The mobilization of troops along the border between the two countries, combined with his open support for FARC rebels, would certainly make it appear that way.

Venezuela and Ecuador have ordered troops to their borders with Colombia, raising concerns of a broader conflict after Colombia killed a top rebel leader on Ecuadorean soil.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday promised Venezuela would respond militarily if Colombia violates its border, where he ordered tanks as well as thousands of troops. He also ordered closed Venezuela's embassy in Bogota.

Ecuador's president, Rafael Correa, called for the troop deployment while also withdrawing his government's ambassador from Bogota and expelling Colombia's top diplomat.

''There is no justification,'' Correa said Sunday night, snubbing an earlier announcement from Colombia that it would apologize for the incursion by its military.

Chavez called the killing of rebel leader and spokesman Raul Reyes and 16 other rebels on Saturday an attack by a ''terrorist state.''

I can understand Ecuador's concerns -- except, of course, for the fact that Ecuador has provided safe haven for FARC for years, just like the Colombians. But Venezuela has been actively interfering in Colombia's internal affairs on behalf of the rebels for some time now. These same nations would certainly take action within Colombia were they under constant assault by rebels based there, so the level of hypocrisy is astounding.

For its own security, Colombia must crush FARC. If that requires tangling with the state-sponsors of terrorism on its borders, then that is justified. Here's hoping that Hugo Chavez has bitten off more than he can chew.

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