Lessee…America hating Chavez giving millions of dollars to terrorists + drooling morons in congress (and Bush too) steadfastly refusing to stop the multi-million person yearly invasion across our southern border = eventual major terrorist attack, possibly slaughtering whole cities full of our citizens (depending on how nasty the weapon(s) are they bring with them)

Thanks, federal government.

Ok, time to Act, ask Obama what is he going to do with this clear true information?
Why this information is not on CNN? American TV sould be airing this all over What happens?

Mr Mc Cain, what are you going to do with this terrorist regime?

Thank you Adam God Bless YOU!

Well we know what Obama will do: talk to Chavez…

Adam I do not see this in the main page of FOX news, is very important the whole world must know this.

fox News please is very important.

Comment by Alfredo

May 15th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Ok, time to Act, ask Obama what is he going to do with this clear true information?

————————–

He’s already said and has been clear about what’s he’s going to do with Chavez and Castro…

“I’m going to try to talk with them”…

Nice Obama!… this way, we’re going to fix all things in latinamerica, especially the influence of this $$$ populism $$$ that is killing the democracies in these latinamerican countries.

lol regarding Bush’s comments that so upset Obama…I thought Bush was referring to Carter. lol

I love Connie Mack!!! I would love to see the US impose sanctions but will we? Will there be a fear because then we won’t get oil from them, which in turn means less fuel, which in turn means higher gas prices? What price are Americans willing to pay to stop this dictator? Why don’t we send the team of J. Jackson & J. Carter to talk to Chavez.

I do agree Chavez is a terrorist, but blame the whole country?

That is INSANE! Blame him and his crew!

MOST (80%) venezuelans blame him because of the damage he has done to our and another countries.

I agree. Sometimes doing the right thing is not always the easy thing. Chavez is a PIG and always has been. He is a bully who needs to be beaten down. He claims to be for his people when he is setting them up for utter disaster by siding with the Axis of evil doers.

Don’t hold your breath. Many of our Senators and Congressmen are more interested in their own re-elections than helping the nation as a whole. Sanctions and facing up to this monger makes just too much sense, and I have not seen much of it from our Government when dealing with this idiot.

I am very hopeful that McCain or Hilary, or Obama, whoever wins, has the gall to stand up and fight for Americans instead of lining their own pockets and make those taking advantage of us and their position very famous.

Chavez, your days are numbered…so start counting. Some fruit rotts from the inside out.

And what is the psycho printing in the newspapers over there after these reports?
That we are all out to get him? a bit of paranoia?
Susan i’ll be looking for your translations of what their/his papers are saying.
I like Lews description…Some fruits rot from the inside out

Chavez said there were a bunch of clowns painting the scientific report.

Of course he is going to deny everything, but this is evidence that can be use at the Hague and for The United States to finnaly call him Terrorist.
And is him and his party, not the suffering Venezuelan people being under this banana republic communist dictatorship.

Boicot Venezuelan Citgo and stop buyng oil from Venezuela, we are feeding him all the dollars he needs to stay in power, hello!!

http://www.noticierodigital.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=379884

Venezuelan information, not from the government about the Interpol forensic examination of the FARC Computers linking Chavez with them.

And this is the INTERPOL official release.

http://www.interpol.int/Public/ICPO/PressReleases/PR2008/PR200817.asp

Well Pat Robertson was correct when he said Chavez should be executed.

don’t worry america…obama is sending in a special delegation of superheros… Carter and Richardson – they will diffuse the situation and stop this nonsense with a waive of their wands and serve cookies and fresh brewed obama kool aide….

our foreign policy is safe in the hands of the obamaman… Chavez has just endorsed his friend and his step son -Obama – when his father the goat herder who was personally chosen by JFK to come to america…Chavez offered him a palace and severn coffee pickers and 10 virgins if he would stay with him… but obamaman daddy said no- I must impregnate young naive hawaiin girl while still married to another in africa and plant my seed … he will become the obamaman…. a seeker of truth, justice and the american lie…

Yes, Interpol stated that the files had not been tamperd with by the Colombians. Interpol also states that the computers belonged to Raul Reyes.

Then, on page 9 of the report Interpol says: “The verification of the eight seized FARC computer exhibits by INTERPOL does not imply the validation of the accuracy of the user files, the validation of any country’s interpretation of the user files or the validation of the source of the user files.”

Check it out for yourselves. This is amazing double speak in the best tradition of George Orwell. Interpol is saying that there is no validation/proof of the user files so people are assuming that they really belong to Reyes…….this farce has now degenerated into trial by media and Mr. Housley is very adept in this context.

Adam:

I know you don´t, but Congressman Connie Mack´s resolution introduced 2 months ago: “add Venezuela to the list of state sponsors of terrorism.”

They didn´t do that with “Panama´s strong man”!

I think Chavez and his crew deserve MORE THAN THAT.

But just them, in honor of justice…if we can still get it!

Please remember that Ronald Kenneth Noble, Secretary General of Interpol clearly stated “we can not verify the source or the authenticity of the documents”

Clearly they were not altered or fixed by the Colombian security forces. Hugo Chavez is very nervous about what is going to be disclosed from those drives. I BELIEVE he has been supporting the FARC but I don’t KNOW it and there has been not actionable information released as of yet.

As far as oil is concerned an embargo would hurt Venezuela more than the U.S. that is why Chavez always threatens but never follows through. You see Venezuelan oil is very heavy and API figure of around 14. Most of the refineries that can process it into something useful are in the U.S. Chavez had been trying to remedy that. He’s going to build a refinery in India to handle Venezuelan crude and I’m sure his buddy in Iran is supplying sweet light crude to Venezuelan customers in India, China et al to be paid back at a later date.

Evildoers, don’t make me laugh. They are acting in their own interests and playing to their own domestic political base. Just like nincompoops like Pat Robertson and George W. Bush do.

Attacking Chavez makes him popular and he looks like he’s standing up to the big yankee bully. That strategy worked for Castro he outlasted how many administrations?

If Chavez stays in power, then war will be upon us in this hemisphere from the strange bedfellows of Marxism and radical Islam. If we don’t want to see our loved ones beheaded in our home towns, we had better act soon.

“Interpol, the international police agency, confirmed the validity of the contents of laptops and other documents containing information strongly tying Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his allies to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), an internationally-recognized terrorist organization.” – Adam Housley.

Fact: page 9 of the Interpol report contradicts Housley’s assertion about the validity of the contents and the source of the files.

Fact: only Colombia classifies the FARC as terrorists among South American countries. No other country does in South America. Google it and check it our for yourselves.

The people of Venezuela deserve better then this pompus ass Chevez. He wishes to be the new Fidel and Che in South America, but he is one of those guys who will “free” you like it or not.

Every day millions of poorly informed Americans send millions of dollars to this communist creep through the purchasing of gasoline at thousands of his CITGO gas stations all around our nation. How ironic is it that CITGO is the official rest stop and gas station franchise for the Ronald Reagan Florida Turnpike. We can all make a difference right now by boycotting these cash cow concessions of his. Also, be warned, they seem to have plans to re-name these stations…so watch out. We NEVER patronize CITGO

Hey, Sean Penn, you and Danny Glover go kiss your leftist buddies ass now! Idiot America haters.

The European Union has FARC in the list of Terrorist groups. They have killed thousands of people.
this can not be denied.
the letters and all the documnts are authentic, and that is the fear of Chavez, he is involved with terrorism, period.
Venezuelans now hate him, he loses popularity, lost the referendum and is going to lose even more in the future elections, too many lies, too much violence, division, hate, corruption,and nothing positive done.
Venezuelans are sick and tired of this false, empty revolution, that has created more of 4 million new poor.

“this determination places blame directly on Chavez” – Adam Housley.

In all the computer files analyzed Chavez is not mentioned. There are no emails from the Venezuelan side either. Only email exchanges between the FARC leadership. Colombia speculates that a code name “Angel” is Chavez and that has been taken as certain by the media. Speculation does not equal truth and this matter has just degenerated into “trial by the media”.

In the emails published so far in Colombia there is no evidence that Chavez ever transferred money to the FARC, even though it was discussed in an exchange of emails between Raul Reyes and Mono Jojoy – both FARC commanders.

Go and read page 9 of the report – not the press release – and place Adam Housley’s article in this light. You will see that it is a mish mash of half truths in an attept to convince uninformed readers of Chavez’s “guilt”. Here’s the link:

http://www.interpol.int/Public/ICPO/PressReleases/PR2008/pdfPR200817/ipPublicReportNoCoverEN.pdf

Perhps you should also read the report, Adam. It contradicts itself from beginning to end.

Interpol talks freely about the coomputers being from the FARC and then says that the source and validity of the files cannot be proven. Come on, you’re a serious journalist!!

The European Union has FARC in the list of Terrorist groups. They have killed thousands of people.
this can not be denied.
the letters and all the documnts are authentic, and that is the fear of Chavez, he is involved with terrorism, period.
Venezuelans now hate him, he loses popularity, lost the referendum and is going to lose even more in the future elections, too many lies, too much violence, division, hate, corruption,and nothing positive done.
Venezuelans are sick and tired of this false, empty revolution, that has created more of 4 million new poor.

Chavez read a letter in his TV programm, a letter that Marulanda sent to him.
Rosales it looks like you are being paid to post here.

Do you support terrorists too?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hBdE_eHhFo

this is the link of the video. compare the paper in Chavez hands with the original letter found in the Reyes computer. He passses pages and the pharagraphs are exactly the same.
There are more videos of Chavez calling the international community to remove Farc from the list of terrorists. this is cleas and open support to the Terrorist group.

why dont my posts appear anymore?

“Fact is, if any organization that’s not directly run by one of the leftist leaders doesn’t denounce the Colombian assertion, then you can bet it’s true.” – Adam Housley

Adam, with all due respect, in potentially serious situations such as this one, no one in his right mind would even consider following Connie Mack’s line and label Venezuela ” a sponsor of terrorism”, by “betting that something is true”.

It would be insane to take this to the nth degree as create another “Iraq WMD” situation for the Venezuelan people.

Fortunately, there is enough reasonable doubt in the report whose findings are not just watered down, as you maintain, but contradict themseles as I have already pointed out. Semantics and use of llanguage do not come into this.

In addition and looking at the big picture in Latin America, it is a great smoke screen for the Colombian government to distract international attention from the 60 senators and congressmen either in jail or being investigated for criminal links with the paramilitaries or AUC in Colombia. Almost all are from
President Uribe’s party.

Alfredo – who ¡s paying you to post here?

Yes, you are 100% right, Chavez did read out a letter from Marulanda, in fact two letters. What does that prove. Oh, that Chavez had links with the FARC?

Of course he had links with the FARC – he was acting in official capacity of facilitator on behalf of the Uribe government for the release of hostages and the letters were communications from Marulanda in the course of negotiations.

If you want to continue this debate please do not decontextualize events to suit your own point of view.

Hmmm….so from what I gather, Obama is going to “talk” with Chavez. As opposed to the current policy over the last 8 years… which was to make threats, give this man chavez credit by reacting to his idiocy, and to run propoganda against Venezuela.

Worked out really well… Chavez is deposed, isn’t he? Mission accomplished.

The P.R. men who handle Chavez are doing their best on how to counter-act that issue. I know this time, they can’t handle the situation easily. The Interpol is involved and it is being supported with credible evidence. The people of the world have already found out who the real DIABLO is… I know how Chavez would respond to this. He would laugh like this: BWAHA! HA! HA! HA!

Last time I checked, Chavez was ASKED by Uribe to have dealings with FARC. He was SUPPOSED to be dealing with FARC, and unlike the US or any other President, he at least showed results in getting some of the hostages released.

Sheesh! Even Interpol doesn’t falsely conclude the documents show any financial support. Maybe we should kill the entire board of directors from Chaquita Corporation? They certainly paid millions to both of those terrorist groups in Colombia.

To stop Hugo from spreading Communism, USA has to impose a naval embargo on all oil- tankers coming from Venezuela. Keep the embargo in place for one year.It will bankrupt Hugo’s treasury and his money supply.
Stop talking star acting.

Adam to me – “And you are a defender of a hardline leader intent on becoming dictator for life while sapping the freedom from his countrymen.”

No, Adam, I want the truth about this situation with the FARC – not half truths or “bet on what is true or not”. Real evidence which has not been possibly contaminated.

Chavez’s mandate as president ends in February 2013. He cannot stand again. Read article 72 of the 1999 Venezuelan consitution. So, how can he be a “dictator” for life? In fact, readers should know that Chavez was elected democratically and the elections were verified as clean and fair by the OAS, EU and Carter Center.

“Sapping freedeom from his countrymen”? Adam give us concrete examples of this assertion, otherwise it sounds like cheap propaganda from the discredited Venezuelan opposition.

And don’t mention restrictions on press freedom. Many people saw your reports from Venezuela in May 2007 and no one stopped you from reporting in your own inimitable style.

Adam – interpret Chavez’s intentions regarding the hostages as you see fit. It’s your democratic right to do so. The fact is he got RESULTS. That’s good enough for most people and more so for the families involved.

Sure Chavez has a continental wide project. Everyone knows that. Is that somehow illegal or wrong? No – it just does not suit US interests in its own back yard.

That’s the galling part for the US right wing who think that the Monroe doctrine should be applied to these banana republics. Right?

BRAVO, ADAM!

Sure Ivor, you mean Socialism. We should go blockade the “brown” people but not the “white” people in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark for their “commie” governments.

Being “commie” is okay as long as you are in Europe? I think Latin America can take care of themselves.

Adam -

1. Google the ECLAC site and you will see that poverty has gone DOWN in Venezuela since 1999. The 19 million who make up Social Class E have seen their wages increase by over 400% in real terms since 1999. Check it out on the Datos site.

2. There is no state police in Venezuela. The multiple police forces will be organized under a national police force in 2009. What’s wrong with that?

3. Opening fire on protesters? Who are you kidding? The only time that happened was during the April 2002 coup and 8 metropolitan police officers, their 3 chiefs and 4 national guardsmen are currently on trial in Marcay for the massacre. At that time the metropolitan police force was controlled by Alfredo Peña – an obsessed Chavez oppositor. He is the one ultimately responible for the police firing on protesters.

4. As an occasional visitor to Venezuela you are hardly qualified to comment on press freedon. Watch Globovision or listen to Union Radio where the government is crticized 24 hours a day.

I accept that no one pays you to write what you do. Except for FOX which has NEVER published a positive report on Venezuela since FOX came to prominance in 2003. You just follow the company’s line. Man, I’m sorry, but your partiality and parroting of half triths knows no bounds.

Arturo wrote.

“Sapping freedeom from his countrymen”? Adam give us concrete examples of this assertion, otherwise it sounds like cheap propaganda from the discredited Venezuelan opposition.

And don’t mention restrictions on press freedom. Many people saw your reports from Venezuela in May 2007 and no one stopped you from reporting in your own inimitable style.

That is correct.
closing tv stations that are not with the revolution
Creating a unique party his own
creating the appartheid Tascon List to punish people against him
Using the goverment resources and TV to lie about acomplishments
having more than 32 political prisoners.
Everybody in the regime is from the military.
Widespread corruption
more than a hundred Venezuelans killed every week
Venezuelans killed in the street by chavistas
assasins from the regime are free.
using oil moneys and PDVSA revenues as his own
financing political campaignes with peoples money.
finnancing and giving guns to FARC
Owns the Electoral authorities, the Supreme Court
Judicial System
Police, military, has his reservas own Pretorian Guards
And all that we voted NO in December is being approved and pass by his Assembly, not respecting the peoples decision.
Results of the last Elections have been a fraud.
what else do you want?
I am Venezuelan, I know the truth, he wants to be dictator for life endoctrinate students and Change History, rewriting everything to fit his views of history.
this is the worst nightmare we ever had. more than 4 million new poor, hospital system is colapsed, food shortages, inflation, widespread crime.

every ellecton in /unions, factoris, Universities Cental Universities where the electoral authorities are not involved have NEVER been won by the regime.

This is what you defend?

we want free elections supervised by the european Union, cleaning the voting data with more than two million fake voters, that is why he wins!

we need the US to stop feeding his pockets with oil money.

Venezuela needs democracy back. we are a Chavez regime hostage and the world does not know the truth.

What are you talking about, Alfredo? Your last elections were supervised by the EU, unlike the controversial US elections which went unsupervised. Far better than the Colombian elections where buses were being stopped on the way to the polls by the military and paramilitaries.

Venezuela has been run by right wing political groups like most of Latin America … and the result is mass poverty, death squads, disappearances, mass graves, and financial indebtedness to foreigners.

Your way of life as an elite which did nothing for your countries or your people is going down the drain by vote of the people, deal with it.

If Latin America was so great before these different guys, then why was it Third World?

All I know is that the US isn’t being flooded by Vz, Bolivian, or Paraguayan people sneaking over the border. We sure did get flooded by people from right wing Latino countries though.

You want to get off of some crazy people’s oil, get off of Saudi oil. Their countrymen flew planes into US buildings and blew up embassies.

Chavez is a pig, has always been a pig. It is such a shame that a country like Venezuela has to have such a pig for a pres. He is nothing but trouble for South America and needs to be delt with. I don’t know why the media keeps wasting ink on this low life.

O.K. I see the shills are out in full force and regurgitating the information they have been furnished, of course with a pro-regime slant.

Ah, it’s so easy to spout stats and prepared text from a distance, right J Bosque and Alfredo R.?

I will post this before I go on because, Adam, I’m being blocked… wahhhh!!

As long as america is dependant on oil we will continue to kiss the drillers ass. When the courts overrule the will of the people we will have gay marriages and a complete breakdown of morals. The media doesn’t like war so we can’t kill the enemy for fear of hurting them. The green freaks want to go back to open windows and a single light bulb in the kitchen rather than drill in the wilderness for our own oil. We as a country are being guided down the road to becoming a third world country. Our congress has hogtied the military prohibiting it from fighting a war to win it instead it is using the soldiers to rebuild a country before it is ours. With oil reaching untold cost per barrel we need to stop bidding it up and either ration the use here or drill here. We can’t be strong and wealthy at the same time. Either turn the military loose or suffer from the new world leaders with all their bravado and bull s–t. During the Korean war the Turks would slip into a enemy camp and kill the highest ranking leader and leave. Pretty soon the ranking leaders were afraid to sleep and being tired couldn’t make good decisions. Maybe we should use some snipers to break down those hostile new world leaders or suffer from our inability to rule the world again. We have the power so either use it or get rid of it and pay the national debt off.

Sorry Alfredo… what I wrote earlier was directed at Arturo R.

Adam help…. longer comments are not going through!!

I wonder what the ratio is between the number of hostages released as a result of Hogo’s efforts, and the number of people “disappeared”, imprisoned and killed under his rule? It would make the releases look a bit like window-dressing. It was interesting to watch what happened in America as Hugo was turning up the hate for the last year or so. Citgo must have been getting nervous, as they began to run slick ads with tankers majestically plying the ocean waves and making a big, public point about a special heating oil program to “aid” Americans in the winter chill.

This guy’s duets with the Iranian taxi driver/president should be set to the music of Gilbert and Sullivan.

BTW Arturo…”Fortunately, there is enough reasonable doubt in the report whose findings are not just watered down…” should read: Fortunately, there is enough reasonable doubt in the report, the findings of which are not just watered down….” A “report” is a which, not a who.

I give up!

For your information, Venezuela in all the 45 years of democracy has never been governed by right wing simply because it did not exist.

AD and Copei were Social parties, AD being left leaning one.
The right has never existed in Venezuela. this is another lie created by Chavez, who pretends to change history to fit his plans.

I come from a working class family, working class neighborhood, and I am not right wing.
Chavez is a total fraud, a liar a destroyer of the soul and the body, creating far left zombies to believe his lies like robots., and a shame for all Venezuelans.
He has been in power for almost ten years with oil prices sky rocketing.
What has he done? where is it? is all in projects in tv programms in words that are carried by the wind but nothing is concreta is like theater props. this is an Stereofoam and paint revolution. noting real. all lies and media manipulation. But Venezuela do not lke him anymore.
Look at the poor conditions of the country and the huge mess, nothing improves, millions of new poor and nothing has change only getting worse, He is not there for the people and has never been, POWER is the only thing tat matters for him.
Tell me has anything change? and is this what Revolution means? Lord!! Revolution must be the most devaluated word in any language. it does not work, is failure is massification of poverty and crime.

This military regime swimming in dollars living in mansions wearing rolex and dinning in Paris orLondon, called themselves saviours of the people. they are the must corrupt, elite, the new Rich, that only care about power.

chavez has lost the best opportunity for Venezuela.
He is Trully a Midas in reverse all he touches becomes excrement.

zhttp://www.insideedition.com/news.aspx?storyID=1703
inside edition did a more indepth story on Adams Drug Sub story.
A video of it may be uploaded soon on their website.

I live in Venezuela, and while it would be nice if the US handled this in a mature manner, the US has a long history of stupidity with respect to it’s Latin American neighbors.

Sure, Chavez has ties to the FARC. Everyone here knows that. This evening we’re hearing stories about the Interior Minister making comments about his personal friendship with leaders of the FARC… as if the Venezuelan leadership knows that more is coming and has decided to break the news themselves and let the scandal blow up now rather than wait until closer to the election.

