Chávez in Critical Condition In Cuban Hospital, report

[al bupp]

Source: Ya Libnan (Lebanon)

Hugo Chávez extended stay in a Cuban hospital is because he is in critical condition, according to a report in El Nuevo Herald.

The Venezuelan president, who was last seen in public June 9 and last heard from on June 12, on a phone call with Venezuelan state television, was said to have been treated for a pelvic abscess in Cuba.

During the call Chávez said that medical tests showed no sign of any “malignant” illness.

But according to the report in El Nuevo Herald, Chávez finds himself in “critical condition, not grave, but critical, in a complicated situation.”



Read more: http://www.yalibnan.com/2011/06/26/chavez-in-critical-condition-in-cuban-hospital-report/

[EFerrari]

1. So, the source for this story is US intellgence.

"The Miami newspaper cited U.S. intelligence officials who wished to remain anonymous."

[loudsue]

2. US Intelligence would love to see Chavez gone, and I wouldn't be surprised

if they've got a hand in his illness.

I wish him well.

[EFerrari]

3. Given how many times they killed Fidel in the same way

I expect Chavez to make a full recovery.

[Pryderi]

4. President Obama seems pretty efficient at taking people out. n/t

[EFerrari]

7. Well, he is a war president. n/t

[Eljo_Don]

52. with a prize

A Nobel Peace Prize.

[boppers]

11. I LOL'ed.

Yeah, we "killed" Fidel alright.

[IScreamSundays]

30. I expect that Chavez will meet death

They finally got him.

[al bupp]

6. Not just U.S. intelligence is cited

Cuba’s state media website, Cubadebate, released photos on June 17 that showed Chávez posing with Fidel and Raul Castro in his hospital room. Chávez smiled for the camera in a track suit, while a frail-looking Fidel clutched Chávez arm.

[EFerrari]

9. Not a source for his so called critical conditon, is it?

Unless people in critical condition now pose for pix in Cuba?

[al bupp]

15. No, not necessarily, ma'am, but it is confirmation

that he traveled to Cuba for some medical treatment, as the pix were taken not just anywhere, but in his hospital room. Would he go all the way to Cuba for just a routine proceedure? Chavez' own brother, the article reports, told Venezualan state TV that he will not return for 10-12 days, also implying it's not just a simple medical holiday.

[EFerrari]

17. That he had surgery in Cuba is not at issue. n/t

[harmonicon]

18. That part is old news, along with the picture.

I imagine he traveled to Cuba because they have some of the best medical care in the world. Maybe a specialist at treating his illness works at a hospital there.

[daa]

88. The WSJ (Murdock) today said had an article

that Chavez might be doing this himself because he is so unpopular back home so after a month in Cuba he could return triumphant.

[Judi Lynn]

89. They should have compared notes with the Miami Herald, who wrote this as the last line

in its Sunday article:

Despite numerous domestic problems ranging from soaring inflation to widespread crime, Chávez remains Venezuela’s most popular politician and he has vowed to win re-election next year.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/26/2286078_p2/chavezs-brother-talks-of-armed.html#ixzz1QVOmu4VF

[naaman fletcher]

132. Looks like US intelligence was right. nt.

[Rageneau]

5. The Freepers claim he's already dead.

[Chan790]

8. Freeps claim a lot of things...

that could only be described as wishful thinking on their part.

[EFerrari]

10. Their thread was pulled earlier. Is it back up?

[Travelman]

12. WikiLeaks says he's dead

http://twitter.com/#!/wikileaksar

WikiLeaks Argentina feed. No confirmation anywhere else that I can find, though. Treat this as rumor until otherwise confirmed.

[EFerrari]

13. That's someone in Argentina, not Julian. n/t

[Travelman]

14. Well, Assange is not the whole of WikiLeaks...

But the lack of sourcing and confirmation is precisely why I said treat this as rumor until it is actually confirmed. Or not. One or the other will be the case.

[EFerrari]

16. Sure. But if there was a leak, it would have to be vetted

internally and there is no indication that it has been. I can open an account WikileaksSanJose and post anything I want.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Judi Lynn]

32. Never will forget when El Nuevo rigged a photo of Havana, using two different photos,

to make it appear the Havana Police stand and look on passively while jineteros ply their trade right in front of them, to make prostitution appear government-approved. Apparently anything goes if you're a radical reactionary right-wing publication in Miami. I believe that was during the time the Herald was controlled by the Cuban-"exile" publisher, during _Bush's pResidency.

From Friday:

Venezuela's Chavez breaks silence with tweets
By Shasta Darlington, CNN
June 24, 2011 -- Updated 1719 GMT (0119 HKT)

Havana (CNN) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez broke a 12-day silence on Friday, sending messages via his Twitter account while recovering from surgery in Cuba.

In a series of four tweets, Chavez sent encouraging words to his "soldiers and beloved people" but did not mention the state of his health nor his prolonged absence, which has sparked speculation at home.

Chavez underwent an emergency operation for a pelvic abscess on June 10 during a visit to Cuba, Venezuelan officials said. Two days later, he called Telesur TV explaining that he needed the treatment but was still at the helm.

That was the last Venezuelans had heard from their leader, who has appeared in only one series of photographs after Fidel and Raul Castro visited his sickbed, at an undisclosed location in Havana.

