Obama: After Chavez, U.S. Seeks 'Constructive Relationship' With Venezuela
Source: REUTERS
U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday said the United States is interested in starting a new relationship with Venezuela after the death of its socialist president, Hugo Chavez.
"At this challenging time of President Hugo Chavez's passing, the United States reaffirms its support for the Venezuelan people and its interest in developing a constructive relationship with the Venezuelan government," Obama said in a statement.
"As Venezuela begins a new chapter in its history, the United States remains committed to policies that promote democratic principles, the rule of law, and respect for human rights," he said.
--CLIP
Chavez easily won a new six-year term at an election in October and his death will devastate millions of supporters who adored his charismatic style, anti-U.S. rhetoric and oil-financed policies that brought subsidized food and free health clinics to long-neglected slums.
Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/obama-after-chavez-u-s-seeks-constructive-relationship-with-venezuela-1.507537
magellan
(13,257 posts)But knowing what I do, having watched the last 10 years, I find this very hollow:
"the United States remains committed to policies that promote democratic principles, the rule of law, and respect for human rights,"
Purveyor
(29,876 posts)influence.
Whisp
(24,096 posts)Judi Lynn
(160,545 posts)Here's a letter from their grubby President, Curtis Reed:
Letters
Published: Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Bylined to: Curtis Reed
Tampa-based Free Venezuela, Inc: Our goal is regime change in Venezuela
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2004 17:39:42 GMT
From: Curtis Reed aguaventura@netzero.com
To: Editor@VHeadline.com
Subject: Error: It was Venezuelans in TAMPA
In David Coleman's article "Venezuela's relations with USA to improve if Bush 2 loses election this fall" you stated that Senator Kerry's statement regarding the Chavez regime amounted to "Parroting anti-Venezuelan Miami Herald propaganda."
In fact, the Kerry position statement was the result of the effort of Venezuelan-Americans from the Tampa area who contacted his camp and conducted an education campaign to be sure that Kerry understood what a threat the Chavez regime represents to US interests, regional stability, and how it endangers democracy across the hemisphere.
We have been working constantly over several years to establish good contacts with our representatives, and it was through those contacts that we made direct contact with John Kerry and delivered to him the message you will find below.
We are now in the process of publishing more Op-Ed articles, organizing round table discussions about the Chavez regime, and speaking out on nationally syndicated radio shows. Let there be no confusion: the "Miami Mafia" had nothing to do with this. It was the result of hard work by US citizens and Venezuelan expatriate organizations like FREE VENEZUELA that we influenced Kerry, and we will continue to push US policy until we achieve our goal.
Our goal: regime change in Venezuela.
Finally, let your communist friends know that their propaganda machines are failing, and the tide has turned against the Chavez dictatorship. We have convinced Democrats and Republicans alike that Chavez and his criminal henchmen are the antithesis to Democratic principles.
Have a nice day.
Curtis Reed
aguaventura@netzero.com
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=16656
(Free registration required)
Pterodactyl
(1,687 posts)magellan
(13,257 posts)Pterodactyl
(1,687 posts)magellan
(13,257 posts)...to be just as critical of this administration as the previous one.
Pterodactyl
(1,687 posts)SkyDaddy7
(6,045 posts)what this person thinks the Obama Administration has done to poor Chavez? I think some folks here on DU think if Obama is not caressing Chavez as he laid dying in bed then he is the enemy.
It amazes me that all Chavez had to do is use a little bit of the oil money for good use & he is absolved of any wrong doing at all!
Chavez is gone I think for the better.
magellan
(13,257 posts)...you'd see I commented on the general hollow ring to Obama's words as far as our own government's actions go, not on his specific treatment of Chavez. I haven't shared any opinion about Chavez on this thread.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)I don't like what he did with the press, I don't like that he was pals with Ahmadinijad and Assad - two leaders that think nothing at all of killing their citizens. His treatment of the Jews of Venezuela was disgusting (that's why almost half left the country). Are the poor better off now than when he started? I'm not sure of that at all.
He hated Bush and Israel and talked a good game and that's more than enough for some here.
SkyDaddy7
(6,045 posts)He went after Bush & that is all many here on DU need to excuse all the other truly disgusting things he did to his own people. And YES he most certainly run a huge number of Jews out of the country by constantly harassing them & making them feel very unsafe. The whole purpose was to get them to leave & he got much of what he wanted. SAD!!
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)the United States remains committed to the corporate takeover of Latin American countries and Venezuela is ripe for picking.
timdog44
(1,388 posts)is the interpretation of
"the United States remains committed to policies that promote democratic principles, the rule of law, and respect for human rights."
NeoConsSuck
(2,544 posts)Venezuelans should turn their backs on any overtures from the USA if they're smart (and I believe they are).
Cleita
(75,480 posts)business like they did before Chavez. I will be surprised if there is not an attempt by the oil industry to get everything they had to give up back.
You know Kerry is running around selling IMF loans to newly "liberated" countries.
+100
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)China lent them $32 billion repayable in oil over a period of time. That was a constructive use of China's dollar holdings - currently over $1 trillion.
But you can never be too rich/in debt not to need an IMF load. Heck they were trying to sell Gaddafi IMF loans even as he was loaning money to other African countries.
Arctic Dave
(13,812 posts)WTF does he mean by "developing a constructive relationship". What the fuck was the hold up to having one when he was alive. Where you pissed that he dissed your buddy bush?
