Chavez Supporters Stage Rally Backing His Criticism of UN

Several thousand supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez rallied in support of his spirited "defense of humanity" at the United Nations and his fierce criticism of "illegal" U.N. reforms. Waving Venezuelan flags, launching fireworks and singing along with a traditional folk band, roughly 2,500 government supporters gathered on Sunday outside the presidential palace in downtown Caracas for a speech by Chavez. The rally was staged to coincide with Chavez's return from a three-day tour of New York City, where he vowed to improve relations with the United States while harshly criticizing U.N. reforms. Chavez, a close ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, told U.N. representatives at the organization's main headquarters that recently approved reforms would permit powerful nations to invade developing countries whose leaders might be seen as a threat to their people.

Chavez' speech at the UN drew what observers said was the loudest applause of the summit. "It was historic, no other president has ever done what he did: stand up there and speak truths the powerful countries don't want to hear," said Judith Liendo, a 42-year old teacher who watched the speech live on Venezuelan state television. "He made us feel proud to be Venezuelans." Speaking to the crowd in Caracas, Chavez said: "We tell the truths we believe in, without any fears ... and we will continue telling these truths at world summits." He said the document adopted at a United Nations summit on Friday was developed "in an arbitrary manner" without the consensus "of the majority of the world's nations," adding that it "had no value."

Chavez singled out a section of the document creating a Peacebuilding Commission that outlines a "responsibility to protect," arguing U.S. officials could use it as an excuse to invade oil-rich Venezuela. "They are trying to legalize imperialism within the United Nations, and Venezuela cannot accept that!" Chavez bellowed. During a speech lasting close to two hours, Chavez did not mention efforts to improve relations with the U.S. government. Relations between Caracas and Washington have been tense in recent months, with U.S. officials expressing concern over the health of Venezuelan democracy under Chavez and near daily criticism from the Venezuelan leader of alleged U.S. hegemony in international affairs. Chavez, who traveled to communist-led Cuba for talks with Castro before arriving in Venezuela, said the "imperialist" government of U.S. President George W. Bush "continues trying to dominate the world."

Venezuelan opposition leaders claim Chavez, a former paratroop commander who was first elected in 1998, is becoming increasingly authoritarian and quickly steering this politically divided South American nation of 26 million toward Cuba-style communism. Irene Delgado, who wore a red T-shirt bearing the image of revolutionary hero Ernesto "Che" Guevara, said Chavez has nothing against the American people, "only the fascist government of George W. Bush." "I don't think they have anything in common, one's a dog of war and the other wants peace and justice," Delgado said.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBDBV33SDE.html

that.

Nuff said. I'll Take a JFK or Clinton image on a shirt before "Che", thanks for playing buh-buy! Chavez is like the barking dog in the night, an annoyance, nothing more.

even trying to help the American poor. That's more than can be said of the disgraceful Chimp.

or the speech from the South American summit. Aside from the socialism, he makes some good points. It's worth a read.

I found that amusing.

That's not a criticism, just an observation.

I tried to be diplomatic. :thumbsup:

We can't stand for that. (Sarcasm.)

Well, not unless it is for the corperate kind of welfare and tax breaks granted by the GOP controlled House, Senate and SCOTUS. (Truth)

I mean, aside from all the talk about protecting people from the mercilessness of corporate cronyism and the grotesque unequal distribution of wealth fueled by greed and the pacification of the masses through an illusion of so-called democracy, it was a good speech. :)

I'm sure there was a similar review of the Sermon on the Mount when it was first given.

"Other than that whole 'judge not lest ye be judged' part, I thought it was pretty good." - The Daily Pharisee, 30 A.D.

No, I'm not comparing Chavez to Jesus. Just comparing the reception of a famous speech to Chavez's speech.

:thumbsup:

:D

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

If I wanted to hear that level of ignorance, I'd join the DLC.

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

oh, that's right, attempting to marginalize what he's saying as an "annoyance, nothing more".

I think when you say "I'll Take a JFK or Clinton image on a shirt before "Che"", you're tipping your hand a bit, eh?

so...that means you'd NEVER have a clinton image, until now, when you hate Chavez more?

er

regardless...

Unfortunately, we have a captive press and a mass-hypnotized govt. The ONLY way we get to hear truths like these is from the outside.

That's how it is in fascist countries.
Why is that how it is now in america?

hmmmm?

Let's not forget history. JFK initiated an illegal invasion of Cuba Bay of Pigs. The missile crisis came afterwards, because the Cubans (justifiably) wanted to be protected. Don't forget that JFK also had a hand in the Vietnam conflict.

Don't forget that Clinton used Operation Desert Fox to get people to pay attention to that, and not the MonicaGate scandal. let's not forget that Clinton ended "welfare as we know it". let's not forget Clinton was a DLC centrist "new Democrat", like Tony Blair is a "New Laborite".

So far, Chavez hasn't done anything that turns me off incredibly. He's won elections, the press is free (and continues to assail him), and he hasn't detained anyone in the opposition, even when they call and organize disruptive protests. Even when they overthrew him illegally. The type of protests (really pseudo-riots) that they have in Venezuela against him would be severely put down here in the U.S. and no Americans (except progressives) would cry foul about it. Yet, we're supposed to worry our minds about the "evil dictator" Chavez in Venezuela?

I'd hate to say it, but Chavez has been very much like a lamb when it comes to protecting his revolution. I'd say it's been positive, because he doesn't give his opposition much to accuse him of, but I don't get why some DU people are just reflex-scared of Chavez? So far, all his pronouncements, actions, and policies have been peaceful, pro-internationalist, pro-poor, and pro-democracy. What else do you need from a leader?

Interesting sort of "logic" you're using, there.

