Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12559 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AR AF ASEC AMBASSADOR AS AJ AM AORC AEMR ASEAN AFFAIRS AFIN AMGT AODE APEC AE ABLD ACBAQ APECO AFSI AFSN AY AO ABUD AG AC APER AU AMED ATRN ADPM ADCO ASIG AL ASUP ARF AUC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ACOA AADP ASCH AA AFU AN AID ALOW AINF AMG AIT ANET AGAO AROC ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AMCHAMS ACS APCS ADANA AECL ACAO AORG AGR ACABQ AGMT AX AMEX ADM AFGHANISTAN AZ AND ARM AQ ATFN
BR BK BL BA BO BRUSSELS BM BEXP BU BG BB BTIO BF BD BBSR BIDEN BX BP BE BH BT BY BILAT BWC BN BMGT BTIU BC
CI CU CO CS CVIS CA CJAN CARICOM CB CASC CE CH CN CONDOLEEZZA CMGT CWC CW CG CACS CY CPAS CFED CSW CIDA CIC CITT CBW CONS CD CLINTON CHR CACM CDB COE CDG CDC CAN CR CF CT CODEL CJUS CTM CM CLMT CBC COUNTERTERRORISM CAPC CAC COUNTER CV CL CBSA CNARC CEUDA COM CROS CIA CARSON COPUOS CTR CICTE COUNTRY CBE CIS CKGR CVR CITEL CLEARANCE
DR DISENGAGEMENT DE DJ DA DOMESTIC DEA DOD DOE DTRA DS DEFENSE DHS DEAX DO DAO DCM DK DPRK DEPT
ECA EU ENRG EPET ETTC ETRD ELN ELAB EC EFIN ECON EFIS ELTN EAGR EIND EWWT EMIN EINV EAID EG EUN ECPS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENGR ENIV ECIN EAIR EI ECUN EFTA ENGY ECONOMICS ES ELECTIONS EN EIAR ET EINDETRD EUR EZ EREL ER ECONEFIN EINT EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EAIDS EK EPA ENVR EINVETC ETRC ENVI ECONCS ECONOMIC EXTERNAL EINVECONSENVCSJA EUMEM ETRA ESA ECINECONCS EAIG ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS EUREM ESENV ETRN ENNP EFINECONCS EEPET ENERG EUC EUNCH EXIM ERD ERNG EINVEFIN ETC EAP ECONOMY EINN EXBS
FAO FR FI FTAA FAC FOI FREEDOM FJ FMLN FARC FDA FTA FBI FM FO FOREIGN FISO FOR FAS FINR FINANCE
GM GG GZ GAZA GR GOI GANGS GV GCC GY GT GA GAERC GOV GE GH GLOBAL GTIP GERARD GTMO GL GF
HK HR HA HURI HO HU HILLARY HUMAN HUMOR HSTC HYMPSK HEBRON HI
IIP IC IR IN IAEA IS IT IMF IBRD IZ IWC ISRAELI INTERPOL IO ISLAMISTS ITALY ITALIAN IRAQI ILO IPR IQ IV IRS INRB ICAO IMO ID IZPREL IRAJ ICTY ICRC IAHRC ITF INR IGAD ILC ITU IF ITPHUM IL INTERNAL ISRAEL IACI ICJ ITRA INMARSAT ICTR IA IEFIN INTELSAT IBET INRA INRO IDP INDO IRC IDA ITPGOV IEA
JA JP JO JAMES JOSEPH JM JUS JOHN JOHNNIE
