billyb has left 11693 comments

billyb comments on Fat People might want to avoid Peru

Then again, I'm thinking of starting a new business offering fat gringos and euros free junkets and lyposuction in Peru.

billyb comments on 2010 soccer World Cup - France qualifying over Ireland

"Even his team mates disagree with what he did." What have they said about it?

billyb comments on Venezuelan army blows up two bridges in Colombia

A better question would be, in what doesn't Pacho have shares in?

billyb comments on 2010 soccer World Cup - France qualifying over Ireland

"I may be a Latin but, having spent 20 years in the UK, I have learnt the values of being "fair play". I agree, that is one of things that most impresses me about the English, their sense of fair play. I always noticed that in my pops and also when I lived in England.

billyb comments on 2010 soccer World Cup - France qualifying over Ireland

I remember the Hand of God, I was watching the game in the Club Colombia in Cali, and just about everybody there (Myself, I always root for England if Colombia is not in) was rooting for England.

billyb comments on 2010 soccer World Cup - France qualifying over Ireland

It was interesting to see that the French fans are as outraged by this as anybody. Kudos to them.

billyb comments on Fotos de Bogota y Cali

"no pero en que olla andaba Jhonny2009 eh" Yo pense que eran fotos del reciente viaje a su tierra natal, no?

billyb comments on war within the next two years

Vinod, I agree, that is why I mentioned that the Colombian armed forces were way more motivated than the Venezuelans. I have no hard figures, but would be willing to bet that if Hugo got his armed forces into a shooting war, there would be a good chance of them overthrowing him.

billyb comments on war within the next two years

Understood. What do you hear regarding the Venezuelan AF, which I think represents the only real threat to Colombia. I understand that they are not fully operational with SUs, but they did have F-16s no? Although with the US cutoff of spare parts I wonder how many are still flying.

billyb comments on Bases militares estadounidenses en Colombia

"Wasn´t it Che Guevara who said "let´s create three, four Vietnams"?" If he did, it must have been during breaks from killing his own comrades that felt betryed bt castro when he showed his true colors. Dolfi, can you tell us which other murderous psychopaths you revere?

billyb comments on What is your favorite colombian insult...

I'm with Mitch, can't think of a worse thing to call a Colombian than sapo.

billyb comments on war within the next two years

But if you read that masters thesis that American officer wrote in my link above, on the subject of the modernization of the Colombian army, you will see that the Colombian army has truly been transformed, although no where near on a par with world class militaries like US, Britain and Israel, but more than good enough for the neighborhood.

billyb comments on war within the next two years

Waste, I am just an interested observer, but I do have a cousin who is Colombian army general, and I have spent many a night drinking guaro and listening to him and his friends tell stories (the good, the bad and the ugly), and generally the conversation always turned to the internal struggle and also the military situation viz a viz Venezuela, I will tell you that to a man, non of these officers were impressed with the Vennie military. Lots of nice shiny weapons, but little to no real training or motivation, and you, as ex military are aware that motivation and training always trumps toys. BTW, thanks for your service in the military, and may I ask what rank you attained and what specialization you have?

billyb comments on war within the next two years

"But I don't know what to make of this: "You are aware that Colombia has something like 60,000 professional soldiers, which are the ones who do the bulk of the fighting and fill the elite batallions, aren't you? Venezuela on the other hand, doesn't have a single soldier with combat experience." Can you point to any part of the statement I made above that is incorrect? "True. And yet Colombia demonstrably can't control its own territory... Venezuela can. Odd, no?" So wasteland, is the point you are trying to make here is that the Venezuelan army is more effective and better trained than the Colombian army, rather than it being due to the fact that Venezuela has no insurgency? ":I note that Venezuela is flying Su-35's, " You would be more precise in noting that Venezuela has acquired SU-35s, I doubt that they are flying any yet, at least not to any extent that would make them effective. "Do you believe that experience at that level equates to anything like facing an established army with dedicated logistics, air and sea support?" And do you really think Venezuela's armed forces fit this description? Sorry but I have to laugh at this statement. Last time Chavez ordered tanks to the border when Colombia killed Reyes, it became an embarrassment for them in military circles because they barely got any of them to the border because their logistics capabilities were almost non-existent. "And who has more tanks, and a bigger navy? That's right... the oil rich nation. It's got more money, punto." The Arabs would dearly love for that equation to be a valid one, they might have won one war against Israel by now. "Elite compared to what? I'm guessing that their training is a little better than what the Venezuelans get because there are some American advisors around... not much better" Can you show us any report by any analyst that remotely compares the effectiveness of the Venezuelan units to Colombian ones. I am willing to bet you won't be able to come up with one single credible one, this just your opinion, with no credible evidence, anecdotal, or statistical, to back it up. "But I'll stand by my original assesment: neither country has much capability to project power." If you are comparing them to real world powers such as the US and Israel, no they don't compare, but Colombia doesn't need to compare to either of those, it only needs to compare to Venezuelan capabilities, and that it can accomplish in its sleep. Also, Colombia would not be the aggressor, so it has no need to project power, and it is well positioned, manpower wise and training wise and has a very favorable geographical conditions to any attack from Chavvie's heavy tanks that would get bogged down in the jungle, bottle necked in mountain passes and stuck at bridge crossings that would most likely not support the weight of these tanks making them fish in a bucket for ground attack aircraft like the Tucanos, helicopters and anti-tank weapons.

