Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez often gets the punch-line treatment in the United States. But some of his recent comments, and the places in which he made them, are deadly serious. As Washington Post columnist Jackson Diehl noted, Chavez took an eight-nation tour that included Russia, Belarus, Mali and Vietnam. Of most concern, Chavez visited Iran and referred to Israelis as "murderers" and "cowards," adding that "their fate has been sealed, from the depths of the people’s soul" and calling on God to "throw the lightning bolts at the monsters." Diehl made a good point: "In a week during which a movie star was pilloried for a somewhat milder anti-Semitic outburst (and Mel Gibson at least could say he was drunk), no one seemed to care about the hate speech of the president of a large South American country and one of the world’s biggest oil exporters — a man who has been conducting a frenetic campaign to win his government a two-year term on the United Nations Security Council." Why not? For his part, President Bush said of Chavez: "I don’t view him as a threat."
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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66 Comments
Chavez isn’t a threat unless America wants him to be. He was elected by the people twice in fair elections monitored by the UN (Bush stole two elections monitored by Diebold). In response America backed a coup to put an oil executive in charge of the country.
America has had a long history of overthrowing democratically elected leaders of Latin American countries and installing despots who would sell the country to the U.S. Lately the U.S. has been using the IMF to destroy countries like Argentenia. America was pissed when Chavez used oil money to bail out the nation from the crippling demands the IMF placed upon the nation. America was already pissed when Chavez increased the amount of royalties oil companies had to give to the government which were used to help alleviate poverty in the country.
What’s Chavez’s crime? Responding to the will of the people who put him into office? Apparently democracy makes a person a threat. That’s the problem with democracy, leaders get elected that conservatives don’t always like. Those types of leaders are those who raise taxes on the rich which help the poor. That would make FDR just as much of a threat as Chavez.
Well said, Doug.
Wouldn’t it be the height of disingenousness for us to get our bowels in a peeve about Chavez and his shenanigens, when we tolerate Saudi Arabia’s civil rights abuses, extremism support, and a number of their conuntrymen attacking our country via 9/11?
But let’s face it’s disingenousness that is the hallmark of our relationship with the Saudi’s.
Our former secretary of state, James Baker, III went to work as legal representaion for the Saudi’s so they could avoid paying damages to the 9/11 families.
If you have oil, wealth, and control, America can look the other way. I am not seeing why our hypocrisy/policy should not apply to Chavez also.
He is the left favorite person. They want a person like him to be President of the USA.
Remember: When it comes to low quality crude, Venezuela has a lot more oil than the Saudi’s do. The high cost of oil makes obtaining Chavez’s low quality crude feasible now. We’d better not bite the hand that will soon feed us.
Joe,What would you propose as a brilliant “right” alternative? Can’t wait to hear this.
Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Condoleezza Rice, Colon Powell, and I can go on and on. Take your pick.
But I guess you’ve already decided on Chavez. That’s fine! At least I know where you’re coming from.
Joe,You can’t be serious in acusing me of thinking that Chavez would enter into our political arena.
Please, Joe. Get a grip.
My question (though obviously not spelled out clearly enough for you) was, what should our policy/political response to him be? — given that he is going to remain the head of Venezuela – where he has been elected to serve and where all his oil is.
Maybe making it multiple choice would help: Should we?1. assisnate him2. try to develop a diplomatic relationship with him3. isolate him like we tried to do with Castro4. All of the above5. None of the above and instead do _______________________
And Joe should we isolate and ignore Chavez because his is communist? If yes, should we for the sake of consistency, also stop trade with China? If yes to that one, are you prepared for your WalMart prices to go through the roof.
The best response is what we are doing now. Leave him alone. He’s no threat! Just as Bush said.
They aren’t going to stop sending oil to us. That is the only economy they have.
But Yes! I am accusing you of thinking that Chavez is entering our political arena. If we are debating about him, when he influcenced Democrat members of Congress to peddle heavily discounted heating oil to help poor people in New England for the purpose of staging a political event. When he purposesly hold hands with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad together calling the Unites States a great Satan. When Cindy Sheehan held hands with Chavaz asking him to overthrow Bush, he IS in our political arena.
Sure! He’s the legitimate leader of Venezuela, but that doesn’t mean the Bush Administration should deal with him. They don’t if they feel like it, and that is the position they are taking, and it’s a good one.