KPAO KCRM KNNP KCOR KIRF KISL KSCA KDEM KDEMAF KZ KBTR KUNR KMDR KRVC KPAL KTIA KV KJUS KOMC KTFN KWBG KTIP KMPI KSUM KIRC KE KIPR KWMN KFRD KSEP KN KOLY KPKO KIDE KMRS KFLU KSAF KGIC KRAD KU KHLS KOCI KSTH KS KGHG KAWC KICC KG KSPR KPRP KDRG KGIT KVPR KGCC KSEO KMCA KSTC KBIO KHIV KBCT KPAI KICA KTDB KACT KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KHUM KFLO KREC KSEC KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPIN KCOM KESS KDEV KCFE KNUC KAWK KPLS KWWMN KCIP KPRV KHDP KTEX KFIN KOM KBTS KCRS KNPP KWNM KRFD KVIR KLIG KMIG KDDG KRGY KFSC KR KMOC KPAONZ KNAR KIFR KCGC KID KSAC KAID KNSD KWMNCS KCMR KO KNEI KPOA KTER KOMS KPAK KTBT KWMM KWAC KHSA KX KMFO KPWR KRIM KSCI KVRP KENV KCRCM KNUP KNNPMNUC KERG KTLA KCSY KTRD KJUST KRCM KCFC KCHG KREL KFTFN
LY LTTE LE LH LO LI LG LT LU LABOR LA LAB LOG
MARR MX MOPS MNUC MZ MASS MEETINGS MG MW MIL MTCRE MCAP MAS MO MTCR MD MK MP MY MR MT MCC MIK MU ML MARAD MA MAPS MV MERCOSUR MASC MPOS MILITARY MDC MQADHAFI MEPP MRCRE MEDIA MAPP MTRE MEPN MI MC MUCN MAR MASSMNUC MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPI
NATO NL NZ NI NU NO NPT NRR NA NATIONAL NIPP NAFTA NT NS NE NASA NSF NP NAR NV NORAD NG NSSP NW NK NDP NR NATOPREL NEW NPA NPG NSG NSFO NGO NSC NH NZUS NC
OFDA OTRA OPRC OIIP OAS OPDC OVIP OEXC OPIC OSCE OPCW OREP OFFICIALS ODIP OECD OMIG OFDP OBSP OIE OSCI OES OPAD OVP OHUM OIC ON OCII OCS OTR OSAC
PREL PGOV PINR PTER PARM PHUM PA PBTS PINS PM PREF PHSA PK POL PL PE PFOR PALESTINIAN PUNE PGOVLO PAO POLITICS PO PHUMBA PSEPC PNAT PNR PROP POLINT PGOVE PROG PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PROV PSOE PU POGOV PMIL PINL PHUMPREL PGIV PBT PAK PP PGOC PY PLN PMAR PHUH PBIO PF PRL PG PHUS PTBS PRAM POV PEL PAS POLICY PGGV POLITICAL PARTIES PCUL PSA PDOV PCI PREO PAHO PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PHUMPGOV PREFA PSI PAIGH POSTS PARMS PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PGOF PKFK PEPR PPA PINT PRELP PINF PNG
QA
RU RS RICE RW RCMP RO RFE RP RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT REGION RUPREL RF RELATIONS RM REACTION ROOD REPORT RSO RSP
SNAR SENV SOCI SCUL SY SR SU SO SP SA SZ SF SMIG SW SIPDIS STEINBERG SN SNARIZ SG SNARN SSA SK SI SPCVIS SOFA SC SL SARS SNARCS SIPRS SYR SANC SEVN SWE SHI SEN SHUM SYRIA SH SPCE SAARC SCRS SENVKGHG SAN ST
TW TRGY TU TPHY TBIO TX TN TSPL TC TZ TSPA TS TF TI TIP TH TINT TNGD TP TD TFIN TAGS TK TL TV TT TERRORISM TR THPY TO TRSY TURKEY TBID
UK UP US UNSC UNHCR USEU UNGA UG UY UNESCO UN USTR USOAS UZ UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNEP UNIDROIT UNHRC UNDESCO UNMIK UNDP UNC UNO UNAUS UV UNICEF UNCHR UNDC UNCHC UNPUOS USUN USNC UNCSD UNCND USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE
VM VE VZ VT VN VTPREL VTIZ VAT VC VTEG VI
WITH WI WHO WTRO WIPO WTO WS WTRQ WWARD WHTI WEU WZ WHA WMD WMO WA WBG WFP WB
XF XG XT XK XM XR XZ XA XV XL XH XE XB XU XW XQ XS XX XY XD XC XI XTAG
YM YI YMCS YE
ZP ZR ZB ZI ZA ZK ZU ZOELLICK ZF ZO ZANU ZEALAND ZL ZJ ZN