billyb comments on PBH member names

This thread is starting to go south.

billyb comments on PBH member names

I'm betting medo makes some sales.

billyb comments on PBH member names

BabyG, greg's handle will cost you $20 and 65 IQ points ;)

billyb comments on Why Plan Colombia has to go on

Ok, gotcha.

billyb comments on Why Plan Colombia has to go on

"makopp5 - they DO very good Spanish courses in EAFIT, you should investigate. While you're there you should also inquire about English." I'm sure you meant to say "they HAVE very good Spanish courses", no?

billyb comments on Why Plan Colombia has to go on

He knows how to run a business, I think that's a pretty good start, don't you?

billyb comments on Escobar Son Accused In Medellin Cartel Crimes

It was well known that in his last days, the kid was Pablo's portal to his hit men, lawyers, money men, et al. Anybody that doesn't think the "kid" has blood on his hands is kidding themselves, or doesn't know what he's talking about. Of course, that is not say that there aren't many politicians and pillars of society that have that same blood on their hands. "One of Colombia's leading columnists and chroniclers of its drug wars, Maria Jimena Duzan, met with Marroquin in Buenos Aires in 2006 and believes, like Lara, that he's anguished by his father's bloody legacy and is trying to cleanse his soul. She thinks he was sincere in seeking the forgiveness of the three sons of Luis Carlos Galan, the presidential candidate the drug lord had killed in 1989, and of Lara, whose justice minister father was assassinated in 1984. But she said she agreed with Colombia's police that Marroquin was involved in his father's criminal enterprise and "hasn't told us the whole truth."

billyb comments on war within the next two years

"Hmmm. I've got my doubts. It's hard to compare order of battle between two nations with conscription forces" You are aware that Colombia has something like 60,000 professional soldiers, which are the ones who do the bulk of the fighting and fill the elite batallions, aren't you? Venezuela on the other hand, doesn't have a single soldier with combat experience. Here is some interesting reading if you are interested in how the modern Colombian army is composed. http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA448740&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

billyb comments on Bases militares estadounidenses en Colombia

"USA haven´t been very successful in fighting against guerillas the last years in Iraq or Afghanistan." I'm guessing both Saddam and Mullah Omar wish they hadn't crossed the USA right about now, it's not like if some European weakling with no real military power brought their ass down.

billyb comments on U.S. Military Documents Show Colombia Base Agreement Poses Threat to Region

"Lend and lease was like throwing straws to a drowning man. " Maybe so, but those straws kept the drowning man afloat.

billyb comments on Why Plan Colombia has to go on

"History will repeat itself.....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_of_Roman_Empire" If that were so, than the US has, oh, say another 500 years to go. Still hope so romy?

billyb comments on Corruption Perception Index 2009

"Billy--I understand perfectly clear but your Viewpoint is the Problem just started with current Left Wing Leaders" No, you are not understanding my point at all. My point is that these current leaders came to power, in large part, to stem the corruption that already existed (so, see, I am not saying that corruption started with the current crop, go back and re-read both my posts and you will eventually get my point.), but instead of stemming corruption, they are, in many cases, such as Venezuela, making it worse. Is that clear enough for you, or do you need me to make even easier for you to understand? I'll even quote my last post so you can re-read it and see that I in no way am claiming that corruption didn;t exist before. BillyB said: "All these socialist clowns came to power as a reaction to the CORRUPTION THAT HAD GONE ON B-E- F-O- R-E (I know it is hard for to you to comprehend, but I AM NOT DENYING THERE WAS CORRUPTION)" Capice???

billyb comments on Private Message

"usband? where where... i dont have any! but looking for one! sorry rolo, solo gringos and with money,,," OTM, I live next door to a gringo with money, does that qualify?

billyb comments on Corruption Perception Index 2009

"Billy--how do you explain, in the case of Venezuela, what happened to all the Oil money prior to Chavez's Arrival? Not to say Chavez didn't steal & blow his share of the Oil Revenue but so did all the other Presidents in the last 40 years or so" Mike, thanks for reiterating my point. All these socialist clowns came to power as a reaction to the corruption that had gone one before (I know it is hard for to you to comprehend, but I am not denying there was corruption, please re-read what I said), but all these new heros of the poor are doing, is lining their own pockets and the pockets of their families and their political cronies, and doing this without increasing industrial production, which at least the capitalist crooks did.

