Venezuelan troops go to Colombian border

[Bacchus39]

CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela has sent 1,200 troops to its border with Colombia to crack down on smuggling amid a bitter feud between the two countries' governments.

The National Guard announced the stepped-up security Monday night, a day after President Hugo Chavez ordered the military to keep people from smuggling scarce, price-controlled items like milk across the border.

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Venezuelans have suffered shortages of basic products like milk, chicken and sugar recently as the oil-producing country's robust economic growth has far exceeded agricultural production.

Critics say the socialist government's attempts to force down prices have contributed to the shortages by making it tough for sellers to make any profit. Some people allegedly have sought to sell their goods for higher prices across the border.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22657303/



Imagine the hysteria that would be generated if Colombia amassed troops on their side of the border.