Venezuelan Leader Denounces U.S. and Mocks Bush

[UpInArms]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/01/international/americas/01VENE.html?ex=1078722000&?en=4b6996bb99e26c24&?ei=5062&?partner=GOOGLE

CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. 29 — President Hugo Chávez railed against the Bush administration on Sunday in a speech before tens of thousands of supporters, accusing it of meddling in Venezuelan affairs and supporting antigovernment forces trying to remove him from office.

Mr. Chávez, whose language has become increasingly hostile in the face of American support for a recall referendum, warned that if the Bush administration carried out what he called American aggressions, "the people of the United States should know that they will not get another drop of oil from Venezuela." The American energy market is heavily reliant on Venezuela, one of the top four providers of petroleum to the United States.

Accusing the Bush administration of destabilizing Venezuela and coveting the country's huge oil reserves, Mr. Chávez mocked President Bush, saying he stole the 2000 elections and "is not even the legitimate president of the United States."

Mr. Chávez, a leftist populist, has ruled Venezuela since his 1998 election. He was re-elected in 2000 to a term that ends in 2006, and he has vowed to remain in power longer than Mr. Bush.

"Let's bet on who will last longer, George W. Bush, you in the White House or me in Miraflores Palace," he said.

...more...

[Elidor]

1. Wow. Tell us how you really feel, Hugo

¡Viva Cojones Grande!

[bemildred]

2. Geez, he played the oil card.

The gloves are off.
I wonder what pissed Hugo off?

Check this out:

http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=16153

Strengthened Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias tells George W. Bush to
back-off; keep his nose out of Venezuela's domestic political affairs

"These imperialists do not even draw back from such extremes as killing their own leaders, like President John F.
Kennedy and Martin Luther KIng ... the perversion of their system is already within their own United States
borders ... even US Secretary of State Colin Powell has been forced to withdraw from the presidential election race
since as a colored he had severe and dangerous detractors ... he preferred to withdraw rather than be assassinated
... and this comes from one of the leading strategists from the 1st Gulf War."

President Hugo Chavez Frias urges the people of the United States to themselves urge their governors to respect
the peoples of the world ... especially now that the United States government should be more worried about their
own domestic-political problems instead of interfering in the sovereign business of other countries like Venezuela."

From tomorrow, March 1, Chavez Frias says a series of campaigns will be begun in 22 countries around Latin
America, Europe and in the United States itself, against the Bush 2 government's interventionism and in solidarity
with Venezuela's sovereign independence.

Protests will take place in Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Mar de Plata in Argentina; Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia;
Brasilia and San Pablo in Brazil; Santiago de Chile; Bogota and Barranquilla in Colombia; San Jose, Costa Rica; two
larger cities in Ecuador, along with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, Puerto
Rico, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay.

[Athame]

13. After today's events in Haiti

I think all the South and Central American countries can see the dangers of NOT standing up to the *shrub.

On Pacifica radio this afternoon Maxyne Waters and Charlie Rangel and others actually accused the US government of kidnapping Aristide at gunpoint early this morning. If anyone knows the brutal designs of this administration, it is Chavez.

We are in for a bumpy ride, folks.

(This is probably already being discussed here at DU; I just got home from a long day out and came to this thread first. But I think it fits into this discussion, as well.)

[fearnobush]

3. WoW, He's played the stolen election card.

Too Bad none of our politicians have the BALLS enough to back him up.

[w13rd0]

4. GO HUGO!

VIVA VENEZUELA!

Haha, damn straight.

[fearnobush]

5. Nice Pic.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/040229/photos_wl/mdf484609

[Auntie Bush]

6. You go Hugo

Tell em like it is.

[alittlelark]

7. Chavez is the new Che

He has the strength and fortitude. We'll see what happens. I can only pray for the best.

I REALLY MISS THE DEMOCACY I BELIEVED IN AS A CHILD!!!!

[0007]

10. So do I kiddo! - It now appears the world is truly pissed

[dArKeR]

8. Why doesn't Chavez request a Recall Bush referendum?

[I AM SPARTACUS]

15. Why don't we...

where do I sign...

[Darranar]

9. This guy is BRAVE!

:toast:

[ngGale]

11. Kudo's to Mr. Chavez for telling the..

truth. We don't see that much anymore. Hey! Way to go!

[sonias]

12. I too denounce and mock bu$h

He never was our duly elected president and the has done nothing but create wars and unite most of the world against us.

Regime change starts this Nov. Be there!

Sonia

[tedzbear]

14. Not one drop? Oh oh!

Around here (Hollywood, CA) the cheapest regular unleaded is already $2.15 a gallon.

Yet I won't really feel that sorry for myself if Venezuela does turn off the tap. We have muddled in their affairs for far too long to feel like a victim.

Can you imagine? We invade Venezuela to secure "our" oil even though most of our army is already sitting on the biggest oil reserves next to Saudi Arabia! Talk about incompetent foreign relations! Geez.

:kick:


(edit for sp.)

[Voltaire99]

16. Watch out for the exploding cigars, Hugo

I wouldn't put it past Washington to engage in another, less tentative coup now that Chavez has threatened that holy of holies, the oil.