This scandal will hurt him with his political power base, and the only question is how much. My guess is that it will hurt him badly but it all depends on how the US reacts to this. If the US were to designate Venezuela as a terrorist sponsor state (and who made the US the arbiter of what is and what is not terrorism, anyway) it would help Chavez to retain support among his power base because it’s the poor who would really be punished.

As it is, this scandal will help the political opposition to Chavez, and there is a general election coming up in 6 months… which means plenty of time to ride this for all it’s worth. Security is the number one concern of Venezuelans, and having a President with ties to the FARC is going to cost his party dearly in the upcoming election.

This is one of these situations where the US Government needs to restrain itself to simply making some quiet comments condemning Chavez… and leave the Venezuelan people alone to deal with the situation instead of running in like a bull in a china shop wrecking a delicate situation with outside interference. It’s probably too much to hope for though- and the official US response will probably be stupid.

I like the “known terrorist organization” and “state sponsor of terrorism” comedy.
Iran, Syria and Afghanistan are all members of Interpol and have all been accused of being “state sponsors of terrorism” by the US.
That would be the same US that created and trained Al Qaeda to fight Russians in the 70s and 80s and has been accused by UN nations of “sponsoring terrorism” more than 25 times (i.e. more than anyone else).

Nothing like a bit of malignant hypocrisy to rule the world with…

GO EMPIRE!

Let’s see if I can at least give some encouragement, seeing as my other posts didn’t go through

GO ADAM!!!

Chavez is a dangerous man. He has access to massive funds and he is mentally unstable and very obviously uneducated..I mean his schooling was seriously retarded early on as he chooses name calling vs valid discussion…..He is an embarrassment to Americas…..Sad to say, the new democrat president will go talk to him and encourage his policies as we wimp around the world…If G W won’t declare chavez terrorist how could we think Obama will. Obama is a more dangerous man than Chavez since he is one who deceives like the serpent in the garden…All see chavez for the fool if they have common sense….Obama will be the next President of the great country of the world….Sad days for those who provide jobs and jobs who believe that there is only one form of patriotism, Obama said he represents the “new patriotism”…new one on me…he can explain next year I guess……

whatthe hell is up with the posts not making it? Ive tried 9 times to post one thing……….this sucks,

Great, so this means the American media is going to FINALLY report on this big mess that has been going on for several months? As a Colombian native-now an American citizen- I’m deeply disturbed by the fact that the media has not paid any attention to the tension between Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador until now. All I’ve seen are small report that don’t really convey the severity of the situation. In March 2008, there was a worldwide march organized by Colombian citizens to show the world how we really feel about FARC and what they have done to us…NO ONE English speaking network conducted a substantial report on the event. There were many thousands of people marching in all major cities of the world, but it might as well not have been done, since only Spanish speaking networks reported it and explained the events that lead to the march.
It is time for the US public to wake up!!! for all of our sake. I don’t understand how people don’t see that the next big conflict the US could be involved in is right at their door step: Colombia,Venezuela and Ecuador.
This conflict has only emphasized the ‘bizarro world’ we are living in now days. The good guys are bad, and the bad guys are good…or so they want us to believe. Today after the Interpol report, Hugo Chavez had a few things to say-of course. Chavez has continuously threatened Colombia by many means including sending troops to the border the two countries share, and this time he declared ” if Colombia brings US troops to their border with Venezuela, it will be interpreted as an act of aggression against Venezuela, and there will be a war…I’m not going to let Colombia give La Guajira to the Empire (USA).”
La Guajira is a decades old point of tension between the two countries. It’s oil rich, and is the peninsula on top of Colombia’s map-Venezuela has always argued they have more territory there than what the maps show.
Again, does this mean FOX will FINALLY report and inform more on this conflict??? I sure hope so, the last thing we need is for the American public to find out about another conflict and react to it rather than appling some good ole preventive medicine/

Hi Adam; there was a report on Colombian news papers yesterday detailing all ‘business men’ and the different countries where they reside that are FARC members in charge of recruiting supporters, money, arms and much more…wish you could read Spanish-it includes so called political asylum given to them by different Latin American countries. A great chunk of the continent is involved in one way or another.

MCERONI,,,,back in socal in the 70’s and 80’s when I was a wee one. There wasa radio station KMET that ran the Dr. Demento Show on Sunday nights. He ran comedy spoof songs and comedy skits and there was one that made fun of the Orginal Star Trek Show . The funny thing about Star Trek is that they didnt solve the problem early on when it was easy. They always waited for “further Plot Complications”. The lack of English news agencies pick up on the tensions reminds me of that Star Trek bit. Lets wait for further plot complications so that we look good when we report on it. I miss Dr. Demento. I don’t think his show could be possible these days. BTW, Weird Al Yankovic got his start on the Dr. Demento SHow,
Anyone remember the Dr. Demento Show?

Extraneous Information…Well said. The Monroe Doctrine was never meant to justify intervening in the internal politics of nations in the western hemisphere. It was specifically aimed at eastern hemisphere adventures here. Chalmers Johnson’s “The Sorrows of Empire” is an interesting look at how America should have considered the obverse to be equally important.

There is a big difference between minding one’s own business and isolationism. Teddy’s “Manifest Destiny” has been abused. Perhaps our national leaders should put down the 2×4 and try a few more carrots. There are few examples of benevolent dictatorship leading to complete success. General Douglas MacArthur’s rule of Japan after WWII is a case-in-point. Truman should have let him trim the rough edges off of China when they entered the Korean War. Now we have the the eastern “Hugo Chavez” in the form of Kim Jong-Il, though he does seem vulnerable to fairly pedestrian offerings.

Maybe Hugo should be given a SAG card, a limo and a Map to the Stars Homes. That might just do it.

Adam;
thanks for the earlier clarifications and kudos to you! I’m disturbed by some of the comments by Arturo-what do you mean is it wrong to have plans for a continent like Chavez does…OF COURSE! the hipocracy leaves me speechless…that is the kind of mentality sane people are being victimized by these days. So there is wide critizism of US’s policies abroad, but is ok for Chavez to have an agenda in the Americas? c’mon.All Chavez wants is to be the leader in one way or another of all of latin america.

Awesome come backs to the insane comments Adam-keep it up!

@Adam Housley

My compliments on getting this story out front, and on allowing this forum to be a ground for opinion.

…for there is no way to answer the claims of apologists if they are not first allowed the opportunity to make their claims.

@Alfredo

My compliments also, on your excellent refutation said apologists.

my comments are not being published

@All

for a all-in-one summary of the FARC / Chavez-faction relationship, here is a report off the Washington Post wire (and I think it is fair to say the WaPo is not exactly a tool of “The Empire”):

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/14/AR2008051403785.html?nav=rss_world

The way I see it, something is missing here, since most of those documents are emails, analyzing the IPs or the information available to the ISPs could be usefull to establish identities and trace back the location of these terrorists (maybe in Caracas and Quito).

I have lived in Venezuela since the week before Chavez was sworn into office in 1998. At first, he seemed promising to reverse the neglect and abuse of the poor at the hands of the rich. But a year or so into his reign, I realized he is nothing that a lying, power-hungry socialist dictator bent on holding all power. He is just another Saddam Hussein, except he speaks Spanish. The majority of the Venezuelan people supported Chavez at first, but his support dwindles all the time. Now, the people cannot get rid of him because he has consolidated his power. The only way Hugo Chavez will leave office is in a pine box.

The people deserve to suffer under Chavez because too many of them have selfishly used his hateful rule to line their own pockets. But I think they have suffered enough. When I came to Venezuela, Venezuelan people loved Americans and vice versa. In spite of Chavez’s anti-American propaganda, I still think most Venezuelans like America.

Hugo Chavez is a clown, dictator, egomaniac, and a dictator. He is an embarrassment to the good people of Venezuela. Venezuela is a beautiful country with a proud past and a great people. What a shame this idiot is embarrassing them. I say he needs the “Mussolini” treatment.

Viva la Venezuela!

I really don’t understand how any ‘rational’ person can defend Chavez. The man is obviously a despot and is crazy as in Idi Amin crazy. Of course Arturo would rewrite history to make Amin into the savior of Uganda to suit his own obvious Marxist ideology.
Out of all this here is my biggest gripe. We are paying $125 for a barrel of oil to guys like Chavez, Putin, et al making them stinking rich so they can subvert this country but we have a Do-Nothing Congress that won’t allow us to develop our own resources and reserves. It almost seems treasonist doesn’t it?

What if this info on Chavez is real or What if it is a false flag …
Our government has never done false flags … neither did Hitler

Our US Border with Mexico?

The US cries watch out for terriosits they are everywhere …
I am afraid of that guy who lives in a cave … al-CIA-da

Some of our police, judges and laws have become non-servents of the US citizens and treat us all like criminals … they have forgoten the constitution and bill of rights. Many don’t even know it…

But our border is bascilly wide open …
Go Figure …
North American Union
Lou Dobbs for President

Arturo is probably on Chavez’s payroll. Chavez is obviously helping FARC, we colombians not only find venezuelan ammo on their guns but we have to see spectacles in TV like the protection of farc wounded by venezuelan army. We know that Chavez has people here in Colombia running political scandals, we know he has military wargames for invading my country and we now know about the money he is giving them(through the interpol documents).
Ive read those documents throughly and they are completely real. Those communications even predicted some moves that Chavez was going to make before he announced them. For example he agreed with the guerrillas for a strategy to form a group of farc-friendly states that would push Uribe into demilitarizing a region in Colombia. That exact same plan was unveiled by Chavez a few days later even using the same “Contadora” analogy. The emails published until now are dead on, there are videos of reyes writing on the same toshiba computer for christ sake. Interior minister of Ecuador and of Venezuela both acknowledge they have met FARC leaders, and the colombian gov’t even confiscated half a million dollars hidden in costa rica that where mentioned in the computers. I don’t need anymore proof that the documents and photos are real, Interpol merely verified ALL of them.

Adam great post, looks like a lot of activity! I am thinking the traffic is making the posting slow.

I see so much similar to the Cuban Fidel way of handling the media, the money, the food and the resources.

There is a big difference between a socialist government and a dictatorship. Chavez wants the control Fidel has.

From the Interpol Report:

“The remit of the IRT and INTERPOL’s subsequent assistance to Colombia’s investigation did not include the analysis of the content of documents, folders or other material on the eight seized FARC computer exhibits. The accuracy and source of the user files contained in the eight seized FARC computer exhibits are and always have been outside the scope of INTERPOL’s computer forensic examination.”

There you have it. INTERPOL did not even analyze the content as it was not their job to do. What Colombia says is in those documents versus what is actually in those documents is still a matter of debate. And based on what Colombia has given OAS, they have found no evidence.

Now….Why isn’t this a bigger story?

The CERN particle accelerator

wow, busy here. but it always is when there’s a post on Hugo.

