Chavez hints US using telecom to spy on him

[Contrite]

http://www.cnn.co.hu/2007/WORLD/americas/01/19/chavez.spying.ap/index.html

RIO DE JANIERO, Brazil (AP) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Friday accused his nation's main telecommunications company of spying on him and suggested it was at the bidding of the United States.

Chavez, addressing 10 South American leaders at a summit of the Mercosur trade bloc, gave no additional details.

The accusation came less than two weeks after Chavez announced he would nationalize CA Nacional Telefonos de Venezuela, known as CANTV.

"Well, I just announced the recovery of the state property of the Venezuelan telephone company," Chavez said. "Who controls it? North American capital. And they've used the Venezuelan telephone company to record the president of the republic. Brother, it's the empire."

Though Chavez referred to "North American capital" as being responsible for using the company to spy, he did not mention the United States by name. But Chavez frequently uses the term "empire" to refer to the U.S. government.

CANTV is Venezuela's largest publicly traded company, and its largest stockholder is New York-based Verizon Communications Inc. CANTV did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the accusation.

Chavez has had tense relations with the United States since he became president eight years ago, and frequently accuses President Bush of trying to overthrow him, allegations that are fiercely denied by American officials.

Brian Penn, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, declined to comment on the accusation about CANTV.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[Darkover]

1. This may not be CANTV's fault

I am willing to bet (if it is true) that the CIA, FBI, DEA, etc... could do this without CANTV even being aware of it.

[Peace Patriot]

2. Lots of sins of omission in this article. Surely CNN has footage of the

Bush Junta welcoming the violent military coup against Chavez and the democratic government of Venezuela (kidnapping of the President, shutdown of the National Assembly and the courts) in 2002. And it's not difficult to track NED/USAID funds (our taxpayers money) poured into the anti-Chavez political opposition in Venezuela (a violation of Venezuelan law), to fund a recall election against him, and to fund the opposition in other elections. CNN says "American officials" "fiercely" deny the accusation, and they just let that damned lie stand. (See "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.")

And these are just the parts that are easily seeable and documented. There is certainly no doubt in my mind that the Bushites are spying on the Chavez government, and plotting against it. They're spying on US, for godssakes! And plotting against us. They are anti-democratic. Their greed for oil and other resources and riches knows no bounds, and they are absolutely unscrupulous in how they pad their pockets and the pockets of their super-rich brethren. They slaughtered 100,000 innocent people in Iraq, in the initial bombing alone, to get their oil. They have watch lists, and no fly lists, and blackmail lists and hit lists. They are using modern technology to purge black voters from voting lists. They are monitoring our library reading habits, our phone calls, and Bush just announced the other day that he is going to ignore the Postal Act and open our mail. The Bush Junta is completely out of control on DOMESTIC spying, let alone on spying on other countries, especially those with oil resources that don't bend to the corporate predators.

I can't wait to see this story on CANTV unfold. The U.S. Embassy in Venezuela is no doubt Grand Central station for fascist spying and plotting in Venezuela.