Steve! Big difference. China, although a one party government is a capitalist country and moving towards political reform and an open society. China works with us. Chavez is trying to undermine us, but he doesn’t have much teeth, crediablity or power to do much of anything.
I believe in trade! And it doesn’t matter what the country politics is. I believe we should stop the embargo with Cuba.
We do a lot of trade with Venezuela and their companies. Just because we stop selling replacable parts for their American made f-16’s, doesn’t mean we are ignoring Venezuela. The Venezuelans love America, their companies love doing business with America, just they got a dunce in office that is ever worse than Bush. Just happens! Nothing personal, strictly business.
Reasonable response on Venezuela/Chavez, Joe. May not agree with all of it, but can understand your position.
We do disagree about China. I think what they do is a little different from the capitalism you and I are familiar with. They have been acused of forcing prisoners into labor. Many of these detainees are political prisoners.
http://www.epm.org/articles/laogai.html
Caracas, Venezuela, March 15, 2005—In an interview on Miami’s Spanish-language channel 22, the former CIA agent Felix Rodriguez said that the U.S. government has plans to “bring about a change in Venezuela.” When pressed as to what type of plans these might be, Rodriguez responded that the Bush administration “could do it with a military strike, with a plane.”
The former CIA agent’s comments were made last week, on Thursday, during the talk show of a well-known supporter of the anti-Castro movement, Maria Elvira Salazar. Rodriguez affirmed during the program, “According to information I have about what is happening in Venezuela, it is possible that at some moment they [the Bush administration] will see itself obliged, for national security reasons and because of problems they have in Colombia, to implement a series of measures that will bring about a change in Venezuela.”
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1549
http://www.lewrockwell.com/hornberger/hornberger27.html
And concerning Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez comments, let me just say this:BILL CLINTON !!
It’s a different culture over there. It’s not perfect, we’re not perfect either.
We used to force prisoners into hard labor. We don’t do that anymore, but some people think we should go back to that.
Political prisoners I can see that needs to be changed over there. But they have a huge intolerance for organized political opposition and organized religion.
I once heard the Chinese Government explaination on why they cracked down on organized religion in their country. Explaination: “We don’t care if people practice religion or choose any religion to believe. It’s just that organized religious groups tend to prey on the very poor, elderly and the niave. It’s our job as the government to protect people from exploitation.”
You may disagree with it and I don’t fully agree with the Chinese on that part, but I can see where they are coming from and there is an element of truth in it.
Pat Robertson, host of Christian Broadcasting Network’s The 700 Club and founder of the Christian Coalition of America, called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200508220006
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/23/robertson.chavez/index.html
I really don’t know who is more of a threat at this point. Us or them.
Joe – full of shit as usual: “But I guess you’ve already decided on Chavez”
.morg! As oppposed to the countless leftist Democrats that call for the assassination of our own President?
Give us some links Joe. The vibe I get is fearless leader is tried for war crimes. Not saying I disagree with that.
“… Rodriguez responded that the Bush administration ‘could do it with a military strike, with a plane.’ ”
Oh dear, another Allende in the making? Santiago, Chile 1973, wasn’t it?
Got your thong in a bunch did I Ben?
How am I full of crap? Point it out, or do you spew it out like you always do?
COME ON JOE.Give us the names of people calling for the muder of the prez, so we can contact the secret service and have them arrested.
Or are you just blowin and Joe’in?
“He is the left favorite person. They want a person like him to be President of the USA.”
Show me anyone on the Left who wants Chavez for president? “Point it out, or do you spew it out like you always do?”
Well, he is Cindy Sheehan’s favorite anti-American dictator. That should count for something.
Unfortunately he has oil. Otherwise, we wouldn’t give him the time of day. Another reminder of how reliance on foreign sources of oil holds us hostage.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=44025
http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=15659
Go to any forum on Democratic Underground or Moveon.org.
Yeah! I’m sure people are just wishful thinking and just joking. What’s in your heart?
For Ben!
http://www.epinions.com/content_4594442372
Sigh! This gets old.
Euro-Socialists Say: Assassinate BushBy Ben JohnsonFrontPageMagazine.com | October 25, 2004
The Left’s campaign of hate and defamation against the American president has hit a new low: a major media organ of the international Left, edited by an associate of Bill Clinton, has called for President Bush’s assassination.
I realize I only have a public school education but…doesnt euro-socialist imply someone from europe? And wasn’t the enron guy who just died a contributor to Bush?
DING DING DING DING DING!
That’s the Joe Williams bell again folks! It sounds whenever Joe posts something stupid!
Too many stupid things above to post them all though I see others are trying.
Here is my bit.
JOE WILLIAMS:
“China works with us.”
Yes Joe they do! They employ slave labor and slums to accomodate sickeningly greedy American corporations a labor force that steals American jobs!
Aww but hey THAT’s OK aint it Joe? As you hate American workers and all.
Chavez is a democratically elected leader! Can you say the same for *george bush?
JR! You’re a class idiot! I’m sorry! It’s sad to see people in your state.
JOEY, if it gets so old then just quit.You been so full of shit already on this thread you ought to quit while you’re ahead.
You’re basically saying that dems want to mureder the president and put chavez in power. Wherever you’re reading this shit at, well it’s just shit.Quit reading and listening to retards. And don’t post links from the same retards.Got any reliable, respected sources for those allegations, or just some other blog that lets people post their fantasies as though it’s fact?
I’M the idiot?
It is YOU Joe that is suggesting that Hugo Chavez is setting up to run for American office!
Joe! You’re a class idiot!I’m not sorry!It’s good to see repugnicans in your state.
Back at ya’ with some intelligent shit there buddy.
We don’t need no facts, we can just call you names!
Joe believes anything nutballs will post on a blog somewhere.
It’s true, I read it on KOS or slate!! Here, read this link, it’s true.
And may I just add this:BILL CLINTON!!BILL CLINTON!!
And if you believe that crap Joe, I’m sure if I look enough, I can find you a link that says Tiny Tim was a covert war hero!
Wow Joe! A shopping column by a nobody apparently in satire is suddenly the overall opinion of the Left! Never heard of either the author nor the site.
I suppose no I can assume that the rantings of Tim McVeigh (Ann Coulter’s hero) represent you. Gee Joe, tell me why you are happy about the bombing in Oklahoma City that the Right loves so much.
TRACY – Tiny Tim is used during interrogation of prosoners. Just a few minutes of “tiptoe through the tulips” and they break!
I thank my fellow posters for clicking Joe’ links.
I stopped that a long time ago.
I got this issue with rushing in where Williams bravely treads!
A shopping column?
Hey Joe? Ya gotta link to a fortune cookie or some public restroom grafitti? Wanna post what you next make from your bowl of Alpha-bits?
Ben-YOU ARE FUNNY. :}>
I thought they propped their eyes open amd made them watch c-span.Either would work.
Joe, sometimes I agree with you.Sometimes.
Get some moderate, credible sources and we’ll talk.Except about Bill Clinton.
Back to Chavez.
Yes, his comments were intemperate. But how were they false?
Israel precipitated this crisis when it kidnapped Palestinians to use as trading pawns. Then the Palestinians retaliated.
What?! You didn’t read it in The Eagle?
Nevertheless, it’s true–the kidnappings STARTED with Israel.
And on the other front a car-bombing in Sidon, cross-border flights, and kidnappings by IDF. How many hundreads of Lebanese and thousands of Palestinians are being held hostage by Israel.
And, don’t forget the assasination of Rafiq Hariri. The US and Israel want to blame Syria. However, who gained from it? Not Syria. Not Lebanon. The removal of protection from Beirut benefitted only Israel and the US by leaving it totally open for terror bombing of its civilian population.
“Well, he is Cindy Sheehan’s favorite anti-American dictator. That should count for something.”
Uh, no outie, it counts for nothing because the right continually says SHE counts for nothing.
How can she count for nothing when she protests the war and the SOTU, but counts for something when she supports Chavez?
Dontcha just love how righties like outies want to have it both ways? Either she and her words “count” or they dont.
Which is it? I am tired of spinning when I try to follow you.
heheheh
Face it.
The U.S. has morphed into a facist dictatorship and military bully.
We love democracy…except when we dont!
We love the idea of democracy in iraq, but respect democratically elected governments like Hamas and Chavez? Heheh. We love democracy…except when we dont.
Face it.
Our current government is acting like just another bully seeking world domination and using banana republic dictator tactics to FORCE the rest of the world to bend to us. Or over for us.
Ya gotta ask… how IS that working for us?
Is that who we are? Is that who we want to be.
Had enough?
Don’t ya’ jus luv it when the middle east conflict breaks down to the point of:He started it!Un-Uh, you did!Get a freakin’ clue people.This started before written history!