Problem here is that we can’t do anything about it. Yes, we’ll list them as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. What happens then? Countries around Venezuela will still buy oil. A lot of money will still come into the country, it will just lack the United States. As a supporter of this country, even I have to admit that just because we say it will happen doesn’t necesarilly mean it will. We’re the most powerful nation in the world, and for that reason alone countries will want to ignore us, to show us how impotent we can be with foreign policy. BUt I’m just the grunt on the ground, poundin’ sand. I don’t make policy, I just help to enforce it.

@All

FOXNews mainpage has had the full AP report up, but so it doesn’t slip from view with the news rotation, here it is again:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356236,00.html

Key Point regarding INTERPOL’s report: “More revelations are bound to emerge, as Interpol also turned over to Colombia 983 files it decrypted in a process Noble said took 10 computers two full weeks.”

LOTS of other points including H. Chavez’ “…should waste time here on something so ridiculous?” response and a pretty fair accounting of the level of material support for the FARC by his government.

*OPINION*: I am less than inclined to take at face value statements by Chavez that “…We aren’t going to attack anybody…” when he has also reopened territorial claims against Guyana, Colombia, and Peru, and has supported Nicaraguan territorial claims against Colombia.

Second try at posting, link disabled.
***
off-topic

re the LHC: “Now….Why isn’t this a bigger story?”

because, well, it isn’t breaking news. First beams go in about mid-June of this year, first collisions in early August. You can read about the progress here, if you are so inclined:

h ttp://lhc.web.cern.ch/lhc/

Great judgement there, Obama. Another fantastic display of your extraordinary logic, to choose to go hang out with Chavez. Between Bill Ayers, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Hamas, and Chavez, you are cozying up to just about every terrorist leader in the world.

Here is how Carter handled the Iran hostage crisis (who does this remind you of?!?!?) (from Wikipedia):

The initial takeover plan was to hold the embassy for only a few hours, but it soon changed. Khomeini made no comment on the occupation for several days, waiting first to gauge American reaction to the hostage taking, which he feared might be violent.[23] It was not. Some attribute the Iranian decision not to release the hostages quickly to the soft line of U.S. President Jimmy Carter; his immediate response was to appeal for the release of the hostages on humanitarian grounds and to share his hopes of a strategic anti-communist alliance with the Islamic Republic.

WOW! I missed a very busy night on Adam’s blog. Bummer. Go Adam!!!!

I guess the person looking over Arturo’s shoulder decided to take a nap, or sent some lacky to gather some other false intel/propaganda to try and squash those with common sense. Oh my, am I being cynical?

It’s coming Chavez, can you see it yet?

Posted or not, Great job Adam.

Since 9/11 I´m saying that FARC was a terrorist organization what’s finally were accepted.
Now with all the sorrow as a Venezuelan-Spaniard person living in Venezuela I can say without any doubt that Hugo Chavez is totally involved with FARC, IRAN, LYBIA,ETC. and we Venezuelan people need all the International help to get pressured on him to RESIGNED TO THE PRESIDENCY because we are Good People and we don’t deserve to paid for his depotical, terrorist and empoverishment bad and traitor goverment, because Venezuela it is full of G2Cuban personnel attacking all our Democratic’s Intitutions AND THE WHOLE REGION!
What can we wait for a father that don’t paid any alimony to her own daughter? And is suing a harrassing his ex-wife if she acts againts him?
ACT NOW! FOR THE SECURITY OF ALL THE REGION WE NEED CHAVEZ OUT NOW!
Sincerely
NCP

Adam – why were you in my dream last night??? lol Maybe I’m spending too much time on here. lol
BTW, saw your report yesterday afternoon. Great report!

Testing..

Gobierno venezolano y las Farc tienen cercanas relaciones, muestran computadores de ‘Raúl Reyes’
eltiempo.com

Jueves, 15 de mayo de 2008

Documentos a los que accedió la agencia AP revelan que Caracas, entre otras cosas, iba a prestarle 250 millones de dólares al grupo guerrillero para la adquisición de armas.
Siete documentos vistos por la agencia, fechados en enero del 2007, se refieren inicialmente a un monto y más tarde a “300″ al discutir a lo largo de varios pasajes la obtención de armas. El documento mas reciente, fechado el 8 de febrero último, también menciona obtener “una cuota de petróleo para comercializarla en el exterior, lo cual nos dejaría una jugosa utilidad”.

En un mensaje del 2007, el principal interlocutor de los guerrilleros ante el presidente de Venezuela, Hugo Chávez; ‘Iván Márquez’, dice que el jefe militar de inteligencia, el general Hugo Carvajal, y otro general venezolano “nos van a hacer llegar la próxima semana 20 bazucas”.

Entrega de cohetes

El jefe guerrillero alias ‘Timochenko’ escribe en marzo del 2007 que “conversando sobre los cohetes con los personajes de la inteligencia de la armada vecina, dicen que es muy complicado conseguirlos en el mercado por los controles que existen”, pero que ”están dispuestos ayudarnos a conseguir todas las piezas para construirlos” y a facilitar el viaje de un rebelde “al Medio Oriente a realizar un curso sobre el manejo de cohetes”.

Funcionarios colombianos creen que “los cohetes” es una referencia rebelde a misiles tierra-aire.

Entrenamiento en Venezuela

A comienzos del 2006, ‘Timochenko’ describe una visita a un campo de tiro y de entrenamiento de las Farc en suelo venezolano. Dice que ya cuentan en esa “escuela” con un “taller de sastrería y de fabricación de granadas y estamos construyendo varias instalaciones para hospitales”.

‘Timochenko’ agrega en esa comunicación que “se vienen haciendo coordinaciones e intercambio de información, operativos donde los nuestros van con armas y uniforme venezolanos en territorio venezolano” y que militares de la vecina nación han facilitado que se hagan inspecciones aéreas “montando guerrilleros en helicóptero para hacer reconocimiento”.

Encuentros con asesores de Chávez

Una carta del 12 de noviembre del 2007 y firmada por ‘Márquez’ y ‘Ricardo’ se informa al secretariado de las Farc sobre dos encuentros con asesores claves de Chávez y en los que entre otras cosas dicen:

Chávez “aprobó totalmente y sin pestañear la solicitud 300″ y designó a su ministro del Interior, Ramón Rodríguez Chacín, para encargarse de varios asuntos. Fue quien recibió a seis secuestrados colombianos liberados por las Farc entre enero y febrero.

“Las relaciones con el ejército están muy próximas… Tenemos amistad y buena empatía por lo menos con 5 generales. Es más, Chávez impartió delante de mí la instrucción de crear en la frontera sitios de descanso y atención de enfermos y designó una especie de Estado Mayor para estas relaciones”.

“A instancias de Chávez nos reunimos el sábado en nuestro búnker del Fuerte Tiuna” con dos jefes del rebelde Ejército de Liberación Nacional (Eln). El Fuerte Tiuna es la sede del comando militar venezolano.

Por lo menos dos docenas de archivos vistos por The Associated Press detallan cercanas relaciones entre el gobierno venezolano y las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia.

AP

http://www.eltiempo.com/justicia/2008-05-15/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-4166588.html

Adam the one I just posted is from El tiempo. in Colombia.
What we need is the US to stop buying oil from Chavez.
The United States is the one giving him all the dollars needed to continue with his madness.
Stop the cash flow and the Latin America’s Mugabe will be out.

http://www.11abril.com/index/especiales/CasoRaulReyesFarc/Videos.html#Interpol15Mayo

Here all the videos about What is in the computers. ties of Farc With Chavez and Chavez reactions.
Spanish.

Chavez is a waste of skin! It would be nice if he blocked a bullet with his head!

Chavez is as thight with FARC as Obama with rev. jeremiah wright

http://www.thedialogue.org

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Latin America Advisor

is published every business day by the

Inter-American Dialogue,

Q FEATURED Q&A

Will the US Declare Venezuela a State Sponsor?

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal on Friday, US officials say computer files from a laptop seized in a March 1 Colombian military raid that show ties between Colombia’s FARC rebels and the government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez appear to be authentic. Will the United States declare Venezuela a state sponsor of terrorism and impose sanctions on the South American nation, one of its biggest foreign suppliers of oil?

A Board Comment: Diego Arria:

“Today the ominous signs of the perverse Chavez-FARC relationship are on the laptop for all to see. A multitude of events had previously indicated such cooperation. For example: Chavez prohibited US AWACS flights over Venezuelan territory in order not to disturb FARC drug trafficking activities and encampments inside the country. Ironically, the laptop has become the mother of what the FARC used to call pesca milagrosa— miraculous fishing—whenever they found an important person to kidnap. The information contains new sinister and threatening aspects of Chavez-FARC solidarity that should force an urgent consideration of the case by the OAS—as well as by the European Union and the United Nations. In fact, Security Council Resolutions 1373 and 1566 condemn as criminal acts precisely those committed by Chavez: supporting people involved in terrorist acts and providing safe haven to them. It should be clear that Venezuela as a state is not involved—and should not be included in such a list. Once these grave revelations are validated by Interpol, they will have significant consequences when the Venezuelan people realize the extent of the Chavez military, political, and financial relationship with the FARC. Sanctions should target individuals, beginning with Chavez, by freezing their (and their intermediaries’) funds worldwide (as contemplated in the UN resolutions), as well as by preventing them from traveling international.

And Here, Chavez’s mother, before a poor woman, now a multi millionaire family, jewels diamons travel plastic surgery and more!.
compare the before and after, and Chavez says “to be Rich Is Bad” is bad for the rest of Venezuelans but not for his Family.

too bad this Article from a Madrid Newspaper is not in English.

http://media.noticias24.com/0804/chf19.html

‘morning Adam and all.

As always, Great rebuttals Adam!

Wake up America – this mad man is on our back door step – and we are feeding his insane notions everytime we gas up at CitGo. Let’s pull the plug on this jerk.

Wow–

I was off all day yesterday from the computer–

This latest of course does not come to me as a surprise– with all the reporting and posting of Venezuela coming from Adam, Marie, LDG, Alfredo, Daniel, and Rebeca there is nothing new to this story–just more confirmation– Now key question– What is going to happen? Like Patty said, Chavez is on his side, chewing his coca paste, becoming more paranoid, I bet, and Lord knows what that man will do if he can get his buds to help! I bet he is pulling all nighters throwing everything at the walls! (as Marie pointed out his volatile temper-)

Now the list for the state sponors of terrorism came out April 30th? Does or can Bush write out, or whoever, does the work on the list, a new list– or does one have to wait until the time comes back up again?

Let’s hear it for Connie Mack–

Tamera:

You have a degree in Psychology– how would you profile Chavez’s personality? I have him as a narcissistic, paranoid suffering from delusions– Delusional paranoid with narcissistic characteristics?

good morning, All

just a brief visit today for me.

welcome back, Susan-AZ

Here’s one more little “fun” thing to watch for on the news wires:

The European Union and Latin America are holding a summit in Peru as of today, that was originally scheduled to focus on poverty and food issues…

…but Venezuela’s Chavez, Ecuador’s Correa, and Colombia’s Uribe are all to attend.