FFS Obama, try not to sound like another neo-liberal asshole next time.
I have zero faith that Obama wouldn't condemn a coup like he did with Nicaraugua.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)On hearing of the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Foreign Secretary William Hague offered his condolences.
I was saddened to learn of the death of President Hugo Chavez today. As President of Venezuela for 14 years he has left a lasting impression on the country and more widely. I would like to offer my condolences to his family and to the Venezuelan people at this time.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-offers-condolences-on-death-of-hugo-chavez
Note the difference.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)bemildred
(90,061 posts)magic59
(429 posts)instead of another weak kneed corporate puppet.
Purveyor
(29,876 posts)magic59
(429 posts)The truth hurts but I like to tell it like it is.
pam4water
(2,916 posts)Demeter
(85,373 posts)And frankly, I don't give a damn....
Selatius
(20,441 posts)David__77
(23,421 posts)They were both democrats and reformers.
phleshdef
(11,936 posts)Jamaal510
(10,893 posts)it's funny that Obama had all that money spent against him in this past election by Sheldon Adelson and the Koch Brothers.
Cha
(297,320 posts)lived in Venezuela and had Chavez for your President.
I'm glad we have President Obama here in my country.
jakefrep
(3,982 posts)I like freedom of speech and the press.
Judi Lynn
(160,545 posts)Venezuela mourns Chavezs death
Wed, 06 Mar 2013 1:08p.m.
By Fabiola Sanchez and Frank Bajak
Some in anguish, some in fear, Venezuelans raced for home after the government announced the death of President Hugo Chavez, the firebrand socialist who led the nation for 14 years.
Vice President Nicolas Maduro's voice broke and tears ran down his face as he appeared on national television to announce that Chavez died at 4:25pm local time "after battling hard against an illness over nearly two years."
He did not say what exactly killed Chavez, although the government had announced the previous night that a severe new respiratory infection had severely weakened him.
Just a few hours earlier, Maduro made a virulent speech against enemies he claimed were trying to undermine Venezuelan democracy.
But as he announced the death, Maduro called on Venezuelans to be "dignified inheritors of the giant man" Chavez was.
More:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Venezuela-mourns-Chavezs-death-PHOTOS/tabid/417/articleID/289188/Default.aspx#ixzz2MiXSr1df
Response to Purveyor (Original post)
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Elmergantry
(884 posts)kelliekat44
(7,759 posts)BEFORE Chavez took ill and died. Our only constructive relationship will involve restoring the oligarch to power there, like we tried to do in Cuba. So look for the sanctions to begin as we ruin another socialist country trying to help its people.
Alamuti Lotus
(3,093 posts)combine this statement with news that some official from the nest of vipers in the Embassy is being expelled for attempting to plot with military officers for destabilization, and it becomes clear that American bullshit business-as-usual is as alive as ever. Hope that Maduro is fit for this task of historical importance laid before him, because the attacks are clearly already beginning.
SamKnause
(13,108 posts)President Obama didn't even have the decency to send his condolences to the millions in Venezuela who have lost their great leader.
What a piss poor fictional statement from our president.
"Rule of law and respect for human rights", seriously ?
How did that work out for OWS, Julian Assange, Bradley Manning and countless others ?
How many people on Wall Street have been arrested ?
Why did you interfere with foreign countries that tried to hold the Bush administration accountable for their crimes against humanity ?
What a load of bullshit.
We know exactly what kind of relationship you would like develop with Venezuela.
"American Democracy" (what a load of crap) with the intention of raping the wealth of the Venezuelan people by any means necessary and turning over all profits to corporations and bankers.
I don't think American politicians even know the definition of democracy or freedom.
The United States corrupt and dangerous political circus infuriates me.
Zorro
(15,740 posts)happyslug
(14,779 posts)The only thing I could find was an OPINION PIECE that cited the CJIAUSA as its source:
http://real-agenda.com/2013/03/05/wealth-redistribution-hugo-chavez-style/
But when I went to the CIUAYUSA web cite, I could only find other opinion pieces that Chavez and his family stole millions and are worth over a billion dollars, not data, no sources, just they opinion, along with a similar opinion as to Castro and his family stealing all the wealth of Cuba, again no facts, no source, just opinion:
http://www.cjiausa.org/
An example of such an opinion piece, it does mention real money transactions, but more in the form of Government to a politcal group that Chavez's government favored. That sounds like GOVERNMENT money not personal wealth:
http://mexidata.info/id3330.html
davidthegnome
(2,983 posts)If we are, no one told me about it.
So why is it that the President either will not or cannot offer sympathy or sorrow or at least the pretense of it in response to the death of a much beloved leader? Regardless of what we may think personally of Chavez, or of his policies, it is somewhat telling that the President's response is so coldly neutral and seems to contain some poorly concealed contempt. Perhaps it's simply the official line, maybe it's what his handlers told him to say... in any event, it seems a rather inappropriate reaction to the circumstances.
I don't know enough about Chavez's overall policies, or enough about Venezuela itself, to either admire or despise Chavez. I know that some of his anti-poverty efforts though, had an effect right here in the US, in helping citizens in poverty pay for oil...
I'm not going to weep or cheer, but I do think that the President's words might have been more carefully, or tactfully chosen.
Response to Purveyor (Original post)
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Judi Lynn
(160,545 posts)Tempest
(14,591 posts)You've been an excellent source of information and for your tireless pursuit to expose the imperialism which is preventing Latin America from thriving and progressing.