Venezuela Foreign Minister Responds to U.S. "Worries"

[cal04]

Venezuelan Foreign Relations Minister Ali Rodriguez responded to U.S. government “worries” about Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, expressed by White House spokesman Scott McClellan at a press conference on Tuesday.In response to a question about Venezuela, a topic now frequently mentioned at U.S. officials’ press conferences, McClellan said the U.S. government has “serious concerns.”

Minister Rodriguez responded by saying that many countries around the world have reasons to be concerned whenever the U.S. expresses worries about other countries.“Speaking of worries, I think in the case of the United States, the worry is not only for Venezuelans but for many other countries in the world that have come to know the consequences of such concerns,” Rodriguez told reporters.


Minister Rodriguez highlighted the multiple electoral processes in which President Chavez, officials from parties that support him or his policies submitted for citizen approval through several referenda, have resulted victorious. “If it is related to the Venezuelan opposition movement, the concern of the U.S. surely should be about the people of Venezuela, who have defeated the opposition through nine electoral processes and have given a firm and growing support for President Chavez,” Rodriguez said.

“What U.S. officials should examine is the reasons for that constant support that is ratified every time there is an electoral event in Venezuela. When they do it, they will find that, for the first time in our country, the abundant resources that our country has are being oriented towards solving what constitutes the main enemy of our country, which is poverty,” he added.

more
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1490

[HuckleB]

1. Rodriguez is good.

He sure makes McLellan look like the sap he is. It's hilarious that Chavez has done far less in terms of media regulation than the Bushies, yet the Bushies have "concerns" about Chavez. And what about the Bushies' treatment of the oppositon (Plame, Swift Lies, Electoral Shenanigans Galore, etc...). Isn't there a mirror in the White House?

[davidwparker]

3. Probably. But, the blood suckers can't see themselves.

[Toots]

20. The beam is in their eye

Until they remove that beam from their eye they will not see clearly.

[davidwparker]

2. Good for them. I hope Bush unites the countries of the world

to give us the middle finger. We will certainly pay for the sins committed by this country. Repug greed will be the reason.

[aikido15]

4. I'm moving to Venezuela...

I speak a little Spanish :)

[aikido15]

5. The people of Venezuela started a social revolution and

WON. That's what is needed here, and it is possible, very possible. Look what the 60s social revolution accomplished!

I am ready to take up arms man, I am so tired of the Bushit!

[tinanator]

13. I wonder

look at the death grip centrism has on the Democratic Party, and posters on this board. Common interests like the quality of air water and food dont seem to be on anyones agenda, just the sports team, hollywood celebrity worship that the mainstream mind control information warfare types have substituted for reasoned intellectual adult discussion that took place in this countries media back in the 60's and 70's. The Bush fascist takeover has literally and successfully dumbed down the populace and discussion to the point that a popular revolution may be the furthest thing from any fat, disinformed American's mind. I dont see a popular revolution having much hope (unless it is directed towards our media), but global opposition is a certainty. Who will pay the tab on this nightmare?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

6. That second 'graph is a doozy.

[98geoduck]

7. Chavez Shouldn't worry about *, he WAS Democratically Elected

and Bush said he would support these nations.

[Supersedeas]

25. but what does Condi have to say about democracy in South America?

[Trillo]

8. Is poverty among U.S. citizens managed in order to maintain control of us?

n/t

[burrowowl]

9. Could be,

could be.

[alittlelark]

10. Certainly is

Certainly is.

[Judi Lynn]

11. Something strange at Fox:

Is Fox News Prepping Us for War w/Venezuela?
Venezuela has a lot of oil. We use a lot of oil. Venezuela is our fourth largest supplier of oil. Venezuela's president has a mind of his own. Two days ago, for example, he blasted US imperialism. Are we getting ready to do something bad to Venezuela to (l) teach it a lesson, and (2) get control of its oil?