Should be some fireworks on the sidelines, don’t you think?

As an Ecuadorian, I’m elated with the Interpol’s report. It offers hope to all Cubans, Ecuadorians, Venezuelans, Bolivians and Nicaraguans who are hoping the United States and the world will finally realize that Chávez has been continuing Fidel Castro’s work of enslaving the population and creating poverty while underming the United States.

I hope they also realize how Castro, Chávez, Correa, Ortega and Morales use fraude, manipulation, lies and intimidation to control their people. They manipulated democratic institutions to become elected and then became dictators. In Ecuador, Correa has taken over the executive, the legislative and the judicial branches of power.

I hope the computer files become widely available so Americans can see, for example, how FARC has been working with House Democrats to oppose the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120640555842961083.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Other files refer to meetings with “gringos” about Barack Obama http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/05/interpol-confirms-authenticity-of-raul.html

@LDG–

The European Union and Latin America are holding a summit in Peru as of today, that was originally scheduled to focus on poverty and food issues…

…but Venezuela’s Chavez, Ecuador’s Correa, and Colombia’s Uribe are all to attend.

——————————————————————————————————-

Morning to you too! your morning-

Now this should be interesting!!!!! ( What is Cuba doing now?) I just saw this-

Cuba

Economy / Cuba

A series of changes announced in late April were interpreted in Cuba and abroad as a sign that the new President, Raúl Castro, was consolidating his power base. Education minister Luis Ignacio Gomez,…

here’s a link to a story about the Peru Summit, written before the INTERPOL report hit:

http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-05-14-voa67.cfm?rss=politics

be well and safe, All
((departs))

((calls back over his shoulder))

@Susan-AZ

The Cuban government is trying a “North Korean Reform” writ large…

…enough social and market reforms to try to avoid collapse, not so much as to open society.

Long topic, and not enough time for me to help on it today. My regrets.

Good morning everyone

Adam, great blog and rebuttals as usual – thanks

@ Alfredo-

Comment by Alfredo
May 16th, 2008 at 11:11 am—
http://www.thedialogue.org

great link– thank you!

LDG, Susan, Patty, Max, Jen S., Karen2,

Left you all a message on the Inspector Gadget thread

@ Adam-

How did you know about my property for sale? I just put it up on the market!

Man, could I sell you some great oceanfront property Susan owns in Phoenix.

Adam
—————————————————————————————————————–

Arturo– cheap and it overlooks the White Tank Mountains!!! I will include the boat as well!

@LDG–

Me too– time is running out for me as well– but later in my evening, I will check to see if you come back– for this has me very interested!@

Comment by LDG
May 16th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
((calls back over his shoulder))

@Susan-AZ

The Cuban government is trying a “North Korean Reform” writ large…

…enough social and market reforms to try to avoid collapse, not so much as to open society.

Long topic, and not enough time for me to help on it today. My regrets.

KC–

I will check out the message– and thank you!

Adam-

I am going to copy your url to send to Rebeca in Venezuela– Maybe she will have more to say– and I don’t think she is aware of this new change–

Have a good day all– and Adam- thanks- vino!

@LDG-

Comment by LDG
May 16th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
here’s a link to a story about the Peru Summit, written before the INTERPOL report hit:

——————————————————————————————————–

Thank you– I like the stories on the side as well!

@Comment by Antonio Sosa
May 16th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
As an Ecuadorian, I’m elated with the Interpol’s report. It offers hope to all Cubans, Ecuadorians, Venezuelans, Bolivians and Nicaraguans who are hoping ….

thanks for the links!

Comment by Adam Housley
May 16th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Susan-

Sand galore!

Adam
——————————————————————————————————-

YOU CRACK ME UP!!!!

BTW– I just got done building three sand castles– one is for you!

Adam/Kathy Texas-

Kathy posted a picture of her son and she took the picture with the Nikon/D40 – Kathy made it a point to mention your name and your blog on hers– (she thanked you for the recommendation of the Nikon- D40)

xxx

michellemalkin.com/2008/05/16/city-journal-identity-theft-and-illegal-immigration/

THANK GOODNESS we just signed the whole family up for Lifelock…

used RushL as the code and it was 99 for each adult and 22.50 a child…

Hi everybody…

I’ll be back after hubs leaves for work

Hey Adam,

I think we should always wait to go to war, who cares if other people on the planet suffer and die under tyrants, that has nothing to do with my morning coffee.

just playing…

I love the hollywood elitists and anti-war crowd, they have this infantile mentality, they have no problems enjoying the freedom and prosperity bought and paid for by blood of other men, but they are up in arms when they think of shelling out a penny for other peoples freedom…

this is not 1776, its not even 1942, this is 2008, and we are the last true beacon of hope for the world, and we are under attack from all sides, the world is so much smaller, and the dynamics are different.

We owe a debt for our freedom, and that debt can only be repaid by ensuring freedom for the world, and I for one have, will, and will always, put my money (life, limbs, and wealth) where my mouth is.

Terrorist understand 2 things, complete victory or death, I will always choose the latter for them.

Americans need to wise up and realize that this about more than oil or politics (although there are those that profit both financially and politically from war) This is about ensuring all humans everywhere on this planet, grow up, safe and secure, with a chance at happiness.

I cannot think of one thing I have done to deserve the freedoms I enjoy everyday, and any american that feels that being born in this country entitles them to feel superior to the rest of the world, is that much less worthy of the very freedoms that protect their views.

Terri-

you said “ill be back after the hubs leaves for work”

In my world, we call that a nooner……enjoy….lol

susan-

about that ocean front property in AZ, I have heard that al gore is using the money he is paying himself to purchase carbon credits and offset his massive carbon footprint to purchase up AZ and NV desert, so that when the ice caps melt he can build a giant palace/casino in the shape of his oscar right on the beach and charge people to breath the fresh air inside.

when I think of al gore, I think of spaceballs and the oxygen crisis, and the leader opening soda cans fill with air for him to breath….hahahaha

man I am in a wierd mood today…on another note, my bridge selling project has taken right off, of course all sales are final and the new owners are responsible for moving them once the purchase is complete.

I love america

The US needs to start drilling for oil here- somewhere– anywhere–Saudi Arabia is not cooperating with the US on oil production– Latest headlines on Adam’s right side column–
and we need to dump Chavez as well!

Hi Terri–

hope Magoo is good!!

xxx

Somehow I got out of here and ended up in Mike Tobin’s blog– he has a good story over there!! I told him I was sent over there by accident from here and how all of you correspondants have guts!

He is on your clock too Adam- two hours sleep!

sgtshot–

send Al Gore my email address– If Arturo does not buy the oceanfront property, maybe Al Gore will!

xxxx

hummm, can i sell my ocean front in KS too? It has a beautiful view for those that are “blind” to what is going on around them!!

Derek, I’ve missed seeing you and John’s posts! Thanks for the giggles to end a long week!

When is anyone in the media going to find out why Obama’s people were talking to Hamas??????? This seems more important to me than Ayres or Wright!!!!

thanks patty-

have a good weekend

http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=87614

Spanish president Zapatero supports President Uribe and says FARC is responsible for trouble in the region.

haha, Chavez is more lonely, and German Chancellor Merkel said to governments in the region to distant from Chavez.

Adam, I dont understand what you mean about “Do they agree with me”……I thoughbt you might be interested. When I saw the story on TV. the reporter madea big deal about saying how he was the first US reporter to ever be on or inside a drug sub. I wish they had the video handy. The sub in the slide show looks like it would be fun off the Malbu coast. But a couple of water skiers behind it and take off!

Wow I missed the party! Been a busy day, Thanks for coming over to see me Susan and Jen. Thanks Adam I did you a mention and a heads up on the Tech Tuesday! I want your On the Scene blog to be the great blog you had going.

I am so glad to see Alfredo seeing what I see with Cuba. The Lost City (movie) was such a great example of innocent people unsure about the true character of a politician can be deceptive. Andy Garcia is soo good in that movie, and the guy on Without a Trace.

Tamera is on ABC Family I think daily. Everytime I go there on a weekday she is there. On that show though I can’t tell which one she is, now I can tell them apart but I can’t when I look at that show.

Sgt that is afternoon delight in my neck of the woods

second try to post, link disabled.
***

@All

Here’s a reporter’s view of the conduct of the Europe-Latin America Summit, in Peru, mentioned above. Please do read it all the way to the end…

h ttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/17/world/americas/17latin.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

Key Point: no major diplomatic incidents.

Kathy Texas-

Tamera has a mole on her left cheek, I believe left, and Tia doesn’t– there is the distinction-

Oh– and Tia is married and Tamera is not because Adam hasn’t done– what?

Terri: I noticed Malkin has been back on Fox News, has she forgiven Fox for Geraldo?

Susan: Hello! can’;t stay long about to go out to send some mail

And Kathy Texas–

I like your stories on your blog– did you check out Jen’s new pictures of her house? Man, she has one cool house!

So between you, Jen, and LDG’s house being built, you three keep me entertained- I haven’t been to Terri’s in awhile. I need to see what she has going– sorry Terri– I feel bad! Expect a visit!

xxxxx

Max-

Max–

what happened with Malkin and Geraldo? I missed this!

I have hardly watched the tele– clue me in!

Susan: Geraldo insulted Malkin on air, and Malkin stopped coming onto Fox because of it.
Personally i’m glad she’s back.

Comment by Adam Housley
May 16th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Kathy in TX always rocks!!

Adam
———————————————————————————————————————

One boring day, awhile ago, when I had nothing better to do but snoop, I went back into your blog when you first started– I saw Kathy Texas, was right there from day one–

I think you have her loyalty! (As with the rest of us that fell into you blog)

xxxxxx

Max–

what was the insult?

Adam–

final thought for the night– I was back on Mike Tobin’s blog to see how many people had posted on his new story– only one- (moi) – and I checked out his picture– (I think you are cuter) —- LOL

@all

Mike Tobin’s story of Four Countries, One Day is a good story! Go check it out!

I know he was with the Hamas on how to learn how to build a bomb, and I saw some comments – on that thread- Where Deadly Rockets are Made, but – maybe he was just doing a story? And …. he is a correspondant! He needs a break too! LOL

From reading the comments on his blog- Where Deadly Rockets are made, I gathered Tobin could be considered a terrorist!

Adam–Do you know him? Is he? Or was he just doing a job? LOL

Signed,

Curious

@Susan-AZ

re: “Comment by Susan–AZ May 17th, 2008 at 7:38 am”

The reasoned accusation of M. Tobin for his performance during the “Where Deadly Rockets…” story is *not* to call him a terrorist (he’s not, unless he is moonlighting). The meaningful accusations were based on his witting or unwitting provision of aid to terrorists, in the form of propaganda.