More:
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/06/24/cuba.chavez.tweets/index.html

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[center rising]

20. I'm not going to lose any sleep if Chavez croaks!!

[The Doctor.]

23. Why's that?

He's been very good for Venezuela. (I'm sure you can find it on a map, of course.)

Even the multinationals have had trouble with him.

So... can you be specific about why you're so keen to see a democratically elected leader die?

[Ter]

58. He said he won't lose sleep if he croaks

He didn't say he's keen to see him die. A bit of a difference I suppose.

[DissedByBush]

60. Wanna-be dictator cut down in his prime

He won't get to rule a country with an iron fist for decades like Castro did.

A sad day for totalitarianism in South America.

[The Doctor.]

70. Ah, drinking the M$M kool-aid I see.

He ain't the nicest guy on Earth, but he's a far cry better for Venezuela than anyone in recent memory. The reason you are possessed of the idea that he's an 'iron fisted dictator' is because the multi-national corporations don't like him. So they have the media tell you what a 'bad guy' he is.

Anyone hated by corporations, the Bush administration, and the CIA can't be all bad.

Don't believe everything you hear from the corporate media. If you haven't figured it out yet; they don't care about you or the truth.

[EFerrari]

72. Not only Venezuela.

Years ago a friend of mine who is an expert on the region said, while BushCo was obsessed with the Middle East, they lost their grip on Latin America.

And that is true to an extent. Their reach there has been vastly diminished due, in large part, to Chavez mobilizing regional leaders for regional sovereignty. Of course they hate him. He's a mixed race, blunt, former army colonel from no oligarchy and with no ties to US institutions.

[defendandprotect]

118. +1 --

[DissedByBush]

82. Can' be all bad

"Anyone hated by corporations, the Bush administration, and the CIA can't be all bad."

Hmmm, Mahmoud "We have no gays in our country " Ahmadinejad.

Just because they don't like them doesn't mean there isn't anything still worth liking.

Any president who would ask for and accept the power to rule by decree is instantly an enemy of democracy, a wanna-be dictator in my book.

[The Doctor.]

83. You've had plenty of opportunity to learn something in this thread.

Chavez was democratically elected. He has been good for the people of Venezuela. He is not a religious fundamentalist like Ahmadinajad.

That you would try to equate the two demonstrates a fundamental ignorance of the very diverse cultures and systems.

Your 'book' has very few pages, apparently.

[DissedByBush]

91. Hitler was democratically elected

Rather, his party was, with the knowledge that he would be in power (it was a parliamentary system).

Being elected is meaningless.

You know, China has elections every year, so did the USSR.

"That you would try to equate the two demonstrates a"

A rational realization that just because the CIA and corporations hate him doesn't make him a good person, which was the point of the post.

[The Doctor.]

96. What's with the reading incomprehension? Is it on purpose?

Given how often I've seen it, I'm pretty sure it is.

"just because the CIA and corporations hate him doesn't make him a good person"

When or where did I say otherwise?

That's the problem with trying to create strawmen... you have to dig your way out of your own haymaking before you can be taken seriously again.

Try again. This time, with a little acuity please.

Or just go away. That would be fine too.

[DissedByBush]

97. The quote

"Anyone hated by corporations, the Bush administration, and the CIA can't be all bad."

No, he can still be pretty damn bad even if the corporations, Bush administration and CIA hate him.

The president of Iran was just a perfect example of how you were wrong.

[The Doctor.]

113. Keep digging.

So now Chavez is as bad as Amadinejad?

If corporations care enough to hate Amahdinejad, you may have found an exception to the rule. Funny how hard you're trying. The saying was meant to convey that he is good for Venezuela despite what those entities want to believe.

Why do you side with them in this case?

[defendandprotect]

119. Corps, Bush adminin and CIA are "all that bad" -- !! Let's keep that in mind -- !!

[sabrina 1]

102. No, that's not the only thing that makes him a good person.

That would be all that he has done for his own people, using Venezuela's resources for THEM rather than hand them over to the corrupt Global Corps, which is why they hate him, that's not hard to figure out.



So a rational person would simply do some research on their own instead of falling for the paid-for and deliberate misinformation spread by his enemies in the Western Press (see released Wikileaks cables for further verification). What you have stated here is word for word propaganda that has grown so jaded my suggestion would be that those paying for it, should try to come up with some new material (perhaps you didn't know how much is spent to try to diminsh Chavez' popularity around the world?) You should be very careful with you read about Latin America in the western press.

[DissedByBush]

111. The truth about a person

Is always called "propaganda" by the true believers.

He could be ripping the heads off kittens and eating them raw, and his supporters would find a way to rationalize it, most likely claiming it was a conspiracy.

[The Doctor.]

116. You don't listen very well...

or, at all.

You've pretty much revealed that you aren't interested in the facts here.

So what are you doing in a reality-based community?

More importantly; What do you have against the delicacy of a nice raw kitten once in a while?

[defendandprotect]

120. +1 --

[rabs]

84. Well, here's another "wanna-be dictator" for you

None other than hil/obama's best pal in the region. President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia.

The photo shows him signing a package of THIRTY SEVEN emergency decrees that have the force of law. This happened in January of this year. Some of the decrees gave Santos the power to make significant social and economic changes, bypassing the national Congress.

I could tell you the why and the circumstances but best if you do your own homework.

[Judi Lynn]

95. So glad to see your post! Sure glad you read the Spanish language papers.

You have to ask yourself why our corporate media didn't chew the scenery over these 37 Santos decrees the way they did for each of the last 2 or three the National Assembly gave to Hugo Chavez! It's not as if they're dishonest, is it? Oh, no way.

They didn't utter a peep, either, when Peru's Two Breakfasts Garcia had his decrees, or Lula, either, and they didn't feel they wanted to bother anyone with the information Two breakfasts closed down multiple tv and radio stations, etc. in Peru, either. Mum's the word for that US-loving suck-up/mass murdering idiot.

Delighted to learn about Santos' package of decrees done last January. Your information is so damned helpful. Thank you.

[ChangoLoa]

101. What are you talking about?

You're confusing the number of decrees (37 decrees by Santos) with the number of authorizations to rule by decree, given by the Assembly to Chavez (4 times in 12 years for a total period of around 50 months).

Before the 2011 authorization, Chavez had already passed 160 decrees.

That last authorization to rule by decree for 18 months was justified by the floods. The main source of criticism came from the fact that the deputies who gave Chavez those 18 months had only one week left in their mandate.

[Bacchus39]

103. thanks, its good to hear from someone who knows about Venezuela for a change n/t

s

[Name removed]

98. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[defendandprotect]

121. +1000% ---

but ..

"You can't wake up a man pretending to be asleep" --


:)

[sabrina 1]

100. You are repeating mis-information which has been corrected

here many times. How do you feel about US presidents ruliing by decree? How do you feel about Obama ordering the violations of other countries' sovereignty to go in and assassinate, even US citizens and to start wars without Congressional Approval??

Seems like Chavez used his powers to do good for OWN people. If only our presidents would do that. He got those powers to use after a major disaster in his country. Can you please explain what is objectionable about that especially since that is how he used them?

I don't think anyone in the US has the moral authority to criticize this democratically elected and still extremely popular president in Venezuela.

He wouldn't give us his country's oil. That's the only reason these lies are spread and it's a shame to see anyone falling for them.

[ChangoLoa]

104. In Venezuela, you only need to rule by decree if you want to change the core of the Constitution

You don't need to rule by decree to deal with floods or to construct more social housing.

Most of the laws he's passed concern the army, the military education and the paramilitary corps (popular militias). Now please tell me how is that related to deal with the floods and the 39 dead people they left.

[sabrina 1]

106. And in the US you only need to rule by decree when you

find the Constitution too restrictive for your goals, such as bombing foreign nations and killing people in foreign countries. Has Chavez ever done anything like that btw??

Do you remember Katrina? How many died here because the US military and our leaders had zero interest in saving that city and were busy destroying other countries at the time?

Personally I would like more of what Chavez is doing for his own country and less of what we have here. Over one thousand poor people in NOLA might still be alive.

So, what is your point?

[ChangoLoa]

112. My point is

that it is a complete nonsense to say that Chavez needed to rule by decree for 18 months because of the floods, as you did. Especially when we notice that all but one of the laws he's passed concern the armed forces and the civilian militias.

Ahora si entendiste?

[defendandprotect]

122. Oh, perhaps you should look at our own MIC ... "Operation Northwoods" and Nixon's "Huston Plan" ..

which was based on Operation Northwoods --

Huston Plan was intended to be used to stop the 1972 elections -- based in every

way on the false flag program outliend in Operation Northwoods --


The rightwing has been working on overturning the Constitution and found many

ways of doing it --

In fact, during the Reagan administration, Ollie North was in charge of that project!

[trud]

87. DissedByBush

Maybe you can explain why Castro is worse than US-backed Batista.

[DissedByBush]

90. Same thing

Just with a "people's" label on him to make him the darling of the ill-informed.

[The Doctor.]

117. And yet you bring no information, unlike so many here who have.

I'm prevented from some things, but I'll say this;

It's clear you are not interested in testing information or performing discovery. So what is your purpose here?

[sabrina 1]

99. Why would that be? I think it would be a tragedy, not just

for Venezuela, but for all of Latin America where he is extremely popular and has been a huge influence over the freeing of Laten America from the strangle-hold of Global Capitalism.

I know the corrupt Global Capitalists who destroyed the economies of countries around the world would be happy to be rid of someone who demonstrated that third and seconde world countries do not need their disastrous interference, but everyone else around the world has the utmost respect for him.

And of course the Freepers would cheer because they've been indoctrinated to hate him since their hero Bush tried to depose him.

But to progressives everywhere, he is a most respected Latin American leader.

[The Doctor.]

21. I didn't know abscesses were often entirely composed of lead.

Or other stuff.

The source is Lebanese though... so hard to know from this exactly what's up.

[EFerrari]

22. The source is El Nuevo Herald reposted.

And the source for that story is US Intel.

[The Doctor.]

24. Ah, thank you much.

It seems that some folks are getting desperate. I hope he survives that desperation.

[EFerrari]

27. He may well be in bad shape but, imo there's no tellng

from this material.

[DonCoquixote]

25. if the bbc or guardian starts reporting it

or al jazeera, then we know somethign went down.

I hope someone is not trying to have a trophy

[rabs]

28. Well, you can go to the official Venezuelan news agency

to learn that Vice President Elías Jaua today (Saturday) said "there is Chavez for some time"

Caracas, 25 Jun. AVN .- El vicepresidente de la República, Elías Jaua, le recordó este sábado a la derecha nacional e internacional que el presidente Hugo Chávez se recupera satisfactoriamente de la intervención quirúrgica, tras sufrir un absceso pélvico, para seguir la batalla por la independencia definitiva de Venezuela. “Ahora es que queda Chávez para rato”, expresó.

“Anda la derecha nacional e internacional enloquecida, frotándose las manos (...) incluso hablando de la muerte del Presidente. Andan como en el 11 de abril de 2002. Nosotros les recordamos desde aquí que todo 11 tiene un 13 de abril y que hay Chávez para rato”, expresó Jaua, durante el lanzamiento oficial de la versión digital del archivo del Generalísimo Francisco de Miranda.

My translation:

Vice President Elías Jaua this Saturday reminded the national and international rightwing that President Hugo Chavez is recuperating satisfactorily from his operation ... to continue the struggle for the definitive independence of Venezuela. " .. there is Chavez for some time still."

"The national and international rightwing are crazed, rubbing their hands ... including talking about the death of the president. They are like on April 11, 2002. We remind them that all llths have a 13th of April and that there is Chavez for some time ..."

----------------
(April 11, 2002 is the date Chavez was ousted by a rightwing coup; April 13 is when the Venezuelan people forced the golpistas out and Chavez was reinstated to the presidency.

Spanish

http://www.avn.info.ve/node/64425

[EFerrari]

29. He's right.

Twitter has a whole sewer overflowing with RW glee right now.

[rabs]

31. Que dicen? n/t

[EFerrari]

33. That they're happy, that his critical condition is good news.

One guy that claims to be an MD said Chavez flew to Cuba because the Ven medical infrastructure is crumblng. RWers are telling people to pray he dies. It's ug-lee.

[Judi Lynn]

36. They couldn't be bothered to read the news enough to know he was on a trip

to meet leaders in several countries and was in Cuba when he had to be taken to the hospital. Instead, they fantasize he took a plane to Cuba to get surgery, instead. Sad, isn't it?

I've also heard that crap about surgery in Cuba because the Venezuelan stuff is a wreck. So damned stupid, isn't it?

Praying for leftists to die. That's about par for these scum buckets.

[EFerrari]

37. I told the guy that if he recommended acute abdominal pain

fly home for a diagnosis, he must not be much of a doctor. lol

It's an explosion of right wing Christian family values, for sure.

[Rosa Menti]

48. Populist leaders

are always targeted by the extremists on the right. I hope Presidente Chavez lives for many decades more so that he and his people can alter the crooked course of Venezuelan history. Estamos pensando en ti, Hugo. Besos y abrazos y buena suerte!

[defendandprotect]

123. +1 --

[sabrina 1]

109. Rightwingers always hated Chavez and have been praying for

his death for years. Mindless morons, some things never change.

But then some things do, and one of them is the sudden appearance of progressives who share the views of the far right on Latin America. I can't pin point when that started, but it certainly wasn't the case during most of the Bush admin, or at least it seems to me since around 2005.

Propaganda works, there's no question about it.

I hope he gets well and returns soon to his beloved Venezuela. It would be a sad thing if anything happened to him, he has been driving force in Latin America to keep that region of the world free from Western influence.

[DonCoquixote]

34. point made, but

Venezuela might not be the first to report an honest answer, for the same reason i would not expect the NYT to be the first to report the obama was dead, it would cause chaos..like i said, I will consider it serious if the BBC says it, or al-jazeera.

[rabs]

38. July 5 will be the key date

A summit of Latin American and Caribbean leaders is scheduled on Venezuela's Margarita Island on July 5-6.

The leaders will be gathering to inaugurate CELAC, an alternative to the OAS. The United States and Canada are left out in the cold.

If Chavez does not appear, then his illness indeed could be more serious.

CELAC in English = Community of Latin American and Carribean States

[trud]

44. rabs

An abdominal operation is no ride in the park. Particularly when there's a lot of infection. I would not necessarily expect him to show up at CELAC.

[rabs]

68. CELAC and July 5th

Chavez is to be the host to 33 hemisphere leaders on Margarita Island on July 5/6. (U.S. and Canada not invited.)

Forgot to mention last night that July 5th is also the 200th anniversary of Venezuela's independence from Spain.

So it is a very important date for Chavez to keep. If he does not :shrug:

I expect that he will show up. It could be that the swirl of rumors such as those in the rightwing El Nuevo Herald of Miami will backfire big time when Chavez appears in triumph at Margarita.

About the pelvic abscess, perhaps you read that in early May, Chavez blew out a knee while out jogging the morning he was to begin a trip to Brazil, Ecuador and Cuba. His doctors ordered him to stay off his feet.

Three weeks later, Chavez went ahead with the trip. He went to Brasilia, Quito and La Habana. It was in Cuba that he was rushed into surgery.

I have been wondering whether the knee injury was the cause of the pelvic abscess.

[Judi Lynn]

35. Excellent! Thanks for the good news. n/t

[Citizen Worker]

26. It's after 2200 hours, do we know where all of our CIA (Capitalism's Invisible Army) agents are?

[jwirr]

63. Maybe Papa booosh knows.

[juxtaposed]

39. I hope he's OK and can be back to work soon

[trud]

40. photo

There was a photo of him talking to Castro who visited him in the hospital a few days ago. Both looked pretty darn good. I certainly hope he survives.

[rabs]

41. Photo from June 23 (this past Thursday)

Published by al Jazeeera




Certainly does not look like either is at death's door.

[EFerrari]

42. The person who claims to be Wikileaks Argentina

is now tweeting that he died this morning of a heart attack. Nothing from vetted WL, of course. Looks like a way to undermine both Chavez and Wikileaks.

@WikileaksAR Wikileaks Argentina
Argentinean Embassy Cable: Confirmed - ALERT!! Hugo Chavez died of heart attack today in Cuba. 06/25/11 08:43AM 0438VZ/11
25 Jun 11 via Twitter for iPhone

http://twitter.com/#!/WikileaksAR/status/84856262281535488

[Garbo 2004]

47. The wikileaks twitter acct (not AR) itself is now asking why this rumor is being spread.

@wikileaks WikiLeaks
@WikileaksAR is not associated with WikiLeaks. It has been used to spread the rumor that Chavez has died in Cuba. Why?

https://twitter.com/#!/wikileaks/status/84929121280471040

[EFerrari]

53. Good. Thanks, Garbo.

[Auntie Bush]

49. But Chavez looks a lot better than Castro.

Looks like Castro is bed ridden and he's looking his best for special company. Actually Chavez looks pretty healthy...but when was this picture really taken? Probably before his operation.

[sweetapogee]

92. not to make too much of this

looking at the photo in post by rabs I have a few concerns. First, under Hugo's left arm is a shadow on the wall, which looks correct except there isn't one for his head or any shadow against the dresser. The arm shadow on the wall argues for a light source above and to the right side of the President. Also, you can see a railing behind the window curtain in the background but Hugo's arm shadow is against a flat wall, nothing against the curtain. The natural lighting in the room is able to overcome the interior lighting to allow a shadow against the wall? Castro doesn't have any shadow for his left hand or body, Hugo doesn't have one at all for his head. There is a reflection in the TV screen, you can see a hospital bed table (the actual table is at the back of Castro's head but missing is the bed and or the photographer or anyone else in the room or any hint of Castro. I cannot figure out what the shadow which would be above the window sill is. Everything in the photo is in clear focus except the top of Castro's chair and left hand. Why we can't see Fidel's face is a mystery. Finally, there is no evidence of a IV lock on either of Hugos's hands, strange for a person in a hospital setting with an LQ ab infection. Just saying.

[Judi Lynn]

93. There have been other photos from that day published, as well. n/t

[rabs]

94. More photos taken the same day (Friday 17 June)

I really don't know what to say about your observations, but not being a professional photographer, the pix don't look photoshopped to my untrained eye.


Overhead light looks to be above and to the rear of Raul.




Overhead light reflected on floor behind Raul's right knee.

What does LQ stand for?

Could IV locks be under Hugo's jacket on his arms and not his hands?

[trud]

130. IV lock

When I was in the hospital twice recently, they did the "permanent" thing on my arm, not my hand. Up near the inner bend by the elbow. So his jacket could well be covering it.

[trud]

129. there is a shadow on the dresser

[melm00se]

45. it's probably

a post op infection. he went in for an abscess, they drained/removed it but may have missed some of it and it has spread.

anaerobic infections are tough to knock out but can be done but you are sick as hell while it's going on.

[Judi Lynn]

46. Venezuela dismisses Chavez illness rumours

Venezuela dismisses Chavez illness rumours
Vice-president says country's leader is "recuperating to continue the battle" after undergoing surgery in Cuba.
Last Modified: 26 Jun 2011 08:53

Venezuela's vice-president has rejected suggestions that President Hugo Chavez is gravely ill, two weeks after he underwent emergency surgery in Cuba.

Elias Jaua said on Saturday that Chavez was "recuperating to continue the battle" and would soon be ready to counter his political opponents and media speculation.

"The national and international press are rubbing their hands and rejoicing about the state of the president's health", Jaua said.

"They (the opposition) know they cannot win the elections against our commander, Hugo Chavez, so they are always waiting for a situation like this to try to overtake us".

Chavez has been in Cuba since June 8, when he arrived there on the final leg of a trip that also included Brazil and Ecuador. He was rushed into emergency surgery after suffering sharp pain diagnosed as a pelvic abscess that required immediate surgery.

More:
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/06/201162672041669911.html

[chrisa]

50. Dearest Chavez,

While I hope for your good health, you are still a major tool.

[Corruption Winz]

51. Maybe he was right about George W. Bush being the devil...

and now, he feels the wrath.

[John Paul Jones]

54. Could it be that this dictator's time is coming to an end...?

[EFerrari]

56. What dictator are you talking about?

Hugo Chavez is the democratically elected president of the republic of Venezuela.

[John Paul Jones]

61. Yeah...and Kim Jong-il is the democratically elected president of the People's Republic of Korea.

I wish them both...not so well.