Fox News is running a special on Venezuela. Is Fox beginning the brainwashing process, laying the ground work for something being planned by the Bush administration? Here is what Fox says in the promos for its special:


Part I (aired Tuesday night):

"Venezuela. A country in turmoil. Now our explosive investigation exposes allegations of political corruption, violence and how the policies of its controversial leader could put it on a collision course with the U.S. It's Part I of Steve Harrigan's series. Tuesday on the Fox Report."

Part II (to air tonight):

"It drives business and fuels our economy. Oil. It's the life-blood of America. But, are we about to be cut off? Venezuela. We expose the truth about its leader. Could Hugo Chavez create a crisis? It's Part II of Steve Harrigan's series. Tonight, on the Fox Report."
(snip/...)

http://www.newshounds.us/2005/02/02/is_fox_news_prepping_us_for_war_wvenezuela.php

[E-Z-B]

14. This should be it's own thread.

I keep thinking there's a chance that all this sabre-rattling with Iran and Syria is just a smokescreen to go into Venezuela and dispose of Chavez. If that happens, it will be an even larger disaster for the U.S. than Iraq is.

[donheld]

23. I think you could very well be right

It's quite frightening really.

On edit: What we may wind up with is all these countries the US keeps rattling sabres at, Iran, Syria, Venezuela etc. may get fed up and start a colition of the willing of their own. They all know we've barely enough troups to take on Iraq. Do we really think we can take on the whole world?

BTW welcome to DU :hi:

[Judi Lynn]

24. Looks as if Hugo Chavez has been expecting something underhanded from Bush

when he started collecting some new weapons, planes, etc. recently.

Remember that _Bush had everyone watching Iraq when they set up Haiti to be invaded by former murderers serving U.S. fiend/puppet Papa Doc Duvalier, who killed as many people as necessary to convince President Aristide he had to leave.

American politics never looked dirtier, and more criminal than now. I hope the rest of the world can gain some organization and put this small bully back in his proper place.

I would also like to welcome you to D.U.

[AP]

16. Jeezus. NPR did a week long series on Voodoo before Aristide was deposed.

NPR, the opiate of the liberal masses, lulled listeners into thinking Haiti was so backward that it needed a coup for a whole week before the coup.

I remember thinking there was something totally fucked up about that report while it was on, but I didn't put the pieces together until the coup.

[CoffeeCat]

17. Yikes...that is revealing and frightening...

I listen to Fox and Rush Limbaugh sometimes because they are a direct window into the White House agenda.

If this is on Fox, it's there for a specific reason. The White House obviously is beginning a propaganda campaign against Venezuela. The crack research team at Fox certainly didn't think this up all by themselves.

It makes sense, really. There is no way we have the resources to go after Iran. Venezuela would be an easier target for the US.

Most Americans know nothing about Venezuela, which leaves U.S. citizens more susceptible to manipulation and propaganda. Because of Iraq, more Americans are knowledgeable about the Middle East. Going after Venezuela would be an easier sell.

I'm sickened by the Fox comment, "Oil. It's the life-blood of America. But are we about to be cut off? Venezuela..." Excuse me, but Venezuela can cut off if they so chose. The country is free to make decisions as it sees fit. Just who in the hell do we think we are? A country doesn't give us goodies, so plot against it. My God.

The U.S is like a spoiled, out-of-control child right now; a tempest in a teapot.

Is the world on its way to a war--against the United States?

[bushisanidiot]

19. Fox "news" will dramatically link Saddam Hussein and Hugo Chavez

suddenly, we'll see Condoleeza Rice in front of the UN with all kinds of pictures and maps of where Saddam hid his WMD in Hugoland.. "do we want to wait for a mushroom cloud?? DO WE?!!!"

ugh.. the freeps will buy it hook line and sinker.

[jmcgowanjm]

12. "We have serious concerns”-Reason-Chavez to sell 8 refineries

Once again the prime reason for this exchange
of words-oil.

Venezuela's Chavez Considers Sale of U.S. Refineries (Update2)

Feb. 2 (Bloomberg)

``Not one Venezuelan works at these refineries,'' Chavez said
in Buenos Aires yesterday, according to
Venezuela's Communication and Information Ministry.
``They don't give us one cent of profit. They don't pay taxes
in Venezuela. This is economic
imperialism.''