Moreover… I’d say that being accused of taking sides is no dishonor, so long as the journalist makes that clear that is what they are doing. Journalism has a fine tradition of Crusading.

It is the so-called-reporters that stand there taking pictures of a wounded person bleeding to death and claim “…they getting the story” that catch my ire.

***
IMPORTANT: Our good host here has already stated that M. Tobin is a colleague, a reputable one, and it is obvious that FOXNews stands by Tobin’s work as the story is still up there.

As we are guests here, I take those statements to end the matter of the “Where Deadly Rockets…” story.
***

Hey folks im back from the trip…. i must say it was amazing ….. ill share more of it as the days go by….. and pics soon as well…. got like 150….. from all over…..

Susan: Hmm, i thought i posted it. Maybe i didn’t. Or it wouldn’t go through
Just look up ‘Michelle Malkin’ on wikipedia, and it’ll say there.

ahhh There’s AVI!
glad to know you are safe kid!

Hi everyone else

@LDG

Comment by LDG
May 17th, 2008 at 8:50 am
@Susan-AZ

re: “Comment by Susan–AZ May 17th, 2008 at 7:38 am”

The reasoned accusation of M. Tobin for his performance during the “Where Deadly Rockets…” story is *not* to call him a terrorist (he’s not, unless he is moonlighting). The meaningful accusations were based on his witting or unwitting provision of aid to terrorists, in the form of propaganda.

Moreover… I’d say that being accused of taking sides is no dishonor, so long as the journalist makes that clear that is what they are doing. Journalism has a fine tradition of Crusading.

It is the so-called-reporters that stand there taking
—————————————————————————————————————-

I totally understand your point of view– I was referring to the mood on the thread– many of the comments- I thought it was maybe unfair to him as someone above him must have sent him there to do the story– LOL

Avi-

looking forward to the pictures! get busy! kosemec!

@Alfredo-

Comment by Alfredo
May 16th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=87614
——————————————————————————————————-

I just read the article–made me smile! Yea for Zapatero!!!

Max–

I found a site where the Geraldo/Malkin incident was mentioned- including the exchange of words–

my, my, my– LOL

Susan: yeah.

The blog has got all quite, where is everybody?

Israel was planning a preemptive strike on hezobllah last week the day of my trip… thankfully they didnt cuz it would have ruined my trip…. beit jabel we were in that area overlooking it but there were a tons of jets flying over…. http://debka.com/article.php?aid=1350

@Max

“…where is everybody?” — must be that weekend thing. Everybody out having fun: FL Sunshine at the beach; Retread playing in the snow… ((grin))

@Avi

Glad you got back ok. re: that DEBKAfile article — I’d second-source that one if I were you. But there is something still percolating for sure. Maybe waiting to see what comes from the factional negotiations?

LDG,

yah it does need a second source…. on the one hand is kinda does make sense on the other it doesnt….. if it were true youd think it would be front page news….

whats that site i can put a few of the pics .. theres that one i used before which susan give me the link… what is it again?

Hello guys!!!

Glad to see Adam is reporting about what is going on in Venezuela and Colombia!!!. I read the entire INTERPOL conclusions yesterday….and today I found a very interesting colombian press article about Chavez supporting FARC and some e-mails from Raul Reyes’ personal computer…

Here is the link:
http://www.semana.com/wf_InfoArticulo.aspx?idArt=111918

The only problem: the article is in spanish….so I guess only Susan can understad what it says…

Also…there is an article about John Walters and the evidence in Raul Reyes’ PC published by “El Tiempo”, a colombian newspaper. Here is a small part of it:

“Lo que he visto de los documentos que han salido (del PC de alias ‘Raúl Reyes’) me ha dejado sorprendido por lo extensa que es la relación entre el gobierno de Venezuela y las Farc“, dice hoy John Walters, el zar antidrogas de EE.UU., en una entrevista que hoy publica “El Tiempo” de Bogotá.”

So…after INTERPOL conclusions…and all the news about Chavez supporting FARC army (we already knew it, but now it is official)…what do you guys think will happen?? Will Chavez go to international court?? Will OAE do something about this?? What will be the position of the United States?? I would like to know what do you think!!

greetings to all of you!!

Rebeca

@Avi

“whats that site i can put a few of the pics …” — I *think* she used Imageshack. Does that sound familiar?

@Rebeca

Welcome back, and thank you for the link and story excerpt. A few others of us besides Susan can manage to make our way through articles in Spanish (our good host here, for one).

“what do you guys think will happen?? ” — *OPINION*: A lot depends on what was in the encrypted files that were cracked open. If there is something solid there, like bank account access or locations of more seizable items (like the money in Costa Rica was), then there may well be something to base a formal claim on. The OAE ( = OAS ) may not be much help. The American Government will have to decide to change the policy they have in place if they are to take any actions, and there is very little they can do that will not be as troublesome as it is helpful…

…but if there is enough information to finally drive a wedge between the Chavez regime and other nations (Europe, Mexico, for starters), something good might begin to happen. For without significant assistance, it seems likely the Chavez regime will run out of money to misuse *and* places to hide their gains outside Venezuela, and then things might start to turn.

You have my fondest hopes that turn is for the better, and somehow a peaceful one.

Thanks LDG for sharing your opinion. I ask for your opinion because here in Venezuela everything is quiet and it seems like nothing is going to happen after these discoveries in Reyes’ laptop.

I agree with you OAS will not help at all, lately the only country besides Colombia who is not Pro-Chavez in the OAS is U.S. The other countries seem to be bribed by Chavez with oil and other resources. So I wonder if Colombia can take Chavez to an international court using the evidence found in Reyes’ PC.

Now that I know that you can read spanish, I will try to bring you as much info as I can. I am happy there are people outside Venezuela interested in these issues.

By the way, next sunday will be a big rally here in Venezuela. It is the first anniversary of RCTV’s shut down and hope a lot of people to go there….I will post more info when I have it.

@Rebeca

Looking forward to any and all information you can bring us, thank you!

Oh, and don’t give up on all the neighboring states… Peru and Panama both seem to be capable of seeing the trouble Chavez and the FARC bring to the entire region.

@All

In a particularly timely Editorial, the sunday edition of the Washington Post (of all places!) has a very well-spoken commentary on what may come of the Reyes computer files:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/17/AR2008051702280.html

Key point: “Therein lies the best approach for Colombia and the United States. Since neither Mr. Chávez nor Mr. Correa has offered any credible or even serious response to the laptop material, they should be firmly, repeatedly and relentlessly confronted with the evidence and asked for answers. Colombia can do this by petitioning the Organization of American States to determine whether Venezuela and Ecuador have breached its charter; it could also ask the U.N. Security Council to judge whether the two governments violated Resolution 1373, passed in September 2001, which prohibits all states from providing financing or havens to terrorist organizations. President Álvaro Uribe should order that all of the captured material be posted on the Internet. This should at least expose Mr. Chávez’s behavior to global scrutiny and make it more difficult for countries and political leaders who have tried to ignore or excuse it, ranging from neighbors such as Brazil to some U.S. Democrats.”

avi… how about http://www.slide.com

test

where is my preceding post? I just left LDG and Rebeca a message– thanking them for the updates and of course LDG’s comments– a message to Max and I posted a couple links for Avi for his pictures– and the post did not show up!

I see Patty took care of Avi-

test again!

http://www.slide.com/r/Z1FvFE_K5j_SkC9wuMLHpPXsZlLtkf5d?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

http://www.slide.com/r/CEvMDLjizT97mnr8XpeXGLgdAJZGsRZ7?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

http://www.slide.com/r/EBAJbUARyj8GmhCX6cJenR_xCoWW6YA5?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

theres a selection of a view of the pics….. each link is different .. enjoy….

the album with the Hatikva …. most of the first pics of the mountains are lebenon…

Hey Susan!!
Did you check your mail? I wrote you this morning!!

INTERPOL Forensic report COMPLETE available at:

http://www.interpol.int/Public/ICPO/PressReleases/PR2008/pdfPR200817/Default.asp

Rebeca–

si– por eso me vine aquí–muchas gracias! Le va dar gusto a Adam que veniste– por que de vez en cuando, Adam te nombra! You and LDG have some great comments– I tried to post this but it did not go through– hmmm? Tengo que contestar el email y otros también– xxxx

Avi– I just went through the first two– and thanks for telling me what those mountains are- or where they are! The first slide show– the dome– where all of you are- what and where is this?

Susan,

thats at Har Herzel the equavlient to Arlington …. the doom faces the tomb or grave whatever you wanna call it of the founding father of Israel… Herzl

Comment by Avi
May 18th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Susan,

thats at Har Herzel the equavlient to Arlington …. the doom faces the tomb or grave whatever you wanna call it of the founding father of Israel… Herzl
———————————————————————————————————-

Well I just learned something today– I just got done with the third link– are these the Lebanon mountains?

The Menorah in the first link? How tall is it? It looked big- and impressive!
-________________________________________________________________________________
Rebeca– I opened your link–(Interpol) and I skimmed through it– I will have to read it– or los importante datos–

Why is Chavez and Correa not raising Cain? Does Chavez realize he is so busted now?

o si Rebeca–

Marie y Alfredo también entienden español– mas que yo–

Susan: what was the message for me?

LDG: it seemed quiet friday as well.

@All

Open Question: Any more recent news on the supposed border violation (by a Colombian military patrol) in Venezuela’s Apure State? (I have already heard both the Venezuelan claim and the Colombian “we’ll look into it” reply as of yesterday.)

@Susan-AZ

“Does Chavez realize he is so busted now?” — both he and Correa have been making all kinds of nice whenever the foreign media is around, since the 15th, but he couldn’t quite keep quiet at the Lima Summit or on his own media outlets. In the latter case, the protestations of innocence are replaced by accusations that this whole matter was a CIA plot.

note to self: I *wish* the Agency was half as good at international dirty tricks as is commonly stated by foes. Then again, I could wish for a pony. I’ve always wanted a pony…

@LDG-

@All

Open Question: Any more recent news on the supposed border violation (by a Colombian military patrol) in Venezuela’s Apure State? (I have already heard both the Venezuelan claim and the Colombian “we’ll look into it” reply as of yesterday.)

note to self: I *wish* the Agency was half as good at international dirty tricks as is commonly stated by foes. Then again, I could wish for a pony. I’ve always wanted a pony…

Part A– I need to get caught up on what is going on– I am getting all the news on the blog-

Part B– Really? You have always wanted a pony?

