Hugo Chavez Urges Venezuelan Military to Prepare for Conflict

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is up in arms about a proposed agreement for Colombia to lease seven military bases to the United States.

Warning that the presence of U.S. troops could be used to destabilize the region, Chavez declared, "The threat against us is growing. I call on the people and the armed forces, let's go, ready for combat!" The socialist leader also warned Colombian president Alvaro Uribe that "Venezuela's military will respond if there's an attack against Venezuela."

During his weekly public radio address, entitled ¡Hola Presidente! Chavez warned his supporters, "We cannot ignore this threat." He also said he would attend the summit of the Union of South
American Nations being held this week in Quito, Ecuador in order to pressure President Uribe to reconsider the pending agreement.

But Colombian officials insist that the Venezuelan leader has no reason to be concerned. They are hoping that the U.S. forces can assist in combating the drug trafficking in the region. The 10-year agreement, Colombia claims, would only allow 1,400 American troops and military contractors into the country, which is the maximum currently permitted by U.S. law.