Miami Herald: Uribe's Claim Scuttles Hostage Release

juancegomez says on Jan 1, 2008, 09:34:

A very questionable title and opening argument, since it essentially ignores the previous delays and directly attributes the "scuttling" to the as of yet unproven claim about the little boy, when Chávez himself had already read FARC's letter on the air hours earlier and had even said that things would need to be at least temporarily suspended by recalling the international delegates back to Venezuela. Uribe wasn't even in Villavicencio at that point.

It also incorrectly claims that it was Uribe who came up with the whole Red Cross insignia deal, when it was actually part of Chavez's original proposal, though Uribe did repeat that point later in a communique.

As for quoting Oliver Stone, I don't think his opinions matter in this case. Let him rant.

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tasco66 says on Jan 1, 2008, 09:36:

I didn’t know that Oliver Stone was a polo-farc-chavez supporter…

Not being bound to swear to the dogmas of any master

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juancegomez says on Jan 1, 2008, 09:50:

Well...I don't believe he even knows about the Polo, honestly, nor do I think such an "unholy trinity" actually exists.

Still, again, I have no problem with his making rants, as uninformed as they may be. Anyone who thinks he's an expert on the subject really needs to study more, at the very least.

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catherine b says on Jan 1, 2008, 10:10:

"It also incorrectly claims that it was Uribe who came up with the whole Red Cross insignia deal, when it was actually part of Chavez's original proposal, though Uribe did repeat that point later in a communique."

Did'nt they explain though that for constitutional reasons, they could'nt permit aircraft with foreign insignia to land in Colombia?

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juancegomez says on Jan 1, 2008, 10:13:

Yes, but the point is that Chávez himself, and this was reported in both Colombian and Venezuelan sources, had already said that the planes and helicopters would have such insignias. This wasn't immediately clear, admittedly, but if you look it up...

The newspaper article makes it sound like it was something Uribe came up with when he responded to Chavez's proposal, whether it was or wasn't for constitutional reasons.

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athensugadawg says on Jan 1, 2008, 11:49:

Add an idiot like Oliver Stone into the mix, no wonder why this did not work. And he wants to make a film about Pablo in Colombia...

So here is an organization that routinely processes and transports tons of illegal drugs for usage abroad....and they cannot coordinate where to drop off hostages? Sorry, I simply do not buy that. I can only imagine what the families of the hostages are going through....probably like a slow death, prolonged. One can only hope that the New Year will bring success and reunion to those that have suffered for such a long period of time.

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