Max–

the message was about Taz– and my god awful road trip yesterday- day- with Taz, Tomasa, and Ken– I think I lost forty years of life- Tomasa is going to outlive me! LOL

Susan:
I dont understand your first question about chavez and correa…Could you make it in spanish? About Chavez…He feels desperate!!! Yesterday Colombian army found in Colombia’s border with Venezuela a lot of venezuelan’s army weapons. Later that day, Venezuelan government made a protest to Colombia because a few military colombian personel enter venezuelan territory… That is what LDG is asking right now…
Today, Colombia said they army did not enter venezuelan territory…I think Chavez invented the whole thing to keep us distracted away from Reyes’ laptop.

Susan,

The Menora is in front of the Israeli Kennest(Parliament) its the symbol of Israel …. it was donated by England ages ago….. dunno the hight ….

the other mountains in the one with the Army checkpoint is the West Bank and is PA territory not all of the pics but some… as you know the West Bank also is israeli territory … we stayed in a large settlement called Kvar Etzion which is appx 15 miles in.,… in between J-town and Hebron ….

the road we took on the way out was a joint road used by PA and Israeli drivers ….. first time i saw PA cars and the area of the settlment blocks… it put things into perspective…

I will have pics of the Western Wall soon i didnt have my camera with me when we were there…

Susan: why was it so bad?

I need to run–

I need to come back and read Rebeca’s Interpol link– what is relevant– and LDG’s Washington Post link– so thanks to you both-

Avi– thanks for sharing the pictures– you had a little bit of everything-

Max- xxx

Max–

I see your post– two dogs drooling all over the place and Ken yelling the whole time about the dogs drooling! I had to change the seating arrangement at one point– Taz came up front with me and Ken had to sit in the back with Tomasa– you should see my windows! I need to go get my car washed too today! LOL

LDG are you venezuelan?? You seem to be well informed!! LOL

LDG: To answer your question….

About Venezuela and Colombia latest news:

http://www.noticias24.com/actualidad/?p=14329

Avi-

The Menora is in front of the Israeli Kennest(Parliament) its the symbol of Israel …. it was donated by England ages ago….. dunno the hight ….

————————————————————————————————-

I learned something else today- that is a cool Menora– it is made out of stone- I wonder how much that would weigh? Was that the Parliament building after the Menora’s pictures– a few picutres down?

@Rebeca

re: “are you venezuelan?? … ” — no ma’am, but thank you for the compliment.

@ Rebeca-

Comment by Rebeca
May 18th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Susan:
I dont understand your first question about chavez and correa…Could you make it in spanish? About Chavez…He feels desperate!!! Yesterday Colombian army found in Colombia’s border with Venezuela a lot of venezuelan’s army weapons. Later that day, Venezuelan government made a protest to Colombia because a few military colombian personel enter venezuelan territory… That is what LDG is asking right now…
Today, Colombia said they army did not enter venezuelan territory…I think Chavez invented the whole thing to keep us distracted away from Reyes’ laptop.
————————————————————————————————————

Me contestaste la pregunta– preguntaba yo que por que tan callado Chavez– por lo visto, no anda tan quieto! Que bueno que sufre– así que sepa el lo que se sienta la desesperación!

Al rato regreso–
gracias!

xxx

Susan: Oh dear, i think it’d probably be better to plan days out without the dogs, or at least only one of them.

Susan

yah the Kenesset is a few pics down…… with the glass surrounding it…

Adam,

can you confirm or add to that debka article ?

Game warden shortage affecting salmon fishery
By Gary Roussan
Article Launched: 05/16/2008 04:13:36 PM PDT

One area of agreement among state agency and private sector sport and
commercial fishermen is that California’s game warden situation is a
serious factor that has an effect on the salmon fishery.

California has only 192 wardens for 38 million people the worst per
capita ratio of wardens in North America.

Fish and Game Commissioner Michael Sutton, a former U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service special agent, said, “The warden shortage in
California is as big a disaster as the salmon fishery’s decline.”
Commissioner Rogers added the commission maintains the number of
wardens in California should be increased “by a factor of four” to
handle the need.

“This would increase the wardens’ per capita numbers to those of Texas
or Florida,” DFG Director Donald Koch said.

Within 10 miles of Sacramento last fall, one California game warden
made 130 arrests for salmon poaching in a three-month period. When
fellow wardens joined him, more than 400 salmon poaching arrests resulted.

Though short-handed, warden deployment is being redirected to protect
the fall salmon run. “Wardens will be patrolling in the air, on the
water and on land,” Director Koch asserted. Originally the Governor
had recommended cutting 38 wardens from the budget, but those
positions have been restored.

The commissioners emphasized “Wildlife is under assault across the
board” in California due to the warden shortage. The DFG estimated the
redirection of wardens to focus on protecting the fall Chinook run
Advertisement
from poaching would cost $1.7 million this year.

Violators of the ban or regulations for the seasons on the Sacramento
and Klamath Rivers can look forward to fines of $1000 and/or up to six
months in jail.

The quota for the Klamath River is 20,000 Chinook this year. The
season and bag limit will be set at the next commission meeting on
late June. While the closure of the Central Valley salmon fishery is
unprecedented, in 2006 the Klamath River was closed to all sport
fishing. This hopefully indicates the closure, coupled with increased
enforcement, can turn the salmon fishery around.

Anglers may keep posted on any developments in the salmon fishery
through a special page on the California Department of Fish and Game’s
website.

We’ve seen Live Aid, Farm Aid and Live Earth concerts to call
attention to social and environmental crises. There will be a Salmon
Aid Festival held in Oakland May 31 and June 1 to increase public
awareness of the salmon fishery and its value to the state.

http://www.willitsnews.com/ci_9285824

Max–

LOL– YOU ARE SO WISE!

Will check back later-

have a good day @all!

xxx

@Rebeca

re: “To answer your question…” — a very fine answer, thank you.

@All

Key points of the link Rebeca posted: The Government of Colombia has made a reply to the Venezuelan Embassy stating it is impossible that the matter occurred as claimed by Venezuela, specifically that no violation of the border occurred. Venezuela has counter-claimed on the basis of supposed evidence, as yet unreleased.

Open Question:
Is it true that Barack Obama promise to meet with Chavez if he wins the presidency of United States?? What is Obama’s position about the whole venezuelan thing??

Susan: thanks

@Rebeca

re: B. Obama promising to meet Chavez — I believe the actual promise was to meet with any national leader, without preconditions, so that would include Hugo Chavez. I can not quote to you a specific case where he named him at this time, however. My regrets.

re: B. Obama’s position about … Venezuela — Officially, he has no stated position. Unofficially, men claiming to represent him have been deeply involved in matters of both showing support for the Chavez regime and for the FARC. Here is an English translation of a few of the files from the Reyes (FARC) computers:

http://english.eluniversal.com/2008/03/03/en_int_art_memorandum-found-in_03A1403679.shtml

…likely the same is more available to you in Spanish.

Key Point: look at item #6 there — The FARC believes the representatives promised Obama is against Plan Colombia and the Colombian Free Trade Agreement.

LDG: Thanks so much!! I am trying to open the link you posted!!

correction, for completeness sake: that link is to a translation of One of the FARC files.

Yes, I read an article similar to that one in spanish some days ago…

http://www.semana.com/wf_InfoArticulo.aspx?idArt=111918

more about the documents FARC CHAVEZ

in Spanish.

@Alfredo

thank you, also!

forgive my slow replies, please. I am a bit distracted.

Looking forward to “Sports on Sunday”.

Be well and safe, All
((departs))

Abalone pickin’ time Skirting restrictions on mollusk cottage industry in CaliforniaBy James A. Swan, Ph.D.
ESPNOutdoors. com

Updated: May 15, 2008, 11:54 AM ET

If you walk into a sushi bar and order awabi, chances are you are going to shell out some coin, as awabi is sushi made from a dinner plate-sized sea snail — the abalone, or “sea ear” — a distant relative of octopus, clams and squid, that has a “foot” about an inch thick and the size of your hand, and is worth as much as $60–$100 each.

Abalone are in the family Haliotidae and the Haliotis genus. The most primitive of mollusks, they originated in Cambrian Period 500 million years ago. On the West Coast they are found from the Aleutian Islands to Pt. Conception north of Santa Barbara.

Abalone is prized for the unique flavor of its edible gray, tan, or even blue “foot,” which in the Orient is believed to have aphrodisiac powers, and for its mother-of-pearl inner shell. Species are found around the world, but most prefer cold ocean waters — off New Zealand, South Africa, North American Pacific coast, Tasmania and Australia — along a rocky shoreline out to depths of 300 feet.

West Coast Indians were harvesting abalone when the Spanish arrived. Recreational fishery regulations began in 1911. Up until the 1970s, Californians enjoyed no annual limits on several species of abalone: red, pink, green, white (endangered species), black, flat, pinto and threaded. Picking was allowed south of San Francisco, no tags were required and there was a thriving commercial fishery along the coast. Today only red abalone is legal.

Red abalone reach sexual maturity in 2–3 years and legal size (7 inches) in 6–12 years. They can live up to 15 years. The shell has several respiratory holes for breathing. Big shells go 9 inches across, and the largest ever caught was said to be a foot across.

Abalone are very prolific broadcast spawners, producing 3 million eggs at a time. Twenty-four hours after fertilization, a trophophore larva develops, which hides among the rocks.

Along the California coast, regulation of commercial fishery began in 1901. The commercial fishery peaked in 1950s and ’60s, when 4–5 million pounds a year were harvested.

All commercial harvesting for wild abalone closed in 1997.

In Japan, abalone are cultivated commercially and over 16,000 metric tons are harvested annually. Commercial abalone for restaurants is produced via mariculture in the US.

Abalone fishing south of San Francisco was closed in 1997. California’s Sonoma-Mendocino County coast has one of the last viable populations of red abalone in the world, but continued poaching has put great pressure on these dinner-plate- sized mollusks. Pickers look for red abalone in rocky coastal areas with abundant kelp, which is what the big sea snails feed on.

James Swan

Harvesters display their catch of abalone at a checkpoint.
The abalone sport season, open only north of San Francisco Bay, runs from April 1 through June 30 and from Aug. 1 through Nov. 30. The minimum legal size is a shell 7 inches across. There is no commercial fishery for abs, no scuba diving for abs, and the limits have dropped from 10 to three per day, down from 100 per year to 24 — and only red abalone are legal.

You must also pry the abs off a rock with a metal abalone iron as you either walk among rocks or swim offshore and free dive, placing your catch in a float tube, or an ocean kayak.

As soon as you climb out of the water you must attach a tag on each abalone through a respiration hole in the shell and mark the date and place on your report card accordingly.

When the tides are low, pickers and divers swarm the coast, competing with octopus, crabs, lobster, sea stars, wolf eel, bat ray, mink and sea otters for abalone.

One reason for a decline in abalone south of San Francisco is the return of the sea otter: For some reason, probably the abundance of great white sharks, sea otters have never come back north of the Golden Gate, resulting in an abnormal abundance of abalone in those waters. In 2006, 32,500 licensed fishermen took 264,000 abs and spent $10 million along the north coast.

