Oliver Stone Leaves No Terrorist Stone Unturned

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Oliver Stone Leaves No Terrorist Stone Unturned

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Colombia's newest guest is director Oliver Stone who was invited by the socialist President Chavez.  The two men met for the first time in Caracas around two weeks ago.

Stone will join a mission led by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Friday, to rescue three long time hostages who are being held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC.)

The famous director, age sixty one, arrived in the humid city of Villavicencio, a city in Colombia at the foot of the Andes mountains on Friday.  

Sadly, Colombia is in its fifth decade of civil war.

When interviewed by Associated Press a few days ago, Stone said:

"I have no illusions about the FARC, but it looks like they are a peasant army fighting for a decent living."

Known for famous movies such as; Platoon; Salvador; Born on the Fourth of July and JFK., Stone will be in his element.  He joined the army in 1967 at the height of the Vietnam war, so tropical forests and dangerous terrain, will not be new to him.

Born to wealthy parents; a Catholic mother and Jewish father, today he claims himself to be an aetheist. His father found it difficult to be monogamous, having many affairs both with single women and married women - no doubt it was the reason for his parents divorce.

Oliver Stone will be taken into Colombia's eastern jungles, which is the size of a small country itself. At this time, (Dec. 30, 2007) the rebels still have not disclosed a point of release for the hostages.

I feel two ways about Mr. Stone's visit. He is obviously putting himself in danger, which means that those who are designated to protect him, are in even more danger.  The rebels could see Stone as a potentially high profile hostage.

On the other hand, it seems that Stone knows how to handle himself and might actually be able to see and understand what's happening there and transfer his knowledge to film, for the world to see and hear.

Stone sustained several injuries in the Vietnam war and was the recipient of multiple awards for extraordinary acts of courage under fire, along with a Purple Heart and an Oak Leaf Cluster.

He served in several areas of the army, including the military police (MPs) in Saigon and long range recon., patrol.

The hostages are former congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez, Clara Rojas and her son, Emmanuel, which astonishingly was fathered by one of her captors. It's unknown whether or not she was raped or romantically involved with one of the terrorists.

Stone admitted that should the terrorists decide to turn on his delegation, they would be getting ten hostages in place of three. However in the same breath, he said:

"But seriously, no, I'm not worried. The FARC knows there would be universal condemnation if they did that."

You may not be worried Mr. Stone, but what about the others in your delegation that are only there because of your presence.  How do they feel? Are they scared?

Already there are more than 150 journalists camped out at the airport, waiting for any news that might come from this operation. They were not permitted to go along.

Stone's Colombian and Venezuelan guides are already laying down the law to him, forbidding him to leave his hotel in Villavicencio, well known for its drug traffiking and far-right death squads.

Other hostages that will tragically be left behind are; three U.S. defense contractors who have been with them for four years, along with hundreds of other rebel-held captives.

Questions I'd like to ask are:

1. Mr. Stone, how does it feel to know that you'll be leaving hundreds of people behind, who may be undergoing torture at this very moment?
   
   
2. How do you feel about rescuing three people instead of hundreds?
   
   
3. If someone is hurt or killed protecting you, will it still be worth your next movie?
   

A few of Stone's most well known movies are the excellent Midnight Express, a film about a Turkish prison that held an American prisoner for years.   Platoon; about the civil war in Vietnam and Scarface; about drug trafficking and starring Al Pacino.

There will be problems along the way as they move deeper into the terrain, which is covered by the FARC.  Those on the mission, headed by President Chavez, can expect terribly humid weather and rough terrain. Let's hope that Stone is able to remember his Army days.

Hugo Chavez, who recently lost a referrendum vote which would have enabled him to run indefinitely for reelection, is hoping that a successful outcome will give him the political victory that he needs.

So now we can do nothing but wait for the outcome of this rendezvous with the rebels.  For the hostages' sake, let's hope it's soon.

Photos

Oliver Stone: Courtesy: BBC.Co.UK

President Hugo Chavez: Courtesy: Wikipedia 

News Sources:

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Reuters

Associated Press

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Oliver Stone

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