rote Fahne]

My opinion on FARC is a lot higher than my opinion on Mr Chavez. Which is why I'm pretty disgusted by this news
Chavez should be ashamed of himself, and I hope other socialists denounce him.

I would love nothing more than a real socialist revolution to occur in Venezuela. A Marxist one, to toss out that idiot.

[CommieTroll]

Doesn't FARC control over 40% of Colombia?

[Rafiq]

I don't know much about FARC, but Chavez sucks anyway...

[Ocean Seal]

Chavez should be ashamed of himself, and I hope other socialists denounce him.

I would love nothing more than a real socialist revolution to occur in Venezuela. A Marxist one, to toss out that idiot.
This is a very stupid and pro-imperialist move by Chavez. And of course while we shouldn't endorse it or make excuses for it we shouldn't get our hopes up about a Marxist revolution in Venezuela. Well certainly Chavez has fallen out of my favor. I have to say though, I am very surprised by the measure. Why exactly would Chavez change all of a sudden to support Columbia's comprador and extremely reactionary regime?

[Blackscare]

Is anyone surprised by this? Obviously Chavez is trying to take the wind out of Columbia's sails/stave off potential aggression. Everyone knows there's been border hostilities and accusations of aid to FARC coming from Venezuela (which are probably still true, by the way).

Obviously Chavez isn't a revolutionary, so I don't know why people seem so shocked that he's playing a little bit of realpolitik at the moment, considering the recent sanctions and general ratcheting up of aggression coming from the US and it's lapdogs. From a pragmatic position, obviously not from a revolutionary one, it's a brilliant move right about now. I think the real test, to see if this is sincere or not, is if they extradite him. This leader is probably just a sacrificial lamb, I wouldn't be surprised if Chavez was still giving them covert aid, or even if this was something pre-arranged (which, again, would in my opinion be confirmed if they refused to extradite).

[Ocean Seal]

Is anyone surprised by this? Obviously Chavez is trying to take the wind out of Columbia's sails/stave off potential aggression. Everyone knows there's been border hostilities and accusations of aid to FARC coming from Venezuela (which are probably still true, by the way).

Obviously Chavez isn't a revolutionary, so I don't know why people seem so shocked that he's playing a little bit of realpolitik at the moment, considering the recent sanctions and general ratcheting up of aggression coming from the US and it's lapdogs. From a pragmatic position, obviously not from a revolutionary one, it's a brilliant move right about now. I think the real test, to see if this is sincere or not, is if they extradite him. This leader is probably just a sacrificial lamb, I wouldn't be surprised if Chavez was still giving them covert aid, or even if this was something pre-arranged (which, again, would in my opinion be confirmed if they refused to extradite).
You make several valid points here. I hope for the sake of revolution that you are correct.

[el_chavista]

Julián Conrado (57) is one of the survivals of the 2008 Raúl Reyes' camp bombing by gringo aircrafts most surely piloted by gringos too.
He is a fine musician, look at this video of him in youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTZ7Ps9NtWw&feature=player_embedded

[Spawn of Stalin]

Doesn't FARC control over 40% of Colombia?

I'm not sure of an actual percentage amount but yes they control a very large portion of the country in terms of surface area, but very little in terms of infrastructure. FARC controls mountains, jungles, and villages, some of which probably aren't even worth putting on maps. The Colombian state controls the major towns and cities and thus, banks, factories, power plants.

[Blackscare]

As it turns out, INTERPOL is involved so he'll certainly be extradited (I didn't read the article before).

I still think that this was just a calculated sacrifice to secure Venezuela from potential aggression. Don't take this as an endorsement or anything, just a simple explanation of his political motivations since some of our members can't seem to understand why a head of state would make these types of moves.

I'm pretty confident that they're still funding FARC/etc on the sly anyway, which also doesn't really absolve them or anything, it's probably more to do with undermining Columbia than whatever sympathy I bet he may well harbor for them.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Doesn't FARC control over 40% of Colombia?

They control a significant portion of Colombia, but they're hardly an ascendant force. They've suffered the same fate as many similar groups post-USSR: stagnation. They mostly eek out a living nowadays from the drug trade, kidnapping, extortion etc. Whether or not these activities are justifiable, or overblown, or a shameful statement on a so-called revolutionary group is a matter of one's own perspective; however, I do think it is clear that they are using them to tread water. It's very hard to imagine FARC establishing itself as a real threatening force at the present time.

The leadership of Colombia has had an odious reputation as one of the more vicious reactionary regimes in South America, too.

[pranabjyoti]

Shame to Chavez. I am against his this kind of realpolitik. I really want to try to use more harsher words, but stopped at this point time. But I am sure I will cross the limit in future.
I suggest to make a poll on revleft that how many people support this kind of realpolitik of him. At least I myself vote against it.

[AmericanSocialist]

Look I don't support Chavez doing this. But if he keeps them, he is considered to harbour terrorist which will allow interventions from the US and other such forces including Columbia. If he gives them back to Columbia he is considered an imperialist. Its a lose lose situation. I personally would not send them back. All socialists are my comrades, so giving them away is like giving away my own brothers and sisters.

[Spartacus.]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110601/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_colombia_venezuela_rebel

Apparently the FARC's second in command was captured in Venezuela. What is your opinion of the FARC, and do you think that this will have any affect on their campaign against the Colombian government?

What is the point of raising alerts without any foundation whatsoever?

They didn't capture FARC "second-in-command" as you suggest, but a member of the Estado Mayor Central, FARC second organ of power in their chain-of-command (after the Secretariat)!

If you had read the article more carefully, you would have noticed the difference...


Torres is the most senior Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia commander captured since 2004. He is on the FARC's general staff, No. 2 in the command chain after the rebels' seven-member secretariat. The United States had offered a $2.5 million reward for his capture.


No. 2 in the FARC hierarchy is Ivan Marquez.

Julian Conrado, the captured member, is not really that important to the FARC and his loss will be no more damaging than recent extradiction of Joaquin Perez Becerra by Chavez administration.

[Spartacus.]

They control a significant portion of Colombia, but they're hardly an ascendant force. They've suffered the same fate as many similar groups post-USSR: stagnation.


This is so untrue... :rolleyes:

USSR fell in 1991. FARC reached its apex in 2002 with an estimated 20 000 fighters. Basically, they were growing during the whole 90's. Fall of the Soviet Union had absolutely no effect on their strength, considering the fact that FARC is a indigenous movement with a wide base of support and has survived and expanded during whole of its history without any foreign support.