Flat Earth: Love your enemy

In a somewhat unexpected charm offensive, the Colombian army sent Christmas cards this year to the Communist guerrillas it normally seeks to blast off the face of the earth.

"Feliz Navidad, Prospero ano, guerrillero!" (Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year, guerrilla!) reads the greeting in the 100,000 cards the army sent out to their arch enemies. "Make your family happy and share the season's joys with them. Desert your rebel unit and enjoy your freedom ... Long live freedom! Long live Christmas!"

"Perhaps Victor G will deliver Christmas cards to `Sureshot' and `Mono Jojoy' personally," quipped an army spokeswoman, referring to the government's peace commissioner, Victor Ricardo, and the top guerrilla leaders.