www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 13, 2003 By: Oscar Heck

VHeadline.com commentarist Oscar Heck writes: I recently received a letter from a USA military person (USMC) who fought in the Gulf War (1991) in Kuwait, where I was working at the time. He said something to the effect that many US personnel that fought in that war are not very happy with what I wrote in my last article … principally, my statement that the USA did not “help” Kuwait (as the USA claims) but that they were “paid” to do the job.

• I based my statement on what I was personally told by some Saudi Royalty members at the time.

First, I would like to apologize if I hurt anyone’s feelings ... I would feel the same if I were told something to the effect that the effort I made in a war was of no value, or was not appreciated. In addition, I suspect that military personnel have no say in whether or not they will, or will not, do something that they either believe in or not.

Next, I decided to do a little numbers research:  Here are the results ... 32 countries (allies of Kuwait) apparently participated in the war, which lasted up to 42 days in January and February 1991. The total estimated cost of the war was US$82 billion ... there were approximately 700,000 allied troops; 540,000 from the USA. Apparently, the USA contributed US$18 billion (of a total of US$82 billion).

Here is my analysis: Using the above figures, US$18 billion  would cover roughly 22% of the military forces, being 154,000 people. The USA had 540,000 military personnel. Someone else paid for 540,000 minus 154,000 people, which represents 55% of the forces, which represents US$45.2 billion.

Now, supposing that the USA made a profit of 40% on the use of US$45.2 billion for their involvement in the war … the profit would be about US$18 billion ... in other words, the war may not have cost them a penny. (I suspect that it may be financially possible to make a 40% profit on operations of that nature, especially under situations of war).

Isn’t it also possible that the USA was/is/will be indirectly or directly involved in the reconstruction of Iraq’s infrastructure? (in 1991, estimated at US$200 billion).

More jobs for all ... more profits.

So, to conclude, the person that wrote to me saying that they (the USA) did it to “help” Kuwait, may be be right.

Depends how one looks at it.

As for the USA being “paid” to fight, I would still say yes, the USA was “paid” to fight...

Why?  Because 72% of the USA involvement in the war (as per the above figures) was paid for by others, not by the USA.

One thing for certain, the USA provided approximately 77% of the wo/man-power ... and that is admirable I suppose … if war is a justified and needed tool … and if one believes it.

• As far as I can see, the Saudis who told me that the USA was paid to fight were not wrong after all.

This article does not have much to do with Venezuela, at least not in a direct fashion. Indirectly, yes!  Venezuela can manage its own affairs without the “help” of the USA ... or any other country ... or group of “friends.”

“Help” can be interpreted in many different ways, depending on where one stands.

I am not “bashing” the USA ... as I was accused of doing … I just hope to awaken others to the dangers that Venezuela could face if Venezuela follows the path of Colombia in its partnerships with the United States of America

Saudi Arabia has lots of oil ... so does Kuwait, Iraq, Colombia … and Venezuela.

Oscar Heck oscarheck111@hotmail.com

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 13, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

IRS/Seniat National Tax Superintendent Trino Diaz has announced that the government is investigating the source of funding for the political propaganda that flooded opposition print & broadcast media over the past months ... especially those allegedly signed-for by the Coordinadora Democratica (CD) and Mujeres por la Libertad.

“We would like to know whether the spots were 'donated' and if they comply with the Donation & Events Law … if money for the spots was indeed donated, the groups and media outlets must pay regular taxes … if, on the contrary, there weren’t the result of donations, there is no problem for media outlets since it would be purely a commercial transaction.”

Diaz reports that IRS/Seniat received 655.7 billion bolivares of an estimated 659.4 billion in February … 396.2 billion from VAT and 129.6 billion from bank taxes.

www.voanews.com VOA News 13 Mar 2003, 20:39 UTC

Venezuela's army says it plans to send more troops to the border with Colombia, where Colombian rebel groups are believed to operate.

Army General Warrikc Blanco said Thursday, the plans call for reinforcing the five-thousand soldiers already patrolling the country's northwestern border.

The statements come one day after a Colombian newspaper El Tiempo reported that rebel groups have set up bases inside Venezuela. The newspaper said leftist Colombian guerrillas and right-wing paramilitaries are both active in Venezuela.

Venezuela's Minister of Foreign Relations, Roy Chaderton, denied the report on Wednesday, calling it totally false. He said the government has received no information to support the claims.

Colombia has been torn apart by a 39-year civil war that pits the rebels, paramilitaries and the government against each other. Some 3,500 people, mainly civilians, are killed in the fighting each year.

www.nbc5.com POSTED: 1:43 p.m. CST March 13, 2003 UPDATED: 12:13 p.m. CST March 14, 2003

CHICAGO -- A north side man has apparently vanished. The 55-year-old went missing following a kayaking trip in the Carribean and was last seen off the coast of Venezuela.

Lee Harris was vacationing at a resort area in Curacao. He was staying at a property he owns there, near a beach he's familiar with. That's why family and friends can't explain his disappearance.

Harris was kayaking with his wife, stepson and several friends Sunday morning.

"He said, 'You guys go ahead and I'll catch up with you,' and that's the last they saw of him," Harris' aunt, Denise Bolon, told NBC5's Jennifer Mitchell.

His business partner, Bismark Brackett, was notified Sunday afternoon. Retracing the route on a map with Mitchell, Brackett said Harris had kayaked in the area dozens of times.

"They kayak from the beach to this area," Brackett said, pointing to an area on the map north of Harris' property where the missing man apparently often took his kayak. "Somewhere between this small beach and Cave Lee, he went missing."

Known as an avid outdoorsman, Harris did have a life jacket on since the water in that area is often rough, Mitchell said.

Rescue crews continue searching the water where he was last seen and family members are posting information on the Internet, hoping someone may have spotted him.

"There was no sign of him. No kayak. No lifejacket. Nothing," according to Bolon.

Mitchell said the family hopes that might be good news. Maybe Harris simply drifted off course and will be found with his kayak alive. He's a good swimmer and an athletic guy. Friends and family are hoping that he's found alive.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 13, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The mothers of two conscripts claim the army has tortured their sons during interrogations about a missing FAL assault rifle. At Cocollar (Sucre) training camp (once a notorious anti-guerrilla operations theater in the 60s), Gladys Sanchez Maita and Yoly Carrieles allege that the army special operations school used anti-guerrilla interrogations methods on sons, Ramon Maita Sanchez (23) from Cumana and Jimmy Esqueda Carrieles (19) from Maracaibo.

Young Maita had to be rushed to Cumana hospital after allegedly spending four nights standing in a locker, electric shock to the testicles, plastic bags placed over the head, hung in the air by the hands and placed in a tank full of excrement.

According to the women, one Captain Pena fired shots close to the boys when they were hung from a tree.

Both women say their boys did not steal the rifle but blame a recruit that allegedly deserted.

Cumana garrison commander Colonel Teodoro Garcia admits the recruits are under his care and says Maita stole the rifle, is all right and just wants cheap publicity.