Colombia, Brazil forge military pact

docwilliam says on Jul 21, 2008, 09:00:

This may be a good thing. People I know in Brazil have seen Chavez as a threat to the region (in the past).

"There's no time to panic"

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sloopskipper says on Jul 21, 2008, 09:54:

Next, Perú?

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Monpirri says on Jul 21, 2008, 11:18:

Sloopskipper, I think Peru is already a strong military ally with Colombia.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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Gringo Spy says on Jul 21, 2008, 11:23:

Chavez Goes Weapons Shopping in Russia Amid Arms Race

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aLF7tPXrBVYE&refer...

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Monpirri says on Jul 21, 2008, 11:33:

I hope president Alvaro Uribe knows about Chavez shopping spree.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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billyb says on Jul 21, 2008, 13:07:

I see an axis developing and it don't look good for chavvie. You add mexico and chile to that and you have all the important countries in LA, except for argentina, but not much you can do there while that inept woman is in charge.

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Monpirri says on Jul 21, 2008, 13:42:

I would not say that Mexico would join in. Venezuela and Mexico have a greater partnership because both are oil producers and Chavez not too long forced out all foreigner investments in Venezuela except for the Mexican company. I think Mexico would remain neutral as it has been up to now.
Then again I might be wrong.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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sloopskipper says on Jul 21, 2008, 14:06:

Monpirri says on Jul 21 (today): flag

"Sloopskipper, I think Peru is already a strong military ally with Colombia."

Cool, I know that Uribe recently met with Lula & Garcia.

I thought that Mexico had begun to view Chavez with mistrust.

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Monpirri says on Jul 21, 2008, 14:13:

I do not know but if you remember not too long ago there was strong bond between the two countries. One wanted to suit Colombia because of the nationals who died in Ecuador and Venezuela was beating the drums a bit harder in joy. But now that the international conflict is a bit out the public eyes and consequently they continue their business as usual.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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billyb says on Jul 21, 2008, 14:15:

"Venezuela and Mexico have a greater partnership because both are oil producers"

Mexico has a right of center governament that is pro-free trade as opposed to chavez and the fact that they they are an oil exporter, eliminates the leverage that chavez normally has over poor and oil importing countries. In other words, mexico doesn't need venezuela. Never mind the fact that mexico and venezuela just semi-repaired diplomatic relations that were severed for the past couple of yearso so, after chavez insulted Calderon and tried to insinuate himself into mexican elections.

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Monpirri says on Jul 21, 2008, 14:22:

Just as Mexico has a lot of investment in Colombia, for example they own 90% of Colombian cement and soon the entertainment industry, Mexico has a greater investment in Venezuela! Oil is huge business!!

Then again I might be wrong.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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billyb says on Jul 21, 2008, 14:27:

Didn't one of the cement companies that chavvie nationalized belong to Cemex?

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Monpirri says on Jul 21, 2008, 14:40:

Billyb, I think you are right there is a lot of under the table international business there.

Then again I might be wrong.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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billyb says on Jul 21, 2008, 14:45:

but anyways, i think we are seeing a shift away from chavvie and more to colombia's position, well except or his house dogs, ortega, correa and morales.

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Monpirri says on Jul 21, 2008, 14:46:

Do you remember what was the bottom outcome in that dispute? Do we have an update a transparent one?

http://english.eluniversal.com/2008/04/07/en_eco_art_venezuela-to-nati...

Cemex may escape Chavez's nationalization fling
http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSN1029750420070110

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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billyb says on Jul 21, 2008, 15:13:

You might be right, but never say never with that guy. BTW, i read somewhere that one of the cement plants he was going to take over was colombian owned, do you know the name?

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Monpirri says on Jul 21, 2008, 15:18:

I dunno Colombian does have not much in tha area anymore (Cement), Colombians are doing the same as they did with Panama, they are given all their stuff away and I hope you do not get upset with me but it's not about you but paisas are the ones who sold all the cement.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Jul 21, 2008, 15:19:

Cementos Argos is the big Colombian company in this dispute. I think their Venezuelan unit is called Cementos Andino.

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Monpirri says on Jul 21, 2008, 15:22:

So if your information is 100% accurate Colombia owns about 10% of national cement since 90% has been negotiated in the past, so after the so called dispute Colombia is not going to have quad!

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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billyb says on Jul 21, 2008, 15:23:

I think cementos del valle was also sold to cemex.

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Monpirri says on Jul 21, 2008, 15:25:

It's possible and that's is called the domino effect.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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toneloc24 says on Jul 21, 2008, 17:12:

While many have been so distracted by Chavez and his rantings, Brasil has quietly emerged as THE leader of South American progress. Doing it their way, they have truly prospered and the future is very bright for that country. Lula has also shown that it's more than possible to be tolerant of Chavez and his bluster, while not falling into a "us or them" alliance with anyone else.

What I do find funny is how Lula's government has somehow changed from "leftist" to "left of center." They've been leftist since 2002, with plenty of Marxists filling out the cabinet positions.

"Don't tase me, bro!!!!"

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billyb says on Jul 21, 2008, 17:33:

Yes, but Lula's most leftist and closest advisers when he began are now sitting in prison for corruption, so he is now relying on his second and less dogmatic tier of advisers.

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toneloc24 says on Jul 21, 2008, 19:32:

Sounds familiar...but they ARE still unmistakably leftist, just with toned-down rhetoric.

"Don't tase me, bro!!!!"

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billyb says on Jul 22, 2008, 07:05:

Sure, you could still call them "left of center." . But I think "pragmatic' would describe his economic policies of late.

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