Chavez continues to push his belief that the United States, using Colombia as a staging area, is preparing to invade Venezuela. Most South American politicians think Chavez is nuts, but are too polite (and politically astute) to criticize anyone who is badmouthing the "Colossus of the North." The U.S. has long been a favorite punching bag down south, and the usual suspect whenever anything goes wrong.
Venezuela refuses to talk directly with Colombia over the perceived threat from Colombia. Instead, Chavez points out that he expects to receive a shipment of 300 Russian armored vehicles soon, and that these will eventually (in a few months, at the earliest) be sent to the Colombian border. This has got regional diplomats concerned that Chavez may do something really foolish and trigger a border war with Colombia. This is a war Venezuela would lose, because Chavez has ruined his armed forces by dismissing any officers of dubious loyalty. The replacements were selected on the basis of loyalty, not military competence. Chavez has also ordered the armed forces reorganized, according to his own novel ideas on how the world should work.
When he gets those 300 tanks and armored fighting vehicles to his army, will Chavez believe he can finally put an end to the mythical threat that keeps him up at night?
I hope we are prepared to help Colombia with logistics and reconnaissance--and possibly fighter air cover--should Chavez go full-blown nutso and attack Colombia.
Not that Colombia couldn't win without us, but it would be nice to lower Colombian casualties and really humiliate Chavez with a seriously bloody nose.