And good afternoon farmgirl.
“Our current government is acting like just another bully seeking world domination and using banana republic dictator tactics to FORCE the rest of the world to bend to us. Or over for us.”
Specifics kfg?
Maybe we should stay out of all international issues. Maybe just let Iran develop nukes so the nut case there can set ‘em off against Israel? Maybe slip one to terrorists so they can blackmail us.
Until we have less dependence on foreign sources of energy, it is not going to be possible for us to disintangle ourselves. So let’s get started.
Farm girl: I hate to appear stupid, but can’t follow all the acronyms. What is SOTU?
It is confusing, isn’t it?
SOTU = State of the Union
SCOTUS = Supreme Court of the United States
POTUS = President of the United States
Haven’t seen COTUS yet . . . maybe because it’s too much like “coitus,” heh.
And we hate FRENCH words!
(Nevermind that 85 percent of English vocabulary derives from Old French.)
Well, yes and no, Tracy.
I challenge you to find any major region of the world that wasn’t torn by the strife of war for centuries.
England? The Celts over-ran the original inhabitants (the builders of Stonehenge). The Saxon over-ran the Celts. The Danes over-ran the Saxons. The Normans over-ran the Danes.
Europe? Greek against Persian, Roman against Greek, Germans against Romans, Mongals against everybody, Moors against everybody, Franks against Moors etc. etc.
China, ditto.
Japan, ditto.
North and South America, before and after European colonization, ditto.
There can be peace in the Middle East the same as anywhere else. They just have to stop stealing each other’s land and bring in some true democracy.
And the US should be trying to do that instead of helping Israel annihilate its neighbors.
Good afternoon to you too Tracy.
How is your dad?
Well I agree there Joe Camel.I don’t care where in the world the conflict is.If we just play the they started it game, it’s a circular argument.And innocent people die while the argument goes in circles.Dr. Phil:”Do you wanna’ be right, or do you wanna’ be able to live in peace?”
Evidently both sides are more concerned with being right than they are sparing innocent lives.
Girl, he ain’t doing too good.He’s got a sore that became infected, on his ass of course.The goddamn thing has gotten into his bones and it could go either way. Right now he’s going through 40 days of IV antibiotics, and all we can do is wait and wonder.Forgive me, but I quit praying.
Thanks for asking!
Yer welcome Tracy. I have a friend in Ellsworth who had the same exact thing going as your Dad. He finally was cured of it by an accupuncturist from Hutch. No shit. He fought it for over a year, and she finally got it to heal.
Sorry, ’cause I know it is a painful thing too, and hard to keep the body weight off and infection is the biggest fear.
I’m thinking of ya man, and pulling for your dad. I know you already know…
…there are things worse than death.
Like SD, STS, RUBY, LRB, Paul, etc. posting here.
heheeh. Just lightening it up a little….
“If we just play the they started it game, it’s a circular argument.”
I know that argument and that game. If I recall correctly, it ends with a circular firing squad…
Yeah, the shitty blessing is that he can’t feel a thing from his neck down.If anybody still prays, pray for my Mom, she’s there all day every day.
I don’t pray either. But all my hopes Tracy.
Ya sorry Tracy, but I dont pray either.
Sending secular humanist best wishes your way :)
RAMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks guys.Now go check out the salina bit about how nasty and uncaring libs are.IT AIN’T TRUE.IF YOU’RE NICE TO THEM,THEY’RE NICE TO YOU!
awwwwwww, maaaaaaaannnnn,
Do I have to go to the salina blog?
I dont wanna give the poopster any more hits….
waaaaaa…..
OK, see ya there. heheh
Ok, I’m back. Situation normal. Nothing to see there but more meadowlark poop and tracy snark.
And I can get the tracy snark here without wading through meadowlark poop.
Snark on Tracy, but do it here where we know you and love you.
I heart snark!
I can’t even get a rise out of those lame dudes.And to think they want to “moderate” my comments!(Eagle staffers laughing hysterically)
I thought I WAS moderate.
Guess they’ll be the judge of that!
Moderate by salina standards means they wear both a belt AND suspenders.
Makes it really hard to laugh.
I say let’s drink to the humor impaired. They wouldnt enjoy it anyway and we can put the booze to good use!
I thought that was a safety man.
Yeah, a safety man like Justin Wilson? heheh.
My cooking idol….
When he tries to kill pops!
The above was the answer to the headline question.