[EFerrari]

62. Venezuela's elections are cleaner than ours, which the Carter Center said

it would be unable to monitor because unlike Venezuela, we do no meet international standards.

[Name removed]

64. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[COLGATE4]

66. None so blind as those who will not see...

[EFerrari]

67. Carter on the problems of US elections:

The Carter Center has monitored more than 50 elections, all of them held under contentious, troubled or dangerous conditions. When I describe these activities, either in the United States or in foreign forums, the almost inevitable questions are: "Why don't you observe the election in Florida?" and "How do you explain the serious problems with elections there?"

The answer to the first question is that we can monitor only about five elections each year, and meeting crucial needs in other nations is our top priority. (Our most recent ones were in Venezuela and Indonesia, and the next will be in Mozambique.) A partial answer to the other question is that some basic international requirements for a fair election are missing in Florida.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52800-2004Sep26.html

Carter that same year on the Venezuelan vote:

updated 8/16/2004 7:15:11 PM ET
CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez survived a referendum to oust him, according to results Monday, and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and other election observers urged the opposition to accept the vote, deflating claims of fraud.

The victory stunned opposition figures who have fought for years to oust Chavez and will likely give him an even broader mandate for his “revolution for the poor.” Chavez is seen as a hero by Venezuela’s majority poor but as an authoritarian by his critics, particularly among the wealthy.

Though the opposition swiftly rejected the results, saying they were fraudulent, Carter and the head of the Organization of American States, who led observer teams, said the voting appeared clean.

Carter said the partial results announced Monday morning by election officials showing a wide margin of victory for Chavez “coincided” with his own team’s findings.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5710814/

Venezuela does not have vapor voting as we do. They have verifiable elections that are monitored AND audited.

[The Doctor.]

71. Stick around, you might actually learn something.

:hi:

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

134. Too late. nt

[Kurovski]

73. JPJ, next time read up on a topic before calling someone crazy via emoticon.

President Carter has indeed stated that our elections are impossible to moniter. But I'd think such a shocking reality would have remained in your memory when it was reported in many different outlets.

[The Doctor.]

114. Whatta shame... only made it to 126. Could have learned so much. n/t

[bitchkitty]

76. Sigh....

You are tireless, my friend. I gave up on trying to penetrate the thick skulls of the Chavez haters a long time ago. They are impervious to facts.

[SkyDaddy7]

69. Maybe...I could care less...

Chavez may have done a few good things but he has also done really nasty things as well. It sure seems like he wants to rule until he dies & he might just do it!

[Kurovski]

74. Well, one bad thing he has done is not turn his nation's resources over toAmerican interests.

There's always a price to pay for that kind of misbehaviour.

[go west young man]

55. Chavez has been good for Venezuela.

From Wikipedia: The economist Mark Weisbrot, in an analysis of the Chávez administration, said: "The current economic expansion began when the government got control over the national oil company in the first quarter of 2003. Since then, real (inflationadjusted) GDP has nearly doubled, growing by 94.7 percent in 5.25 years, or 13.5 percent annually."<206> For the year 2009, the Venezuelan economy shrank by an average of 2.9% due to the global recession.<207> Chávez has stated that the Venezuelan economy will most likely continue shrinking throughout 2010, citing both the IMF and World Bank. Chávez sees the economic crisis as "an opportunity for socialism to spread and take root ..".<208> According to Ian James, citing estimates from the Venezuelan Central Bank, the Venezuelan government "controls" the same percentage of the economy as when Chávez was elected in 1998, with "the private sector still control two-thirds of Venezuela's economy".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Chávez

Since Chávez was elected in 1998, over 100,000 worker-owned cooperatives—representing approximately 1.5 million people—have been formed with the assistance of government start-up credit and technical training;<210> and the creation and maintenance, as of September 2010, of over 30,000 communal councils, examples of localised participatory democracy; which he intended to be integration into regional umbrella organizations known as "Communes in Construction".<211> In 2010, Chávez supported the construction of 184 communes, housing thousands of families, with $23 million in government funding. The communes produce some of their own food, and are able to make decisions by popular assembly of what to do with government funds.<212> In September 2010, Chávez announced the location of 876 million bolivars ($203 million) for community projects around the country, specifically communal councils and the newly formed communes. Chávez also criticised the bureaucracy still common in Venezuela saying, when in discussion with his Communes Minister Isis Ochoa, that "All of the projects must be carried out by the commune, not the bureaucracy." The Ministry for Communes, which oversees and funds all communal projects, was initiated in 2009.<211>
Chávez has also supported the creation of a series of Bolivarian Missions aimed at providing public services to improve economic, cultural, and social conditions. A 2010 OAS report<213> indicated achievements in addressing illiteracy, healthcare and poverty,<214> and economic and social advances.<215>
Barry Cannon writes that "most areas of spending have increased".<216> "pending on education as a percentage of GDP stood at 5.1% in 2006, as opposed to 3.4% in the last year of the Caldera government."<216> Spending on health "has increased from 1.6% of GDP in 2000 to 7.71% in 2006".<216> Spending on housing "receives low public support", increasing only "from 1% in GDP to 1.6% in 2006".<216> Teresa A. Meade, writes that Chávez's popularity "rests squarely on the lower classes who have benefited from these health initiatives and similar policies <...> poverty rates fell from 42 to 34 percent from 2000 to 2006, still leaving over 30 percent in this oil-rich nation below the poverty line".<217>
The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) reports that the Venezuelan economy grew on average by 11.85% in the period 2004–2007.<218> According to The Washington Post, citing statistics from the United Nations, poverty in Venezuela stood at 28% in 2008,<219> down from 55.44% in 1998 before Chávez got into office.<220> Economist Mark Weisbrot found that, "During the ... economic expansion, the poverty rate cut by more than half, from 54 percent of households in the first half of 2003 to 26 percent at the end of 2008. Extreme poverty has fallen even more, by 72 percent. These poverty rates measure only cash income, and does take into account increased access to health care or education."<206><221>

