U. S. Seeks to Tighten Vise on Chavez

U.S. seeks to tighten vise on Chávez

By Juan Forero The New York Times
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2005


As President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela veers toward greater confrontation with Washington, the Bush administration is weighing a tougher approach, including funneling more money to foundations and business and political groups opposed to his leftist government, American officials say.
 
The Bush administration has already begun to urge Venezuela's neighbors to distance themselves from Chávez and to raise concerns about press freedoms, judicial independence and the Venezuelan government's affinity for leftist groups abroad, including Colombian guerrillas.
 
But it has found no allies so far in its attempts to isolate the Venezuelan leader, and it has grown increasingly frustrated by Chávez's anti-American outbursts and policies that seem intended to provoke Washington. On Sunday, Chávez ended a 35-year military cooperation agreement and ordered out four American military instructors, whom he accused of fomenting unrest.
 
The accusation, which American officials denied, was the latest blow to relations that have been bitter since the United States tacitly supported a coup that briefly removed Chávez in 2002.

http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file=/articles/2005/04/26/news/venezuela.php
 

... we can't wait to oust them as soon as they get elected. And if they manage to get back in office ... hell, just try again.

IF I *HATED* AMERICA AS MUCH AS REPUBLICANS SAY I DO, I'D BE ONE OF THEM.

off.

that now works isn't taking any of his bullshit. He can't even get the ones that are opposed to Chavez to take his deals....This is why other countries hate us, this is what passes for foriegn policy...

I guess as a conservative nation we have the God given right to get rid of any county left of the Bushistas.

The US . . . has found no allies so far in its attempts to isolate the Venezuelan leader . . .

And the majority of the people in the US have no clue what the rest of the world feels about the US.

The local songs in Latin America and the Caribbean region constantly make fun of bushie and the US. It is so easy to record and burn CDs -- local musicians can spread their music -- and local radio stations will play these songs.

The word about the bush thuggery is getting out through the music.

Bush was instantly blamed throughout this region for the coup attempt in 2002. "Bush did it" -- was the instant verdict.

the world isn't afraid of our nukes. they'd rather die than live under our thumb apparently and we are going bankrupt trying to apply vices in two of the weakest countries militarily on the planet :crazy:

the neoCONs will be remembered for accelerating americas demise of influence in international affairs.

peace

to use my tax dollars to fund anti-government forces in Venezuela when programs here are being cut?


methinks it's time to start looking at this trillion dollar pentagon budget.

"Harder! I'll squeeze it harder! I can do more! I can! ..."
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: