Chavez tells Venezuela troops to "prepare for war" with Colombia

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela ratcheted up the brinksmanship to extreme levels today as he mobilized 15,000 troops and sent them to the border Venezuela shares with Colombia. The leftist dictator claimed the United States was going to use Colombia as a base from which to invade Venezuela for its oil wealth.

Yesterday Chavez ordered the Venezuelan military and people to prepare to “defend the homeland” and "Let’s not waste a day on our main aim: to prepare for war and to help the people prepare for war, because it is everyone’s responsibility."

Over the past few months there have been increasing tensions between the two South American nations over a deal that allows the US to conduct operations out of bases in Colombia - decidedly not against Venezuela. Nevertheless, the conspiracist caudillo continues to use anti-US rhetoric to gird his country for war with Colombia - perhaps in an attempt to legitimize a pretext for war with the neighboring state.

President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia said he would appeal to the United Nations over Chavez's aggressive actions. Colombia has its own set of complaints about its neighbor, who it claims offers sanctuary and support to insurrectionist guerillas as well as drug cartels.

Venezuela has recently spent $3 billion on arms, mostly purchased from Russia.

This is a powder keg waiting to explode in the Andes. The saber-rattling and jingoist rhetoric pouring forth from Chavez - not to mention the mobilization of 15,000 troops - has as its likely result conflict. Chavez is gladly filling the role of the classic South American strongman. A potentially disastrous situation.

What do you think about how this will affect stability in the region and its affect on the US?