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Dodd denies Ecuador claim he'll probe Colombian raid

Dodd denies Ecuador claim he'll probe Colombian raid

Associated Press

QUITO -- A top Ecuadorean official said Wednesday that U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd offered to investigate whether Colombia used a U.S. plane to raid a guerrilla encampment in Ecuador's jungle -- but a spokesman for Dodd denied that he said any such thing.

Security Minister Gustavo Larrea told Teleamazonas TV that Ecuador has determined Colombia does not have the technology to carry out the attack, which killed a top leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and 24 other people this spring.

Larrea said he suspects a third party -- such as ''mercenaries'' or ''some official'' from the U.S. government -- was involved.

He also said that during a recent meeting with Dodd, the powerful Connecticut senator ``offered to open an investigation to determine if a U.S. airplane was used in the operation.''

But Dodd's spokesman told The Associated Press that although the senator met with Larrea and other officials in May while in Quito for a regional security forum, he said no such thing.

''Sen. Dodd supports and welcomes investigations that are ongoing into the events of March 1 and is eager to learn more about their findings. However, he is not seeking nor did he offer to open an additional investigation at this time,'' press secretary Bryan DeAngelis said in an e-mail to the AP.

Ecuador has called the March 1 raid by Colombian forces a violation of its sovereignty. The two countries severed diplomatic ties soon after, and have yet to reestablish full relations.

Colombia says the attack was carried out entirely by its troops using Colombian air force planes.

By billyb on Jun 12, 2008, 09:57 in Politics & the war.

billyb says on Jun 12, 2008, 09:57:

So, which one of the two fokers is lying?

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sloopskipper says on Jun 12, 2008, 10:21:

Wanna make a small wager? LOL

It seems with all the poverty and other problems in Ecuador & Venezuela these guys could maybe divert some energy in other directions. That is, unless, just seeing their names in the international media makes these two-bit political hacks feel important.

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billyb says on Jun 12, 2008, 10:24:

Well let's see, the ecuadorians have been caught lying at just about every step on this issue, soooo I will bet on...........

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sloopskipper says on Jun 12, 2008, 10:26:

Hey, man that's MY bet! jaja

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Mr. Hollywood says on Jun 12, 2008, 10:28:

I'm sure something happened like Dodd saying, "Oh, really, that's interesting. We'll look into it." And the Ecuadorian minister twisted that to mean he'd promised to open an investigation.

I love the claim that the "Colombians don't have the technology to carry out the attack." That's just plain ol' mierda del toro.

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billyb says on Jun 12, 2008, 10:31:

"Larrea said he suspects a third party -- such as ''mercenaries'' or ''some official'' from the U.S. government -- was involved."

Whose weapons or technology did these mercs or rogue US officials use then? Are there mercs out there with their own airforce and satellite systems? Loid?

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sanandressi says on Jun 12, 2008, 12:21:

The FARC is lucky that the United States has not sent in troops to Colombia. Were it not for those hostages, including three Americans, I believe Uribe would do even more militarily.

Ecuador is kicking the United States out of the base at Manta, Ecuador. So why would they think the US might not have acted now out of that base? Ecuador should know what is going on at Manta's airfield.

I hope the United States did bomb Reyes and his camp and why did not Correa do it first?

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sloopskipper says on Jun 12, 2008, 15:18:

billyb says on Jun 12, 2008, 10:31: flag

""Larrea said he suspects a third party -- such as ''mercenaries'' or ''some official'' from the U.S. government -- was involved.""

Was Cheney in Ecuador, or maybe McCain?

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billyb says on Jun 12, 2008, 15:20:

Maybe it was the governator, Ahnold?

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NJ C Rep says on Jun 12, 2008, 16:17:

Dodd is lying... Lied to them stating that he looked into it and lied about denying he said anything...

His people are the liberals in the US who are trade protectionist...

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