Chavez Picks a New Fight, with Colombia

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In addition, Chávez has been hurt by charges of corruption brought by Deputy Luis Tascón, who has repeatedly said that members of the President's retinue are using their positions for personal gain.

A Diversion Tactic?

Colombia and Venezuela, whose trade last year amounted to about $5.5 billion, have clashed on economic issues as well. Chávez pulled his country out of the Andean Pact—a free-trade group including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia—after Uribe negotiated a free-trade agreement with the U.S. Chávez subsequently founded a rival trade group that Colombia has refused to join.

Susan Purcell, who heads Miami University's Center of Hemispheric Policy, says she doubts the tension will actually prompt Chávez into war. "He is just being bombastic; he wants to divert attention from his domestic failures," Purcell says. "This shows that Chávez was really trying to topple the Colombian government, or to divide it. He really thinks of himself as the new Simón Bolivar, trying to create a Gran Colombia." (Gran Colombia was the state Bolivar established in the early 19th century, which later split into Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador.) Longer term, she predicts, "this whole affair will take some of the allure off of Chávez. It may reduce his international stature."

Severed Ties

Relations between Chávez and Uribe have been strained for years. Chávez has repeatedly accused Uribe of being too close to U.S. President George W. Bush and his policies. In turn, Colombia has charged that Chávez is supporting FARC and meddling in its internal affairs. The two countries severed economic and political ties in 2004 when a FARC leader was captured in Venezuela, underlining Bogotá's claims. After improving, ties again weakened last year when Uribe asked Chávez to stop trying to mediate a prisoner swap between his government and FARC.

Since then, FARC has released six prisoners through Chávez's intermediation, including four last week. The rebel organization continues to hold more than 40 captives, including three U.S. citizens and former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.

The spat also puts millions of Colombians in Venezuela in a difficult position. Colombians account for up to 20% of Venezuela's population of 27 million, and Uribe remains popular with many for attacking FARC.

"Why can't Chávez just leave us alone?" says Hernandez, the farmer. "This is a Colombian problem."

Wilson is a special correspondent based in Caracas.