Smugglers run after being spotted by Venezuela's security forces in the Tachira river that connects Venezuela with Colombia, in San Antonio, Venezuela on November 9, 2009. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday urged his military leaders to prepare 'for war' and to ready citizens to 'defend the homeland' as tensions mount over fractious ties with neighboring Colombia. The comments come at a tense time for the region as Colombia signs a controversial military agreement with the United States to let US forces use seven military bases in Colombia for anti-drug operations. Chavez has repeatedly voiced deep fears of US encroachment in the region. Getty Images logo Getty Images 1 week ago

Smugglers run after being spotted by Venezuela's security forces in the Tachira river that connects Venezuela with Colombia, in San Antonio, Venezuela on November 9, 2009. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday urged his military leaders to prepare 'for war' and to ready citizens to 'defend the homeland' as tensions mount over fractious ties with neighboring Colombia. The comments come at a tense time for the region as Colombia signs a controversial military agreement with the United States to let US forces use seven military bases in Colombia for anti-drug operations. Chavez has repeatedly voiced deep fears of US encroachment in the region.

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  1. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez seen during a ceremony commemorating the first anniversary of the launching of Venezuela's 'Simon Bolivar' communications satellite, in Caracas, on October 29, 2009. Oscar-winning actor and political activist Sean Penn may film a movie in Venezuela, Chavez said.
  2. In this image released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, left, speaks with US actor Sean Penn during a meeting at Miraflores palace in Caracas, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. Chavez said he met privately with Penn and that the Oscar-winning celebrity may film a movie in Venezuela. The woman at center is a translator.
  3. In this image released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, left, speaks with US actor Sean Penn during a meeting at Miraflores palace in Caracas, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. Chavez said he met privately with Penn and that the Oscar-winning celebrity may film a movie in Venezuela.
  4. Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, left, sings as Bolivia's President Evo Morales looks on during the closing ceremony of the VII ALBA Summit in Cochabamba, Bolivia, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. During the two-day summit, hosted by Morales, Chavez offered to share use of his country's new satellite with ALBA's other members, which include Ecuador, Cuba and Nicaragua, officials said.
  5. Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, left, sings as Bolivia's President Evo Morales looks on during the closing ceremony of the VII ALBA Summit in Cochabamba, Bolivia, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. During the two-day summit, hosted by Morales, Chavez offered to share use of his country's new satellite with ALBA's other members, which include Ecuador, Cuba and Nicaragua, officials said.
  6. Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, left, talks to Bolivia's President Evo Morales during the closing ceremony of the VII ALBA, Bolivarian Alternative of the Americas group, Summit in Cochabamba, Bolivia, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. During the two-day summit, hosted by Morales, Chavez offered to share use of his country's new satellite with ALBA's other members, which include Ecuador, Cuba and Nicaragua, officials said.
  7. Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez (R) shakes hands with Ecuador's President Rafael Correa during a news conference in Caracas October 7, 2009. The leaders discussed the existing energy and oil bilateral agreements and are expected to sign new deals.
  8. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (C-R), and his Ecuadorean counterpart, Rafael Correa, (C-L) are seen amid reporters during a conference in Caracas on October 7, 2009. Correa, who is in Venezuela along with a delegation of ministers, met with Chavez to discuss the current energy and oil bilateral agreements between the two nations, and may sign new agreements, according to Ecuadorean sources.
  9. Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa (C), waves while he walks to meet his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chavez (not pictured), during a conference in Caracas on October 7, 2009. Correa, who is in Venezuela along with a delegation of ministers, met with Chavez to discuss the current energy and oil bilateral agreements between the two nations, and may sign new agreements, according to Ecuadorean sources.
  10. Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa (C), walks to meet his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chavez (not pictured), during a conference in Caracas on October 7, 2009. Correa, who is in Venezuela along with a delegation of ministers, met with Chavez to discuss the current energy and oil bilateral agreements between the two nations, and may sign new agreements, according to Ecuadorean sources.
  11. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (C), waves before meeting his Ecuadorean counterpart, Rafael Correa (not pictured), during a conference in Caracas on October 7, 2009. Correa, who is in Venezuela along with a delegation of ministers, met with Chavez to discuss the current energy and oil bilateral agreements between the two nations, and may sign new agreements, according to Ecuadorean sources.
  12. Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Nicolas Maduro (R), speaks to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (C), while Ecuadorean President , Rafael Correa, smiles during a conference in Caracas on October 7, 2009. Correa, who is in Venezuela along with a delegation of ministers, met with Chavez to discuss the current energy and oil bilateral agreements between the two nations, and may sign new agreements, according to Ecuadorean sources.
  13. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (R), listens to his Ecuadorean counterpart, Rafael Correa, during a conference in Caracas on October 7, 2009. Correa, who is in Venezuela along with a delegation of ministers, met with Chavez to discuss the current energy and oil bilateral agreements between the two nations, and may sign new agreements, according to Ecuadorean sources.
  14. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (R), greets his Ecuadorean counterpart, Rafael Correa, during a conference in Caracas on October 7, 2009. Correa, who is in Venezuela along with a delegation of ministers, met with Chavez to discuss the current energy and oil bilateral agreements between the two nations, and may sign new agreements, according to Ecuadorean sources.
  15. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (R), greets his Ecuadorean counterpart, Rafael Correa, during a conference in Caracas on October 7, 2009. Correa, who is in Venezuela along with a delegation of ministers, met with Chavez to discuss the current energy and oil bilateral agreements between the two nations, and may sign new agreements, according to Ecuadorean sources.
  16. Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi (L) and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez sit in a car in Porlamar, Margarita Island, in northwestern Venezuela, on September 28, 2009. In his first visit to Latin America since his arrival in power 40 years ago, Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi posed for pictures with tourists and shopped for souvenirs on Venezuela's Margarita Island after a weekend summit of South American and African leaders.

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