Boats, planes, surveillance, citizen volunteer watchers and abalone checkpoints are all used by the Department of Fish and Game to control human poachers. The coast is large, wardens are scarce, and when the tides are minus, pickers are everywhere. Sonoma County has a very active citizen volunteer watch network, SCAN, a model of citizens working with wardens to control poaching.

On May 8, 2008, working on a documentary, my son and I videoed wardens manning a checkpoint at Boonville in Mendocino County. High tide was about 9 a.m., and by 9:30 the parking lot of the County Fairgrounds was jumping with carloads of abalone pickers and divers on their way home, letting wardens see their abalone, sea urchins, periwinkles, and rockfish.

James Swan

Abalone isn’t always the only thing intercepted at the checkpoints. This man has 47 pounds of kelp in a garbage bag, when the limit is 10.
According to Lt. Dennis McKiver, about 100 cars were checked in a three-hour period, resulting in 33 citations issued for limit overages, undersized abalone, prematurely removing abs from the shell and not tagging abs in possession.

Probably the strangest violation of the day was a guy with some kelp. It is legal to harvest kelp, but only 10 pounds a day. This guy had 47 pounds, stuffed into a plastic garbage bag.

And this was a weekday.

On one weekend in 2007, DFG operated two vehicle checkpoints in Boonville and Highway 1 in Sonoma County, inspecting a total of 552 vehicles. Wardens issued a total of 107 citations and confiscated 144 illegal abalone. Around the same time, two poachers south of the Golden Gate were nabbed with 122 black abs — an illegal place and protected species. At Fort Bragg, a commercial fishing boat was found with over 400 abalone stashed in the hold.

Wild abalone cannot be sold commercially in California, yet they can fetch between $60 and $100 each on the black market, depending on the size. Because abalone are so valuable, abalone poachers are increasingly organized, and often combine dealing illegal abs with dealing drugs.

“Operation Hat Trick,” nabbed a ring of seven poachers working the Sonoma coast: Divers had several changes of gear; buddies and friends all bought fishing licenses. The purloined abalone were being sold out of a San Jose beauty parlor. One of California Fish and Game Wardens Special Operations Undercover Unit posed as a customer having her hair done during a time when a fresh shipment came in, to be able to get the goods on the sellers.

Sitting in on the briefing for the takedown, the SOU leader for “Operation Hat Trick,” said, “When you go in, look for money — because these guys have not made a deposit in months. They should be loaded. Look everywhere, even in their underwear drawers.”

And guess where the piggy bank containing $11,000 in cash was stashed?

Penalties for exceeding the bag limit on abalone, etc. are not huge, but by taking the time to get the goods on a group of people working together to sell abalone, you have a felony conspiracy case which translates into thousands of dollars of fines, confiscated gear, loss of fishing licenses for years, and jail time.

In June of 2006, Bob’s Sushi House at San Francisco’s Fishermen’s Wharf area was caught by SOU buying illegal wild abalone. Today Bob’s is closed and bums sleep on the steps of what was once an upscale eatery where awabi was a house special.

James Swan — who has appeared in more than a dozen feature films, including “Murder in the First” and “Star Trek: First Contact,” as well as the television series “Nash Bridges,” “Midnight Caller” and “Modern Marvels” — is the author of the book “In Defense of Hunting.” Click to purchase a copy. To learn more about Swan, visit his Web site.

http://sports.

@Adam-

In the meantime, I am running some errands. I know you care.

Adam
————————————————————————————————————

I care but you forgot to say hi to Rebeca! (From Venezuela) Where are your manners?

socal–

that was an interesting article! very…

off topic- James Swan– Murder in the First— That was a great movie!!!!! One of the best movies I have seen– forgot about that movie (James Swan was mentioned in your post)

@Susan
James Swan isthe author of that article. He is a triple threat, Actor, pHd, Jounalist.

And, in late-breaking news:

Another FARC high-level leader has given up. “Karina” has surrendered, according to the BBC. Here is the AP version, via FOXNews:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356550,00.html

socal-

I found the story behind the abalone to be interesting– never knew abalone had a history! Or I had never even thought about abalone!

the things I learn here!

xxx

Karina–

well there is one of the FARC women we were talking about months ago!

this house of cards is going down!!!

Lies, lies, lies. The Interpol were contracted to determine whether or not the computers were tampered with since they were in Columbian custody and to determine their contents in terms of number of files and bytes. They WERE NOT investigating the authenticity of the documents or the actual owners of the computers. NOTHING in the investigation implicates Chavez. FOX news is LIEING THROUGH ITS TEETH TO ADVANCE BUSH’S POLITICAL AGENDA. How surprising. Why doesn’t FOX news report on the Columbian military officers’ statements that they don’t even possess the kind of aircraft or “smart” bombs that did the bombing? Others suggest that it is more likely that the US did the bombing from INSIDE Ecuador from its base and then sent in the Columbians to pick up the pieces and take the fall. Interpol’s report CLEARLY states that it did not even attempt to make a determination about the authenticity or the source of the info on the computers.

Quiet in here– why? My guess would be everyone is burnt out on Chavez, until he pulls another dirty trick…

@LDG-

I just looked at Karina’s picture because when I looked at it earlier today, some one kept just going through my head- voila! Angela Davis– she sort of looks like her but with shorter hair!

My thoughts to FARC, Al Qaeda, Taliban, et al– they have the mentality of gang members but with more ammo! And of course, the main man as gangs have!

These are not crazy– they are just plain stupid! LOL

@Susan-AZ

There *is* a reason: Gangsterism is one of the most successful (if anti-social) forms of human organization, you know. You might want to look up “Autocracy” as a leadership form, too.

(to those of you quick to note this is an oversimplification, yes, I know most factions/gangs are oligarchies by structure)

oh, and check your e-mail, please.

follow-up

By the way, calling them “crazy”, or “stupid”, does you a greater disservice than it does to them. Almost without exception, the leadership of such groups is neither by anything but the most modern definitions. I would agree that what makes a good gang leader, (or business CEO, or presidential candidate) includes a number of features that taken out of context could be considered mental disorders in modern day. They were even grounds for accusations in the near-modern era…

Here’s an unsettling example: American President A. Lincoln is considered “…supremely capable of enduring the criticism of others, and even of society” (paraphrase), yet even in his time he was accused of being everything from “powerhungry” to having “authoritarian contempt for the rule of law” to even being called variations on “insane”.

@Adam Housley

Thank you, and if you would care for having a third party dismantle the posting of 19.May at 11:44pm point-by-point, I would be more than happy to do so.

I trust also that a message (e-mail) I had forwarded to you did get to you, yes?

Jodi-

I regret to inform you, when two nations clash, their is seldom any level of innocence on either side. I am also here to inform you the interpol has all of the technology needed to determine, when and what was put on that laptop, and normally that will indicate who.

I am so tired of you morally self-righteous hypocrites, you enjoy freedoms that others do not have, and you have the audacity to vocally support the tyrant that has taken those freedoms away, only because you have not seen it first hand, therefore it must not exist.

I remember well the look on my grandfathers face as he talked about liberating Europe and the horrid things we discovered only after we had beaten the Nazi’s

I can still smell the blood in the air from non-combatants being hit by haphazardly placed IED’s. I can still see in my mind the literally hundreds of mass graves mapped in the area’s saddam had butchered the kurds. I can hear the crying of the children in the aftermath of suicide bombers hitting soccer games on my last tour. I can still see the looks on the faces of the women and children as we passed through on patrol, the smiles and waves and the telling glances towards the cowards hiding in their midst that would do us harm.

Jodi, there is evil in the world, and you have obviously been fortunate enough to not witness it first hand, but that does not mean it does not exist.

War is horrible, that I can attest to, but it is not the most horrible. The degraded state of moral being that allows you to believe nothing is worth fighting for is.

I really paraphrased that last one.

My mother kept is simple, she was the daughter of a warrior, the wife of a warrior and the mother of a future warrior. she was washing the dishes and listening to the news, when I questioned the necessity of war.

she looked me straight in the eye and said “son, peace is simple really, all you have to do is sit down, shut up, and take what is given to you”

I then understood that some things are worth war.

Did we bomb Venezuela? if we did, i am disappointed we didn’t smart bomb chavez while we were at it.

http://www.canalrcn.com/noticias/index.php/internacional/candidato-denuncia-presencia-de-ivn-mrquez-en-venezuela/

Chavez’s family protecting farc terrorist Ivan Marquez in Barinas State Venezuela.

Interpol never said that Chavez support terrorism. All that they said is that the files are “authentic”. What do they mean with authentic? All that they certify is that no more information was entered after the Colombian attack to the illegal rebel base in Ecuador. That doesn’t mean the files are real. The information could have been planted several months before by the CIA. And even if the files are authentic, its not clear if the money they mention was only a pipe dream from the Farc leader or if Venezuela ever gave them money. One thing is clear, Latin America leaders give a damn about USA “worries” about those files. 2 days ago 12 South American leaders have formed UNASUR. Old US tactics have lost their effect in Latin America.

New London Mayor, ends Chavez’s deal with former Mayor.

Mayor to end Venezuelan oil deal
The mayor said there were better ways of benefiting Londoners
Boris Johnson will not renew an oil deal with Venezuela which provides cheap fuel for London’s buses once the agreement ends later this year.

The mayor of London said half-price bus and tram fares for 250,000 Londoners on income support, which was also funded by the deal, would still be honoured.

Mr Johnson said he thought many Londoners were uncomfortable with how the scheme was funded.

Former mayor Ken Livingstone signed the deal at City Hall in February.

In return, a team of officials from the Greater London Authority agreed to work in Venezuela advising on recycling, waste management, traffic and on reducing carbon emissions.

‘Extreme poverty’

Mr Johnson said: “I think many Londoners felt uncomfortable about the bus operation of one of the world’s financial powerhouses being funded by the people of a country where many people live in extreme poverty.

“I simply think there are better ways of benefiting Londoners and better ways of benefiting Venezuelans.”

He added: We will continue to offer the half-priced travel concession to Londoners on income support for the duration for which the deal was originally planned, and will continue to improve the capital’s transport system and ensure that it is accessible and able to meet the needs of all those who rely on it.”

The current deal is due to conclude on 20 August.

Mr Johnson also said the office set up in Caracas to oversee the deal would be closed, saving an estimated £67,000 per year in running and staff costs.

Oil reserves

Mr Livingstone said up to quarter of a million Londoners on low incomes would save at least £280 a year from the half-price fare scheme when he signed the deal.

London Assembly Conservatives attacked the agreement at the time saying the city should not be dealing with “third-rate South American dictators”.

Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the Americas, and its socialist president is the Bush administration’s fiercest critic in Latin America.

But in November 2005, it signed a deal with the US state of Massachusetts to provide cheap heating oil to poor households. Similar deals were also signed in Boston and New York.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england