The numbers speak for themselves. I know most Americans will never trust any leftist leader. But conditions have improved for the Venezuelan people.
The American media had the same problem with Putin in Russia. They both booted the U.S. oil companies out and started putting that money back into their own countries. Hence the American shitstorm against them.
At the end of the day the majority of people in both countries are better off without the Americans.

[Bosonic]

57. His verified twitter account is active in last 24 hrs

http://twitter.com/#!/chavezcandanga

Obviously not proof of life, but at least someone with access to the account is proceeding as if the situation is normal (last tweet about visit from grandchildren).

[joshcryer]

59. Confirming the part of the story that the relatives visited, at least.

When the story broke they were the only ones reporting it.

[EFerrari]

65. There is some kind of campaign mounted to create a disturbance.

There were too many people tweeting bad information last night and barely anyone raising the obvious questions.

It was interesting in a way to read those retweets. A good number of them appeared to come from accounts that are used for obscure small businesses -- cosmetics, travel agents, tabacco products, that kind of thing, not businesses that have any kind of interest in Venezuela. I was wondering if there isn't a way for these small business owners to be compensated for RTing.

[Judi Lynn]

75. Venezuela tells foes "stop dreaming" of Chavez death

Venezuela tells foes "stop dreaming" of Chavez death
Daniel Wallis, Reuters
June 27, 2011, 3:57 am

CARACAS (Reuters) - Senior allies of Venezuela's socialist President Hugo Chavez have dismissed reports he is sicker than the government has admitted, telling his enemies to "stop dreaming" of his death.

The normally verbose leader has not been seen in public since a June 10 operation in Cuba to remove a pelvic swelling. His long absence has prompted widespread speculation he may be seriously ill, possibly being treated for prostate cancer.

His government insists Chavez is fine but says he won't return to Venezuela until he is ready. And it has accused his opponents of "rubbing their hands together" in glee.

"President Chavez is recovering well from his surgery. His enemies should stop dreaming and his friends should stop worrying," Vice Foreign Minister Temir Porras said on the social networking site Twitter late on Saturday.

"The only thing that has metastasized is the cancer of the Miami Herald and the rest of the right-wing press."

More:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/world/9711936/venezuela-tells-foes-stop-dreaming-of-chavez-death/

[unkachuck]

77. I wish Hugo....

....a full and speedy recovery....anyone who could mock, irritated and frustrate our former chimp-president, can't be all bad....

[MellowDem]

78. This will be a good opportunity...

Maybe Castro can give Chavez advice on how to stay President for life and keep it all in the family. Also how to set up a good healthcare system.

[Judi Lynn]

79. If you had bothered to read the news, you would have known Cuba was 3rd on his trip,

having gone already to Brazil, and Ecuador before he stopped there, and was taken to the hospital when he grew ill.

Why make up your own story, and ignore the facts?

[MellowDem]

80. The first source I read...

said he went to Cuba for an operation. I do find the talk back in Venezuela from his brother to be amusing.

[Judi Lynn]

81. Latin America news watchers knew weeks ago he was going to Brazil, Ecuador, and Cuba.

It had been publicized well in advance.

[rabs]

85. President of the National Assembly (Congress) denied Chavez is suffering from cancer

Story in today's El Universal, fierce opposition newspaper in Caracas.

Assembly President Fernando Soto Rojas said Chavez would be back by July 5, the bicentennial of Venezuela's independence from Spain.

Story, Spanish

http://www.eluniversal.com/2011/06/26/desmienten-que-el-presidente-chavez-padezca-cancer.shtml

[Judi Lynn]

86. This is going to ruin their day at El Universal. Thanks for this article. n/t

[fascisthunter]

105. oooopsie

for our conservos... awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[hack89]

108. Because we know politicians never lie! nt

[Bacchus39]

135. when in fact he actually was n/t

s

[JackRiddler]

107. Imperialists and oligarchs try to kill Chavez with wishful thinking, media reports their rumors

without substantiation, bogus "succession crisis" is called in attempt to destabilize Venezuelan democracy.

Pretty disgusting display. Imagine any other democratic leader hospitalized, would the media be baying like this to suggest a "succession crisis"?

The VZ constitution like any others has provisions for succession in the case of the president's incapacitation. The government there is the one elected by the majority several times in free and clean elections as certified by international observers.

Next?

[Dover]

110. Well it's "THEIR" media... Surely we've learned that much.

They've been after him and his country's assets for years. And they can't afford to have him leading the other countries south of the border to a new type of socialism...

