PBH / colombia (travelguide, pictures) / post

Car bomb in Cali kills 5 today

Be careful out. 2 bombs in 3 days, leading up to Uribe's inaugeration on August 7. Probably more to come.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060804/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/colombia_car_bomb_2

Car bomb explodes in Colombia, killing 5 By JAVIER BAENA, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 23 minutes ago

BOGOTA, Colombia - A car bomb exploded in front of a police station in the southwestern city of Cali on Friday, killing four officers and the driver, authorities said.

The explosion, which was blamed on leftist rebels, also injured four police officers in Colombia's third-largest city.

The state governor told Caracol Radio that he blamed the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC, for the "terrorist" attack in a poor neighborhood.

"I want the guerrillas to realize that no one wins with this type of violence," Valle state Gov. Argelino Garzon said. "The only ones who suffer are the poor, and this generates only anxiety, pain and sadness."

Cali is the capital of Valle state.

The FARC and a smaller leftist rebel group have frequently exploded car bombs in their four-decade rebellion. The rebels are not known to carry out suicide bombings, but have tricked bystanders into driving explosive-laden vehicles toward their targets.

The local police chief, Gen. Luis Jacinto Mesa, said the car exploded as it drove past the police station, destroying four police motorcycles and damaging nearby houses.

The attack came three days before President Alvaro Uribe's inauguration for a second four-year term. The military and police have been placed on maximum alert ahead of the ceremony.

In his first term, Uribe led a crackdown on the two leftist rebel armies. He has put 25 percent more troops and police on the streets and defense spending has nearly doubled, backed by military aid from the United States.

By toneloc24 on Aug 4, 2006, 08:48 in Friendly Talkzone.

Ctg Bound says on Aug 5, 2006, 11:59:

Gringodiego FARC just don't have the capabilties to do a great deal.

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redway says on Aug 5, 2006, 17:03:

Response To Ctg Bound and Gringodiego No, the FARC will not, in the near future, be able to pull off a classic "take over" of the country. They will continue, however, to be "classic" terrorists. They hit and run. Create chaos. They will continue, like a very bad rash. I really wish there was not such a blatant class system in Colombia. The FARC, however, are NOT helping the poor in any way. They have become their own mafia. They only seek to enrich themselves. Any other thought is a delusion. I REALLY wish Uribe had better social help for the downtrodden of Colombia. He is, overall, to be highly commended for his fight against this disease. The FARC is a blight to that beautiful country. I wish Uribe very well.

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poco says on Aug 5, 2006, 19:16:

Oh yes they will / do FARC just don't have the capabilties to do a great deal.

Just exactly what does the president of Venezuela intend to do with THREE BILLION Dollars worth of military arms ?

Ahhh,, helping the poor ?
Maybe Protection from Suriname ?

No, ask a Colombian and you may find the opinion is that Chavez intends to arm the FARC. Not with the planes and helicopters he purchased from Russia but he has purchased large quantities of guns and ammunition.

So, will Venezuela be the Iran and FARC the Hezbollah of South America ?

Humm,, Ingrid Betancourt tried to make the FARC part of Colombia’s political system.

How about that,, I’d bet the FARC would have “turned their guns in plow shares�? if she was successful.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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poco says on Aug 5, 2006, 19:57:

Are you sure ?? I knew the moment I saw the crazy icon at the bottom... someone had appeared, who'd been lost for awhile.

I've read some of your posts,, You seem to have become a GIB antithesis,, only less predictable and not as prone to saying stupid things.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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Ctg Bound says on Aug 6, 2006, 05:53:

redway & poco Redway, a bad rash is irriataing, that is all, they do not have the capabilities to do much as I say, that has been proven over the last few years, unless you believe the FARC propaganda.

Poco, no doubt some of the arms Chavez has and will buy will end up in Colombia, but FARC could buy them elsewhere anyway, so that won't make much differance.

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Ctg Bound says on Aug 6, 2006, 11:25:

Gringodiego "...only to be a continuous nuisance for 40 years is all"

A nuisance does not mean seriouse capabilities, as the future, we shall have to wait and see.

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redway says on Aug 6, 2006, 15:25:

"A Rash" is a Metaphor, Ctg Bound I was not trying to downplay the seriousness of the FARC, Ctg. I meant a rash is an omnipresent irritant. It's there all the time. It's not going away. No, Ctg. I don't believe FARC bullshit. I need to tell you that I was in Colombia, for the first time, in 1981. In Cuidad Jardine, the M19 was going around spray painting any rock they could find. The whole FARC thing has escalated hugely, although the first time I went to Cali-1981-there were truckloads of army personnel in the el centro. Just gotten much worse.

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Gator says on Aug 6, 2006, 19:56:

Ah M-19! Now there were some REAL bad asses (who did end up seeing the light)

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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miamimike says on Aug 6, 2006, 20:42:

Like That Explosion in Pasto where they hid the Explosives in Milk containers on 8/5 , "a Little rash" http://www.eltiempo.com/nacion/cali/2006-08-05/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3083632.html

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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