Tensions Rise In Latin America

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Interesting--Columbia is the US closest ally and Nicaragua is a Chavez ally--another proxy war in the making?

SAN ANDRES ISLAND, COLOMBIA — -- Colombia says Nicaragua gave up all claims to this idyllic Caribbean island in a 1928 treaty. Nicaragua contends that it signed the treaty at the point of a gun while occupied by U.S. Marines and that it is the rightful owner.

The territorial spat, now before the International Court of Justice at The Hague, is just one of several roiling Latin America these days.

In some ways, the region resembles a neighborhood with residents at one another's throats. The issues aren't loud music or barking dogs, but the environment and ownership of lucrative oil and fishing rights, land and waterways.

Chile, Bolivia and Peru continue to bicker over land and maritime rights that Chile has claimed since it won a three-way war in 1884.

Venezuela is at loggerheads with Guyana to the east and Colombia to the west over its borders, with rich oil and mineral deposits at stake.

LINK

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

This all sounds confusing as hell. Laughing

I'm not even sure who the good guys are in these disputes.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

I will see if I can help--Nicaragua's president, Ortega, was a socialist Sandinista back in the 80's, means he was a bad guy and now he has been elected president and he is a friend of Chavez; that makes hinm a bad guy. Uribe, president of Columbia is an ally of Washington, he will do whatever Washington wants; that makes him a good guy. Did that help?

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

Well, being our friend is not always a good thing for them or their country. Laughing

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Uribe makes bunches of cash from the US and its corporatrions so I would guess that the onlky good thing he worries about is the bank deposits.