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 08BOGOTA337, CJCS ADMIRAL MULLEN'S JANUARY 17 MEETING WITH

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08BOGOTA337.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08BOGOTA337 | 2008-01-28 17:05 | 2010-12-10 21:30 | SECRET | Embassy Bogota

`

    VZCZCXYZ0001
    PP RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHBO #0337/01 0281705
    ZNY SSSSS ZZH
    P 281705Z JAN 08
    FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1118
    INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION PRIORITY 0512
    RUEHBE/AMEMBASSY BELMOPAN PRIORITY 0053
    RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 8006
    RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES PRIORITY 2122
    RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 9849
    RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JAN 9199
    RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 5846
    RUEHMU/AMEMBASSY MANAGUA PRIORITY 2134
    RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 8270
    RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO PRIORITY 2930
    RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 0387
    RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 1138
    RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE PRIORITY 4734
    RUEHSN/AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR PRIORITY 1864
    RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO PRIORITY 2374
    RUEHTG/AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA PRIORITY 1471
    RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 4279
    RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0168
    RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP ADMIN/CHAIRS// PRIORITY

` `

    S E C R E T BOGOTA 000337

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
    TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MARR MOPS VZ AR BH BR CI CS
    CU, ES, HO, MX, NU, PM, PA, PE, UY, CO
    SUBJECT: CJCS ADMIRAL MULLEN'S JANUARY 17 MEETING WITH
    PRESIDENT URIBE

    Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield
    Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)

    -------
    Summary
    -------

    ¶1. (S) President Uribe's overwhelming concern during a
    January 17 meeting with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
    (CJCS) Admiral Michael Mullen, was Hugo Chavez' aggressive
    remarks and proposal to grant belligerent status to the FARC.
    Uribe insisted the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
    (FARC) and National Liberation Army (ELN) must keep their
    terrorist designation, and the USG and GOC should work
    together to convince Latin American countries that Chavez'
    approach would harm Colombia and regional democracy. Uribe
    said Chavez has committed to bring down Uribe and his
    government by using the FARC as his militia inside Colombia.
    The GOC's current plan of action on hostages consists of
    locating them, securing areas near the hostage groups, and
    calling on the International Committee of the Red Cross
    (ICRC) to negotiate their release. Uribe would authorize
    Colombian forces to cross into Venezuela to arrest FARC
    leaders and bring them to justice in Colombia. End Summary.

    ¶2. (U) Participants

    UNITED STATES

    CJCS Admiral Michael Mullen
    Ambassador William Brownfield
    CJCS/EA CAPT James Foggo
    Defense Attach COL Mark Wilkins (notetaker)

    COLOMBIA

    President Alvaro Uribe
    Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos
    Armed Forces Commander General Freddy Padilla
    MFA U.S. and Canada Desk Officer Patricia Cortes

    -------------------------------
    Uribe Obsessed By Chavez Blasts
    -------------------------------

    ¶3. (C) President Alvaro Uribe arrived late to the meeting,
    directly from a discussion with his cabinet on how to respond
    to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' latest inflammatory
    remarks, and the show of solidarity by the Venezuelan
    Congress on granting "belligerent" status to the FARC. It
    was clear that he was still focused on Chavez and the GOC
    response.

    -------------------------
    GOC Progress, USG Support
    -------------------------

    ¶4. (C) Uribe thanked the United States for its continued
    support, stressing its decisiveness in helping Colombia pull
    back from the brink of becoming a failed state. While much
    work remains, Colombia has made great progress against
    terrorists and the GOC feels certain they can win this
    battle. Uribe attributed a great portion of the credit for
    Colombia's success to the permanent assistance of the USG and

    its armed forces. Chairman Mullen reaffirmed the strength of
    the bilateral relationship and assured Uribe of continuing
    USG commitment to defeating our common adversaries. He
    admired Colombians' determination and leadership. The
    Colombian military had transformed itself remarkably and
    performed the highest calling possible -- returning Colombia
    to its citizens.