I noticed when they first tried to take Chavez out several years ago that all the major U.S. papers were reporting the very same story, same tone, same 'facts', even the same phrases, etc. all on the same day as if conducted like an orchestra. That's when I knew for certain the media was 'owned'.
No dissenting voices to be heard in all the land.

Edit: On second thought, the very first time I realized just how thoroughly the U.S. media was owned was when I happened to be in Europe during the first Gulf War and was able to learn about
the incident from foreign papers from every conceivable angle. So comprehensive and a thorough education on all aspects of the various countries, their history and current positons. But when I returned home there was only one voice in the coverage and only t.v. coverage of 'surgical strikes' and our new war toys.
The 'clean and precise high tech and apparently bloodless war' as seen from the safe vantage of the person miles away pushing buttons. It was nearly impossible to find ANY other perspectives.

[Ignis]

115. +1, well said.

[joshcryer]

125. Wow, I wasn't aware media reports alone could kill someone.

Fantastic logic!

The fucking "succession crisis" stuff was started by Chavez's brothers speculation.

[JackRiddler]

126. Prayers alone can't kill, but still the imperialists are praying, in public, for Chavez's death.

So you don't need to tell me that wishing him dead isn't going to affect him, one way or another. It's the US corporate and VZ oligarch media organs you should be informing.

The attempt to use Chavez's health as a means for destabilizing Venezuelan democracy is also unlikely to work, although unfortunately it has better chances of making a difference.

It is in this context that I understand his brother's comment: That Venezuelans should be ready to fight for their freedom and independence, in case the oligarchs and the CIA use Chavez's health crisis to make another attempt to impose a Pinochet solution on the vexing problem of Venezuelan democracy.

But that's all so obvious, it hardly need be said to an expert like you. If you're not getting it, or "not getting it," I'm sure it's because you know which team you're rooting for: Anarchists for Imperialism!

[joshcryer]

127. Authoritarian Trotskyites love power, and I doubt a little bit of media whoring would have...

...had any psychological effect whatsoever. It appears they're playing it up though and that the lack of information being given was a ploy, he'll return July 5th to a huge crowd celebrating his miraculous recovery.

I think the Venezuelan people have legitimate questions and I think Chavez's people were legitimately concerned, though. Indeed, had a US president gone under for weeks on end without anyone knowing anything about him and his ailments were being hidden from the public, it would be quite controversial. Remember when Bush choked on the pretzel and tried hiding it?

Of course, the mockery doesn't deserve a response, but I'm consistent in my anti-authoritarianism.

[naaman fletcher]

133. looks like the rumours were right. nt.

[marasinghe]

124. so, Chavez will live or die @ some point in time, like any other being.

hopefully, he and his successors will continue to dismantle & disable the rich fascists who seek to leach the wealth of their country for themselves, while the masses wither away in desperation. Chavez ain't no saint; but he's not the devil either. as Chavez himself has stated, that title better fits a string of US presidents (and, by proxy, those supporting their pillage) - who have caused the deaths of millions of foreign men, women & children, from Korea & Vietnam through South America to Iraq & Afghanistan, in various attempts to steal the resources of their countries, or assert their egotistical power trips - much more aptly.

the pathetic hatred displayed by fascist admirers, even on a liberal site such as this - for those who try to take away their sociopathic tribe's ill-gotten gains & return it to the masses, in an attempt to bring some degree of justice to the natural order of things - is a spectacle to observe. the more these assholes rant, the happier it makes me; shows the needle is getting under their skin & causing severe allergic reactions to the erosion of their power & their plunder. one would think by their reactions, that Chavez was guilty of killing a million civilians in a criminal enterprise, of war against a middle-eastern country, or some such thing.

[Judi Lynn]

128. Thank you, so much. You have a lot of support here from the democrats, believe me. n/t

[trud]

131. CELAC postponed

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/06/2011629222614233974.html

Can anybody read the date on the newspaper:


"Venezuela's government has postponed a regional summit scheduled for July 5, citing President Hugo Chavez's health as he recovers from surgery in Cuba.

Wednesday's cancellation of the inaugural July 5-6 summit for the CELAC bloc also cast doubt on Chavez's return for July 5 celebrations in Venezuela, marking 200 years since its independence from Spain.

The decision to put off the summit of the Latin American leaders until later this year was announced shortly after new videos aired on state television showed Chavez chatting with Cuban icon Fidel Castro.

...

The video footage, in which Chavez seemed to have lost weight but was characteristically animated, was the first to surface since the 56-year-old was rushed into emergency surgery in Cuba on June 10."

[rabs]

136. The date would be June 27 (last Wednesday)

I read the headline, which translated says "Emotional closure of Brazilian meeting in solidarity with Cuba"

So looked up the article in Granma, and found it:

27 Jun 2011 – La Demajagua Digital,Granma, Cuba, con informaciones acerca de deporte, ... Emotiva clausura de encuentro brasileño de solidaridad con Cuba

The photo was then taken several days after the second surgery.

Btw, message of best wishes for his recovery are coming in from other Latin American leaders. Nice one was from President Lugo of Paraguay, who underwent several chemo sessions in Sao Paulo, Brazil last year for cancer. He told Chavez, "be strong, dear friend, you can get over this."