FARC stepping up attacks

[Red Flag]

BOGOTA, Colombia - President Alvaro Uribe publicly criticized his armed forces commanders on Wednesday after a key ally in Congress narrowly survived a bomb attack and police discovered a cluster of rockets pointed at the presidential palace.

"The security forces need to be more effective to defeat these terrorists," Uribe said in a radio interview. He said he has ordered his security chiefs "to review their strategies, because this is not a time to whine but to produce results."

Colombia's army chief warned that the main rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, is planning various attacks on infrastructure and other targets.

"It's the aim of the narco-terrorist FARC to undertake attacks in various parts of the country," Gen. Reinaldo Castellanos said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, police discovered nine rockets inside a run-down home less than a mile from Uribe's office in downtown Bogota that were apparently going to be used to attack the presidential palace.

The rockets belonged to the FARC and were in metal tubes aimed directly at the presidential palace and other strategic targets, said Gen. Luis Gomez, commander of the Bogota Metropolitan Police.

Police said Wednesday they became aware of the rockets only after an "accidental grenade explosion" inside the house. Gomez said a FARC member had caused the explosion but he escaped before police arrived and no arrests were made.

The rebels were apparently planning a repeat of their attack on Uribe's 2002 inauguration, when they fired a salvo of rockets at the presidential palace from a nearby apartment, killing 19 people and wounding dozens.

On Monday night, an explosion ripped through a convoy carrying Senator German Vargas, known for his hardline policies on drug traffickers, wounding nine people in northern Bogota. Vargas was saved from injury or death by his bulletproof car.

Vargas told a session of Congress late Tuesday that his government-provided protection was insufficient. "If the government can't guarantee my security, I will have to leave the country," he said.

[Matty_UK]

I think that, what with Columbia now becoming increasingly isolated in Latin America and Venezuela probably going to start helping the FARC if they aren't already, a victory for the FARC is quite likely in the next 5 years. But is this a good thing? They have shown no sign of respect for innocent lives, they're always blowing up civilians and don't seem to take much care to avoid this. An FARC victory would probably be the crisis point that makes the US sit up and take strong action against Latin America's revolution and will probably be better than Columbia being ran by American puppets.....but should we support them?

[bunk]

The things is this war's been going on 40+ years and since i've kept an eye on stories from Columbia there's been lot's of ups and downs

[Matty_UK]

But things are changing. The rest of Latin America was all under capitalist dictatorships for that time, and now more and more are liberating themselves democratically from capitalist rule. This could mean there will be pressure on Columbia's government by its neighbours, and the FARC will be able to have safe camps outside Columbia and be given better weapons.

[Colombia]

The only thing that has been keeping Colombia's government from collapse is US assistance. They are pretty much kicking a dying horse here. I mean there have been quite a few times where leftist rebels have gone off to Bogota and been able to do some major damage before retreating, The FARC-EP could easily take Bogota over if they worked alongside the ELN but they hardly work together these days.

[Gura]

Originally posted by [email protected] 13 2005, 04:38 PM
I think that, what with Columbia now becoming increasingly isolated in Latin America and Venezuela probably going to start helping the FARC if they aren't already
Latin American countries may put diplomatic pressure on Colombia's government, but if Venezuela starts helping out the FARC (or even appearing to) then it's going to be the Central American wars of the 1980s all over again (except, obviously, in South America). Washington will have a real reason to back counterrevolutionary forces in Venezuela (not that they aren't already, but I mean Contra-style help) and possibly even have direct American involvement. Washington has already set the stage for that.

Edited to add "in South America" because it sounded like I was saying that Venezuela and Colombia are in CA.

[Tekun]

Im not too happy with the approach of "las FARC"
Its true, they've been very reckless in their attacks against the gov
Sometimes they have killed innocent civilians
But at least they're reactionists
I've heard some stories here and there, but still not clear on their politics...

Anyone know where I could get some unbiased info on "las FARC" so that I can better understand them?

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

I think you people trust CNN too much, the bourgeois media lies about FARC like they lie about Cuba, like they lied about Viet Nam, like they lied about Malcolm X, etc. etc. etc.

You're not going to find an "unbiased" report on FARC anywhere. Everyone has a motive and a certain outlook. A better question would be, where can you find some truthful info on FARC. And that leads to the next question, who do you trust more? Communists or capitalists news sources?

FARC is a legitimate communist popular army. They are excersizing their rights as humans to take up arms against the government of the bourgeoisie, and if for that alone they should be fully supported.

[*PRC*Kensei]

aaaaah columbia, one of my favourites :P

Mmm i'm not shocked of the dead civilians by FARC, columbia scores highest on murder rating in the world, not so unlikely people get killed...
The peacefull way is always better, but sometimes only brute force can take capitalism down :angry:

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Sometimes?

When has capitalism ever been overcome peacefully?

[Tekun]

Originally posted by [email protected] 17 2005, 11:01 AM
You're not going to find an "unbiased" report on FARC anywhere. Everyone has a motive and a certain outlook. A better question would be, where can you find some truthful info on FARC. And that leads to the next question, who do you trust more? Communists or capitalists news sources?

FARC is a legitimate communist popular army. They are excersizing their rights as humans to take up arms against the government of the bourgeoisie, and if for that alone they should be fully supported.
Well don't leave me hanging, give some info bro ;)

[matiasm]

Originally posted by [email protected] 13 2005, 04:41 PM
I think that, what with Columbia now becoming increasingly isolated in Latin America and Venezuela probably going to start helping the FARC if they aren't already, a victory for the FARC is quite likely in the next 5 years. But is this a good thing? They have shown no sign of respect for innocent lives, they're always blowing up civilians and don't seem to take much care to avoid this. An FARC victory would probably be the crisis point that makes the US sit up and take strong action against Latin America's revolution and will probably be better than Columbia being ran by American puppets.....but should we support them?
not being picky, but can i just say its spelt colombia not "columbia"

Cheers

[metalero]

Originally posted by [email protected] 17 2005, 11:01 AM
I think you people trust CNN too much, the bourgeois media lies about FARC like they lie about Cuba, like they lied about Viet Nam, like they lied about Malcolm X, etc. etc. etc.

You're not going to find an "unbiased" report on FARC anywhere. Everyone has a motive and a certain outlook. A better question would be, where can you find some truthful info on FARC. And that leads to the next question, who do you trust more? Communists or capitalists news sources?

FARC is a legitimate communist popular army. They are excersizing their rights as humans to take up arms against the government of the bourgeoisie, and if for that alone they should be fully supported.
TOTAL TRUTH.


Well don't leave me hanging, give some info bro

you can make your own research and reach conclusions. Visit FARC website, Human rights ONG's in colombia, alternative media. Also read some colombian newspaper and you will notice that all their information about "attack on villages" and "civilians casualties caused by narco-terrorists" are given by the military brigades (sometimes without even editing). Information in Colombia is ill-biased in favor or paramilitary government of Alvaro Uribe Velez, whose friends own and control almost all the country's economy, including mass media RCN and CARACOL, drug traffick and extensive and inoperating land.

for alternative news on Colombia:

www.anncol.org
http://colombia.indymedia.org

[chebol]

www.farcep.org

[Tekun]

^Thanks, both of ya, I will check em out... ;)