    ---------------------------
    Chavez' Endorsement of FARC
    ---------------------------

    ¶5. (C) Turning to Venezuela, Uribe said his neighbor's
    actions cause Colombia great difficulty. The FARC and ELN
    must keep their terrorist designation, Uribe insisted, and
    there should be negative consequences for any country
    granting them belligerent status. It was important to
    counter and challenge Chavez' rhetoric, especially on this
    point. When France and Mexico granted that status to the
    Farabundo Marti Liberation Front (FMLN) rebels in El Salvador
    in 1981, Uribe commented, they fought an unelected and brutal
    dictatorship. By contrast, the FARC waged war on a duly
    elected democracy, they had no public support, and they
    financed themselves through narcotrafficking and extortion.

    ¶6. (S) Asked by the Chairman how much help Chavez gave the
    FARC, Uribe replied that Chavez has a five to seven year plan
    to advance his Bolivarian agenda in Colombia. He has created
    popular militias inside Venezuela (apart from the Armed
    Forces) to sustain his revolution. The GOC believes Chavez
    thinks he could use the FARC as his militia inside Colombia
    to combat its democratic government. Chavez remains
    committed to bring down both Uribe and his government, as the
    primary obstacles to his Bolivarian expansionist dreams.
    With no clear Colombian presidential successor, a well
    financed candidate favoring Chavez might find space in 2010.
    The best counter to Chavez, in Uribe's view, remains action
    -- including use of the military.

    ----------------
    Regional Support
    ----------------

    ¶7. (S) Uribe urged the GOC and USG to work together to
    convince Latin American countries that Chavez' approach to
    the FARC was wrong and would harm Colombia and regional
    democracy. The USG, he said, ought to lead a public campaign
    against Venezuela and counter Chavez' progress through
    preferential oil offers. The U.S. and Mexico, supported by
    Honduras, Panama, Belize, and Costa Rica (especially Oscar
    Arias in the latter) were natural leaders to counter Chavez.
    Even Cuba, which felt Chavez had crossed into dangerous
    territory, has exercised a restraining influence. When the
    GOC asked the Cuban government their views on Chavez' call to
    roll back the FARC's terrorist designation, the Cubans stated
    that it was "a difficult proposal."

    ¶8. (S) Uribe saw mixed loyalties among other Latin American
    countries. Only Nicaragua had supported Chavez' FARC
    proposal. Argentina remains difficult, since Venezuela
    bought Argentine bonds and Chavez made campaign contributions
    to the new President. Paraguay, in the midst of an election
    cycle, is uncertain though the front-runner supports Chavez.
    Uruguay, a possible ally, is sitting on the fence. Brazil
    remains friendly with Colombia, but prefers neutrality lest
    it offend anyone. In Peru, President Alan Garcia concurs

    with the United States and would follow its lead. Chile
    remains a good friend to Colombia and its cause.

    -----------------
    Hostages and HVTs
    -----------------

    ¶9. (S) Uribe listed rescue of hostages held by the FARC as
    one of his main goals for 2008. He outlined a plan whereby
    the military would establish a "cordon sanitaire" around
    areas where hostages were held. Then the GOC would
    temporarily open the area to outside interlocutors such as
    the ICRC to offer an international medical mission and
    conduct negotiations. Under this umbrella, the GOC would
    focus on the 44 hostages the FARC had identified as
    "exchangeable." Chairman Mullen assured USG support for
    GOC's efforts, but he cautioned that the USG wanted the
    hostages returned alive. Uribe responded with his conviction
    that the FARC would not kill hostages at this stage. The
    best course of action, he advocated, remains to locate the
    hostages, secure the positions, and then call in the ICRC to
    negotiate their release.

    ¶10. (S) Uribe said the GOC also placed a priority on high
    value targets and that they had achieved great results in
    late 2007. Finally, he said he was prepared to authorize
    Colombian forces to cross into Venezuela, arrest FARC
    leaders, and bring them to justice in Colombia.

    ¶11. (U) CJCS Admiral Mullen cleared this cable.

    Brownfield

`