Chavez said Jan. 28 that the U.S. is ``robbing'' the country of
tax revenue because of unfair contracts between Petroleos
de Venezuela and Citgo.

Chavez said Citgo's contracts gave the U.S. a discount on
oil prices. Energy and Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez made
similar comments in May 2004. Citgo's contracts
include discounts of as much as $4 a barrel, Ramirez
said. (If this is going on in Venezuela, imagine
what discounts Oils are getting in Iraq and West Africa.)

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000086&sid=aP3vwKnY0rNU&refer=latin_america

You will never, ever hear this on MSM.

[Tempest]

18. Iran is another example

During the Shah's regime in Iran, the U.S. and Britain paid zero taxes, returned zero profits and basically gave nothing to Iran for its oil

They did, however, give lucrative contracts and payoffs to the Shah and his family.


The new leaders of Iraq would be well served studying U.S. history when it comes to dealing with countries with natural resources it wants.

[oasis]

15. Democracy is no good unless the Bushistas force it on you.

[Judi Lynn]

22. True! You may also recall, freep-types started yammering among themselves

before the invasion of Iraq, repeating that quote about freedom or democracy or something needing to be fed occassionally with the blood of patriots, or whatever. (It was so stupid I always disregarded it, but now it looks like they were trying to psych themselves up for a bloodbath, and potential serious human suffering and losses, including American troops!)

Oh, no! I just did a search to locate that phrase, found this:

The Tree of Liberty, Watered With the Blood of Patriots

at this site: http://election.about.com/b/a/110867.htm

There's an odd, idiotic article there. I say idiotic as no normal grown-up could be this stupid:

The Tree of Liberty, Watered With the Blood of Patriots
The first weekend of the Iraq War, I went with three friends for a "girl's weekend" at the coast. But Donna's son Ben was in Kuwait, headed into Iraq, and our weekend was a marathon of watching CNN, praying for the boy I had seen grow up for the past 15 years I had known Donna. The American sacrifice to free Iraq now tops 1000 lives lost and thousands living with wounds. President Bush seemed to tear up during his acceptance speech when talking of their sacrifice and visiting them in hospitals and meeting their families.

Last month I read "I Am a Soldier Too," the Jessica Lynch story. It was a very moving book that dispels the myths about her and her rescue. Jessica Lynch will likely never walk again nor control her bodily functions. Ben made it through his segment of the war, seeing action and returning home intact. Each soldier in Iraq is a Ben, a cherished son or daughter, but thousands are also Jessica.

I have also heard from friends who are Reservists called up to serve in Iraq in medical units. I've heard from them about the booby traps, the heat, and the psychological toll on those serving indefinite rotations. I've heard from them about the gratitude of the vast majority of the Iraqis they encountered. I've heard from them that it was a tough job that they were proud to be a part of, that Iraqi freedom was something they thought worth the fight.

I would not trade Ben's life or Jessica's health for my own freedom, let alone that of another nation. That's why I'm unfit to command. I believe the world is safer with Saddam Hussein out of power, I believe he was a threat, he sponsored terrrorists and suicide bombers, and he was an encouragement to other rogue nations. Our leaders will always have to make these very hard decisions. They will always be attacked for lacking 20/20 hindsight. Is Iraq George W. Bush's "A War Too Far?"
Discuss Iraq
(snip/)

Good lordalmighty.

Has anyone at D.U. heard that Jessica Lynch, whom we've seen on tv lots of times right after she got back, even giving speeches, receiving awards, ect., lost control of her body functions? I don't THINK so.

[FlyByNight]

21. I wonder if the Bushies will implement a "Salvador option"...

upon Venezuela (too)? The Venezuelans should be concerned: from Guatemala to Chile, there are tens (hundreds?) of thousands of reasons to be worried buried all over Central and South America.

And make no mistake, the US government doesn't give a shit who's been democratically elected (except for Iraq of course). Just ask the Guatemalans and Chileans - for starters.

:mad: