"Rumsfeld Likens Chavez's Rise to Hitler"

[GreenPartyVoter]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld likened Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to Adolf Hitler, reflecting continuing tension in relations between the United States and the Latin American government.

Rumsfeld, asked during a National Press Club appearance Thursday about indications of a deteriorating general relationship between Washington and parts of Latin America, said he believes such a characterization "misses the mark."

"We saw dictatorships there. And then we saw most of those countries, with the exception of Cuba, for the most part move towards democracies," he said. "We also saw corruption in that part of the world. And corruption is something that is corrosive of democracy."

The secretary acknowledged that "we've seen some populist leadership appealing to masses of people in those countries. And elections like Evo Morales in Bolivia take place that clearly are worrisome."

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20060203/D8FHL2UG9.html

[rurallib]

1. In related news: pot calls kettle black

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Except that I don't see Chavez as a kettle, but Rummy sure did put

his foot in his mouth anyway.

[rurallib]

8. Agree - just noting Rummy can't see shit in his own nest.

[KittyWampus]

9. Maybe not a kettle... but definately tyrannical cookware. Maybe Chavez

is more like a fondue pot... definately just a piker compared to the NeoCons. But let's be intellectually honest.

From Human Rights Watch's website, first page on Venezuela:


Venezuela: Court Orders Trial of Civil Society Leaders
In ordering the trial of four civil society leaders on dubious charges of treason, a Venezuelan court has assented to government persecution of political opponents, Human Rights Watch said today.
July 8, 2005

Venezuela: Rights Lawyer Faces Judicial Persecution
Criminal Investigation Launched to Intimidate Critic of Government’s Rights Record
The Venezuelan government should immediately halt criminal proceedings opened against one of Latin America’s most prominent human rights lawyers, Human Rights Watch said today.
April 5, 2005

Venezuela: Curbs on Free Expression Tightened
Amendments to Venezuela’s Criminal Code that entered into force last week may stifle press criticism of government authorities and restrict the public’s ability to monitor government actions, Human Rights Watch said today.
March 24, 2005

Venezuela: Chávez Allies Pack Supreme Court
The Venezuelan Congress dealt a severe blow to judicial independence by packing the country’s Supreme Court with 12 new justices, Human Rights Watch said today. A majority of the ruling coalition, dominated by President Hugo Chávez’s party, named the justices late yesterday, filling seats created by a law passed in May that expanded the court’s size by more than half.
December 14, 2004

Venezuela: Media Law Undercuts Freedom of Expression
A draft law to increase state control of television and radio broadcasting in Venezuela threatens to undermine the media’s freedom of expression, Human Rights Watch said today. Venezuela’s National Assembly, which has been voting article by article on the law, known as the Law of Social Responsibility in Radio and Television, is expected to approve it today.
November 24, 2004


snip

Letter to President Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías
In a letter sent to President Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, HRW expressed deep concern about credible reports documenting that National Guard and police officers beat and tortured people who were detained during the recent protests in Caracas and other Venezuelan cities.
April 12, 2004

Venezuela: Investigate Charges of Abuses Against Protestors
The Venezuelan government should conduct a thorough investigation into allegations that state security forces have beaten and abused detained protestors this week, Human Rights Watch said today. The investigation should also examine the circumstances of killings that occurred during confrontations between protesters and police.
March 5, 2004

Venezuela's Supreme Court Upholds Prior Censorship and "Insult Laws"
A decision by the Venezuelan Supreme Court upholding prior censorship is a major setback for freedom of expression, Human Rights Watch said today.
July 18, 2003

snip

Caught In The Crossfire:
Freedom of Expression in Venezuela
The Venezuelan government is not doing enough to protect journalists from violence, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Human Rights Watch also urged the government to protect freedom of expression by ending its ongoing investigation of the country’s private television networks, and dramatically revising its proposed law to regulate the contents of radio and television broadcasts. The launch of Human Rights Watch’s report coincides with renewed public debate in Venezuela over draft legislation that the government of President Hugo Chávez has introduced on the “social responsibility of radio and television.” The draft legislation would impose stringent and detailed controls over radio and television broadcasts, greatly limiting what could be aired during normal viewing hours. Under the guise of protecting children from crude language, sexual situations and violence, it would subject adults to restrictive and puritanical viewing standards. The 26-page report describes how journalists face physical violence and threats, often by fervent civilian supporters of President Hugo Chávez. Noting the justice system’s failure to identify and punish those responsible for the attacks, the report recommends that the attorney general set up a special panel to investigate the problem.
HRW Index No.: B1503
May 21, 2003

Investigate Killings of Opposition Supporters in Venezuela
The government of Hugo Chávez should carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into the abduction and murder of four opposition supporters whose bodies were found on February 16 and 17, Human Rights Watch said today.
February 19, 2003 Press Release

[waiting for hope]

2. Take a look see in the

mirror Rummy - this country is turning toward fascism every day..

[On the Road]

4. Hitler's Rise Was Based on Nationalism and Anger

and was allied with corporate interests. Just like Bush.

Chavez's and Morales's rise was due to economic assistance for the poor and sides against corporate interests. I don't see the comparison.

[KittyWampus]

10. They both employed Repression & Violence

[On the Road]

11. What Violence Has Chavez Employed?

He is on the opposite side of the fence AFAIC. Hitler allied himself with the elites to oppress minorities and groups out of power. Chavez is fighting to wrest control of the country away from the economic elites. The repression, so to speak, has to be understood in that context.

For example, the press should be free. But the Venezuelan press is owned by the elites and participated in the unsuccessful coup attempt several years ago. It's not the same thing as press restrictions imposed by a traditional right-wing leader to prevent a revolution or meaningful reforms.

[Missy M]

5. I can't wait to hear the Chavez reply to this one, should be....

good. I am convinced Rumsfeld belongs in a mental institution. Imagine a leadership appealing to masses of people and Rumsfeld thinks it's wrong. He is definitely wacko!!!

[lectrobyte]

6. The only thing to keep in mind about anything they say about Chavez

is that someone like him who'd want to use their nations oil income to actually fight poverty and hunger is a crucifix sitting in a sunbeam on a plate of garlic to vampires like Cheney and Rumsfeld. Use a nation's resources for the good of a nation, instead of record oil profits? They probably think thoughts like that to unblock their constipation.

[lectrobyte]

7. More on Chavez in this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=311462&mesg_id=311462

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. The supply of dangerous bogeymen is growing in Latin America.

Our peaceloving politicians have a lot to contend with just keeping all those scary guys in the Axis of Evil in the msm to keep us in line and waving flags.

[Disturbed]

13. Warning! Great Danger!

Socialism, the great evil, is starting to surface in Central and Latin America.

[MisterP]

14. we've run out of Birkenau commandants to replace them with;

that's what Rumco is really worried about--Barbie and Rauff are dead, and DINA's bosses and assistants are in the klink

[radio4progressives]

15. Yes and his partner Mass Killer and Author of NAFTA, Negroponte

said as much in Senate Intelligence Hearing.

these killers are evil.