jatoler has left 16 comments

jatoler comments on What if Colombia goes to war against Venezuela and Ecuador?

Yeah both countries navies are pretty negligible. Colombia has like 5 or 6 submarines and about 8 frigates and venezuala has 2 submarines and I think 3 or so frigates.

jatoler comments on What if Colombia goes to war against Venezuela and Ecuador?

Thanks BIllyB. You are def right about the experience and training. How long have the Colombians been fighting the FARC, ELN, and NKOTB in the jungles? Well maybe not NKOTB....but I hear they are making a comeback...

jatoler comments on What if Colombia goes to war against Venezuela and Ecuador?

OK Sorry for the long-windedness.... Robi666: To answer your second question, you have a better chance of seeing an American flag on Bogota flagpole than a Venezualan. Suizo and El Polo are both right as well in my opinion. This seems like an overture by Chavez to manipulate something. Perhaps to drive oil prices higher?

jatoler comments on What if Colombia goes to war against Venezuela and Ecuador?

If inclined to fight a war, Chavez would most likely attack the airbases and ports before making any serious inroads into the country by land. He would most likely drop paratroopers behind enemy lines in the jungle to meet up with some FARC rebels and disrupt supply lines. By this time, the FARC would launch attacks in a country wide campaign, and Ecuador would have to decided whether to start shooting or decide to sit this one out. The United States would send one fleet to "observe" off of the Venezualan coast, and one to observe off the Ecuadorian coast which of course would be providing intelligence information to the Colombians. The Colombians will most likely keep a successful defensive posture with some presicion attack missions until some other factor ends the war. (That other factor would most likely be US intervention, an internal coup within the Colombian or Venezualan peoples, or a virtual stalemate is evident and both sides sue for peace)

jatoler comments on What if Colombia goes to war against Venezuela and Ecuador?

Since I am at work, I'll just comment on the air forces. Ecuadar: Smallest Airforce of the three and only about 60K active miltary personell. They have a few semi-modern isreali jets but nothing to wow you. Venezuela: Most Modern Airforce of the three now that Chavez has new Su-30 and a few F-16s. Chavez also has purchased more Russian fighters that are due to be delivered sometime this year as well. Colombia: Not as modern as Venezuela's Airforce due to thier reliance on French Mirages and thier Isreali variants. Most of Colombia's air force is based upon Ground Support to fight rebels, not air superiority. For the most part, Venezuela holds a distinct advantage over Colombia when we are talking about Air Superiority. If the US becomes involved however, then Venezuela's Air Superiority will be non-existant due ot the fact that the US Air Force's F-16s, F/A-18s, and new F-22s would have a field day against the Su-30's who's strenght lies in thier versality and not exactly in thier Air- to Air Combat against pure interceptors.

jatoler comments on Colombia's ambassador expelled on Sunday,

Sanctions?? I doubt that would work....behold the power of the almighty oil.

jatoler comments on Marriage Immigration to Canada - Phone Call Records

Well technically those wouldn't be phone calls since they are considered data. Doesn't Skype log all your activities? Secondly, to make a call to Colombia, don't you have to pay Skype the $.02 a minute fee or whatnot or does the other party have Skype as well.

jatoler comments on Chavez orders troops to Colombia border

I thought it was funny that Mr Chavex threatened to send in the "Sukhoi's" to prevent the Colombian's from violating Venezualan soil. I agree with divingdave. When the US military parks a few Aegis Cruisers and Destroyers off the coast for "patrol", both sides may decide to tone down the rhetoric. When the US parks an Aircraft Carrier off the coast, then Chavez should really start worrying. When the US parks a Marine Landing Craft off the Coast....then all of us should start worrying!

jatoler comments on Transmilenio

All of these places are less than a 15 to 20 min walk from each other. In fact I walked from Monserate to Museo del Oro (the temporary one) and to the presidential palace failry quickly so just pick one stop and go from there.

jatoler comments on Monserrate in Bogota

The funicular leaves from a different station. I would recommend taking it b/c it seems a little more secure than the cable car. (I am scared of heights so I made sure I took the funicular) I took the funicular on the way up and down and there was no problem. I made sure we got there early though b/c the lines can get kinda ridiculous around the holiday season.

jatoler comments on

Yeah its safe old chap! I am an obvious gringo and there was little danger of being kidnapped...now bing hit by a car or a stupid motorcycle...thats a diff story...7 This question does sound a little trollish though....

jatoler comments on Currency Exchange

Yeah a bank is fine. I have been averaging 1 = 1900 COL. I have been going to the HSBC bank near me. **I am not sure in which area of Bogota I am in...I just look out my window and see a huge Home Sentry building and Plaza Mexicano...

jatoler comments on medical insurance

I called my rep. (Blue Cross) today and he said they'll pay for emergency procedures but not for check-ups and non-urgent care.

jatoler comments on Another Dumb Gringo Question

SLGUY, I had been looking at the "Bloodthirsty American.." post and thought that was a shotgun at first glance... Ahh ok so baggage claim is small and cramped eh...ok good to know.

jatoler comments on Another Dumb Gringo Question

THanks for the info guys... I honestly have never seen a money belt...I figured I could find one in the mall if things got too bad...There's no way in heck I would be caught wearing a fanny pack...so if that what a money belt looks like...then its a dummy wallet and cash in the sock or crotch.

jatoler comments on Another Dumb Gringo Question

Yeah So i just looked at the Travel Giude and that answered about half of my questions...hehe Oh well...so do ya'll think a money belt is really necessary?