billyb comments on U.S. Military Documents Show Colombia Base Agreement Poses Threat to Region

El Ex, can you tell us how many tonnes of war meteriel that US and Britain passed on to the Russians in their darkest hours? When the Nazis where at Moscow's gates and inside Stalingrad? Materiel with out which, Russia would not have survivied. Or do you also have selective memory?

billyb comments on Corruption Perception Index 2009

I thought all these socialists were elected in South America as a reaction to corruption, but, and no surprise here, all they've done is get worse. Ortega, Evo, Hugo, Corrao, taking from the wealthy with on hand and putting it in their pockets with the other. Who's missing from this equation? Oh yeah, the poor.

billyb comments on U.S. Military Documents Show Colombia Base Agreement Poses Threat to Region

" an estimated 4 million Colombians living there who fled their country's violence" That is not true, there might be 4 million living there (although I doubt it), but not all are escaping violence. Post your sources.

billyb comments on How low will he go? Obama gives Japan's Emperor Akihito a wow bow

"Obama Mania... or laughing at a "weak ass clown"" romy, tell me you are not so silly as to believe that the ones who wield power are also the ones participating in "abama-mania"? Until now, I had given you more credit than that, is it time to reconsider?

billyb comments on How low will he go? Obama gives Japan's Emperor Akihito a wow bow

"So the solution is to cut off China's access to the US market? Interesting. Does that sound like capitalism?" LC, never said that it was a solution, only that it was a hammer to use if China really started to feel its oats and tried to threaten the US economically.

billyb comments on Bases militares estadounidenses en Colombia

Dolfi uses uses his concern for Colombia as a straw man argument, his real concern is that those bases will help his boys in FARC get their asses kicked even worse.

billyb comments on Chavez's policies go from bad to worse

JGD, don't hold your breath till the next one.

billyb comments on How low will he go? Obama gives Japan's Emperor Akihito a wow bow

How do you think he feels about obbie? I could use a good laugh as well.

billyb comments on What happened to the wheelchair project?

jajajaja, now that's a good one.

billyb comments on Fellow PBHers

jajaj, the mutt might just come back with a perrita that just loves him for his kibbles.

billyb comments on Chavez's policies go from bad to worse

"My first hand research is that I have actually been to Venezuela." I've been to Venezuela as well, damn, I guess I was doing "first hand" research also and just didn't know it. I once had a 2 hour stopover at Schipol, so that means I did first hand research on Holland. I must be quite the researcher.

billyb comments on How low will he go? Obama gives Japan's Emperor Akihito a wow bow

If the US cuts off China's biggest export market and puts a couple hundred million chinese out on the strrett, see how fast the China Boss starts crapping his pants, their worst nightmare is a couple hundred million unemployed becoming politically active. The goobers would be over here on all fours begging to opne our markets again.

billyb comments on 2 parties

Although I am not religious in the least, you might want to add to the democrat's list that Christians are fair game for ridicule, but if a Muslim kills 13 fellow soldiers and wounds 30 while yelling jihad and allah abkhar (SP, or whatever), you damn not better in any way try to associate that with Muslim extremism.

billyb comments on How low will he go? Obama gives Japan's Emperor Akihito a wow bow

Agreed. Who gives a fuck if their custom is to bow, the US' custom is to shake hands, and sincethe US wiped the floor with them in WWII, I think they should be following the US' custom instead of Obama, as alwaysseems to be doing since becoming pres, going out of his way to kiss foreign piece of shit leaders' asses all the fookin time. And if you need , more convincing just see how much love he has gotten in return from Puttie Poot, the Dear Leader, Chavvie, Dumbass Ortega and Ahmenijahd in return, yes you are right, none at all. They think he has been as weak ass clown so far.

billyb comments on Fellow PBHers

I think mickey is obsessed with thoughts of a three way pierre between him, bushie and Palin

billyb comments on How do I go about deleting a post or my account on here???

Best way is, if you think it is going to be stupid, don't write it in the first place.

billyb comments on Chavez's policies go from bad to worse

Logically proven :)

billyb comments on Chavez's policies go from bad to worse

"What actual first hand research have you done in Venezuela on Chavez?" chirp, chirp, chirp..............As I expected.

billyb comments on

"Who in the hell would want to ignore anyone and miss the good, bad and ugly that exists on PBH? Maybe pussies and sabelotodos? It is what it is." I agree.

billyb comments on Shakira will appear on the Late Show with David Letterman tonight

I've always thought Shaki is a good ambassador for Colombia.

billyb comments on Shakira will appear on the Late Show with David Letterman tonight

Is Sammy going the way of Jacko?

billyb comments on When is the next Santa Marta Meetup?

jajajaja, now that is really really low, I give up, you win. I wonder is some Norwegian whale boat has landed her ass yet?