Chavez is the only world leader who seems capable of speaking the unvarnished truth. We need more like him. LOTS more.

I am constantly appalled at the obvious vilification of all things Left in the news. If Bush supporters "rally to support the *", why is it that the supporters of a democratically elected leader of any Latin American country "stage a rally"? I find this offensive and beneath the dignity of a supposedly unbiased and free press. Support is support and it makes quite a psychological difference to read the descriptions as I have written them. I also find it an act of yellow journalism to associate Hugo Chavez exclusively and consistently with Fidel Castro. I know that he can also be associated with the Saudi royals, India's PM and numerous other world leaders. AP should stop baiting and start providing information for debating.

As pointed out numerous times here, in every damned APUPIFAUXABCCNNMSNBCBS article the same thing repeated over and over.. "Hugo Chavez, a close friend/ally of Fidel Castro, blah blah..".

a close relationship. However, the repeating of this statement over and over conjures up in brainwashed and befuddled 'murikans that old 'commie under every bed' fear, which is exactly the intent. The other blatant lie that I see a lot is 'Chavez wants to Cubanize Venezuela', which is really total bullshit. They said the very same things about Allende's relationship with Castro.

Propaganda 101: Repeat the same lies over and over until the public believes them to be fact.

BTW, Nelson Mandela also enjoys a close friendship with Fidel Castro.





Welcome to DU, Ben!! :hi:

This is nothing new. Glad you're noticing. :)

Hugo Chavez at UN

at about 15:39 he is asked to cut his comment short and he says something about how Bush talked for 20 mins and he asks indulgence to finish his remarks.

MP3 in Spanish

MP3 English translation

thank you thank you thank you...I've been wanting to see Hugo Chavez' speech!

You wouldn't have video of Chavez at the Ted Koppel interview, no?

http://www.abcnewsstore.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=customer.product&product_code=N050916%2001&category_code=HOME

Welcome to DU, BSDRebel!! :hi:

from joining for a while, but it looks like so much fun.

:bounce:

<clips>

AMY GOODMAN: Scores of world leaders have come to the United States for the United Nations summit. Among them, Venezuelan President Chavez. In a speech before the world body Chavez accused the U.S. of trying to hijack the U.N. Summit and described the United States as a terrorist nation because it's harboring the televangelist Pat Robertson who recently called for Chavez's assassination. President Chavez also accused the United States of being behind the reported coup against him in 2002. Chavez condemned the U.S. invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan and threatened to cut off oil sales to the United States. Democracy Now! met with president Chavez on Friday, in his first sit-down interview in the United States. I interviewed him with Democracy Now! co-host Juan Gonzalez and Margaret Prescott of KPFK. We talked to the president at the Venezuelan ambassador's home here in New York.

AMY GOODMAN: Mr. President Hugo Chavez, your assessment of president Bush, of the invasion and occupation of Iraq? And do you think if it weren't Iraq, it would have been Venezuela?

PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ: The imperialist government of Mr. Bush planned. What is the U.S. government looking for? And the elite governing this country? They're looking for oil. This is part of the crisis that is looming in the horizon. You should know that the U.S., I already said this, 5% of the world population lives in this country and you consume 25% of the energy. That this consumption is partially rational, I am convinced that the U.S. people will wake up to the reality of things. Yesterday morning, we were coming from the airport for instance, it was the traffic jam time, it was very packed in the highway coming from the airport here. I talked to the people in my car, looked outside, looked at the cars surrounding us. Out of a hundred cars, ninety-nine were occupied by a single person, the driver only. Cars occupying the highways, and burning fuel, how many gallons of fuel were burned yesterday morning, polluting the environment? That's the extreme of individualism. And public transportation, we don’t see large buses coming from the airport here. So this is pure individualism, this is capitalism.

This planet cannot stand this model any longer. I think developed countries-- so-called developed countries should reflect upon the way of living and the waste of energy. And the government knows this. The big trans-nationals know this. The U.S. only has 20 billion barrels of oil in reserve. It seems as though there is no more oil around. Venezuela has 300 billion barrels of oil in reserves. Iraq has like 150 billion barrels of oil. Iran, close to 300 billion barrels of reserve. Oil for 200 years of course. Now, it is clear that the U.S. government wants that oil. That's why they planned, first they tried to get the Venezuelan oil and, of course the coup, they staged against us. That was an oil-motivated coup. They want to have the control over Venezuelan oil before going for the Iraq, for Iraq’s oil.

They failed in Venezuela. So they went to attack Iraq. And the soldiers. And when I saw on TV how they were broadcasting in the evening news of the tanks attacking Baghdad, advancing toward Baghdad, and they said the Baghdad population were going to receive the American marines with flowers. I said, those people are nuts. They're insane. These people have been combating for centuries. This is the Mesopotamian people. I know a little bit of the spirit of the Arab countries. Those are warriors, ten times more warriors than we are. They've been struggling in war for many centuries. They're going to receive, not with flowers, they're going to resist the occupation. That's the reality we are facing today. The U.S. government, they fooled the U.S. soldiers, telling them, no, its going to be a piece of cake, that your going to be received as heroes, that the Arabian girls will throw flowers at them. They are drowning in a quagmire of blood and it is very painful. That’s the risk that is hovering over the world today. They are now threatening Iraq. There are still threats over Venezuela. They still think about assassinating me. There are also plans to invade Venezuela. Now, when you know the way of thinking of those in the White House, any insanity is possible. Now, let me tell you this, if the imperialist government of the White House led an invasion against Venezuela, well, the war of 100 years will be unleashed in South America. Because with our teeth, with our nails with our knees, we will go to struggle and defend our dignity in South America. Now, I aspire and I pray to God that this will never occur. We want peace. We want life. We want to have eternal relations with these sisters countries, sister nations.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1558