US warns against Chavez 'danger'

US warns against Chavez 'danger'

Ms Rice deplored Venezuela's close relations with Cuba
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is one of the biggest dangers facing Latin America, Washington has said.
US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice said Mr Chavez was trying to influence others away from democracy, and called for a united front against him.

President Chavez responded by accusing the US of aggression, saying "world opinion is with Venezuela".

Addressing a congressional hearing on Thursday, Ms Rice accused Mr Chavez of leading a "Latin brand of populism that has taken countries down the drain".



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4723902.stm

amen to that

They all hate us. Except Poland.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x452867

As I said on that thread, IMHO, we need to stop playing into their proclamations about this. It's meant to alienate us from the rest of the world (particularly Europe) and intended to provoke our inferiority complex to a greater degree. We already suffer more neuroses than any other "first world" nation.

I should also point out that, if this had any degree of logic in it, the numbers for Americans would be up, since we hate Bush more than anybody else.

What can I say... I understand why they despise the USA.

As Diebold points out, we have no influence over these people. We're as trapped as the people in any other dictatorship.

That's cool. :)

We're all just people like you, with an equal number of flaws and assets.

We're just people, like everyone else.

Coz they didn't stop it.

The Germans would have been rounded up and killed.

We still have a modicum of ability to organize and protest, which the Germans didn't have, however we are fighting against international fascists. The bad guys are not solely headquartered in the US.

This is a band of sociopaths. It's a human phenomenon, not an American one.

:hug:

Not everybody is that brave, but it doesn't make the fight impossible to win.

the old saw...we are helpless, we can't disobey or delay or prevent anything done in our names. Poor helpless us...PUKE A MILE WIDE AND A MILE DEEP to your excuse! It is currently an American phenomenon. So do something instead of apologizing for accepting your marginalization.

Normal individuals can do nothing against sociopaths. They are too skilled at manipulating groups of people. It takes groups of people of conscience in high places to move against these bastards. Individuals can certainly support *them*, but this sentimental idea that any one person can change things is just that -- pointless sentiment. Cindy Sheehan is being held up by people with stronger shoulders than she has. Assaulting and insulting our fellow humans because they aren't doing all the things we'd like them to do is useless and cruel, is my point.

I might suggest that -- instead of attacking people who cite the truth as "apologizing for accepting marginalization" -- consider that you're talking to yourself when you attack so vociferously. We usually are.

mean our government. Quite different from "Hating Americans".

Don't take jabs against our corrupt government personally-unless you voted for them.

Having lived the majority of my adult life out of the States I was ready to pounce on your statement until you added that qualifer, "...nearly always..." though I would have said "usually". I have experienced discrimination many times just because of my U.S. nationality. Whether in the first world or third a little knowledge is dangerous thing sometimes and to be on the receiving end of somebody ticked off at U.S. foreign policy and blaming you personally is not a fun time. I remeber once in Copenhagen I was blamed by a total stranger, after he had discovered my nationality, for singlehandedly napalming innocent babies in Vietnam. Go figure but it happenens though I have never, well almost nearly, hid behind the lie that I was a Canook.

She sucks at it....No diplomatic skills, no negotiating skills...

The more that Rice, Karen Hughes and * Cabal opens their mouth the more the world scorns us.

If we get hit again...we will not have the support of the world like we did on 9/11 because the world will say we brought it upon ourselves....

and that is why she is there.

And therefore certain elements will not attack her for what she is

A severely challenged spineless human being

brain dead toadies opens his/her mouth about Chavez support for Venezuela grows. These blood thirsty assholes who have hijacked our government have lost any credibility they might have had.

I do not oppose Mr. Chavez but have a few hesitations. I see Ms. Rice's comments as very positive for Mr. Chavez since she says he is a danger, that illustrated to me he is not a threat to Mericka.

If only we had an advocate for the people like Mr Chavez.

That colossus, that titan of terror, looming so perilously close off America's shores? How much longer can we go on living under the shadow of that threat? :scared:

:hide: :hide: :hide:

:eyes: Thiis is all so fucked up. Condi and her cohorts all walkin' around these days talking about Cuba in exactly the same fearful tones we once used about "The Russians, the red menace," plotting a take-over of the world.

Gimme a break.

I'm not afraid of Mr Castro Either.

Is it possible that the Idiot n' Chief gets any PR bump from this kind of shit? No way.

to explain what "democracy" is.

Capitalism.
AKA: Corporate Fascism, with "the rights of the individual" pertaining only to the "individual" that is the corporation.

The ONLY---and I do mean "ONLY"---"freedom" TPTB want people to have is the freedom to BUY. PERIOD.

SHUT. UP. AND. BUY.

The U.S. has to control any oil producer that doesn't toe the dollar line. Hence the invasion of Iraq, pending action in Iran, rumblings in Venezuela.

The commie, terra-terra-terra bogeymen are used because they resonant well with the public

Given her past performance and ability to assess creditable threats then Chavez is not a danger. I'm glad she clarified that fact.

This is just toooooooo much.

Ooh, smite him again Condi! That's telling him! She is our chief diplomat? How embarrassing.

it is U$ Capitalistic Imperialish that has taken countries down the drain including the USA.

Like is popular here at the moment. :(

Now, put it back down if you're also a Limbecile. I thought so.

(us?) about something! :eyes:

Venezuela . . .

then Bolivia . . .

and now Haiti.


:thumbsup:

face of the monster we have become.

Bush only wishes to have 1/10th of his popularity.

does anyone take this crap seriously anymore? its become comic relief.

Nat King Cole sings:
Condo leezza Condo leezza
men have been maimed by you

any oil from them freedumb hating infidels.

I can't think of a better way for the wh pukes to show their displeasure.

The same goes for China. These pukes talk a lot of shit but still trade heavily with the freedumb hating commies.

.

I thought BushCo was fond of Democracy. Hmmm.

Chavez is the duly elected leader of Venezuela. Chavez's most recent win was in a referendum initiated by his very-well funded right-wing opposition groups-- and it was by a margin of 59% to 41%. I'd say that at least in the vote department, Chavez is more a legitimate leader than W.

with President Chavez. The comments by Condoleezza Rice are "crazy".

How could two small countries with no industrial base to speak of and no offensive weapons be a threat to anyone?

I think it would be more accurate to say the ideas and words of Hugo Chavez are a threat to neo-cons and fascists.

Populism is a way of life in Latin America. For someone who has a phd she sure is stupid about foreign policy. No wonder her only job is to tell Junior when to pee.

I wish they would knock this shit off.

He's a good guy, he got elected in a clean election. Oil companies are pissed that he wants a bigger take.

Given the way oil companies have treated us lately, maybe it's time to stop letting them dictate our foreign policy.

Rice would be wise to STFU !

come from countries that have oil? :eyes:

You do believe in coincidences, don't you?

:-(

so said a woman populist in Kansas in the late 1800s

:eyes:

No Shit.... my favorite line....

I posted this over on GD:

From the Maine Sunday Telegram (syndicated to AP). Excellent wrap-up of why Bush wants to overthrow Chavez. Once again, the US, spurred by US oil companies, shows its ugly face...

-------------


"Venezuela has never shown any intention of attacking this country or harming its citizens, yet its democratically elected leader, President Hugo Chavez, has become an object of hatred and scorn for the fringe elements of America's political right, which regularly demand his violent ouster. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fla., calls Chavez an enemy of freedom. Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., likens him to Mussolini. And the Rev. Pat Robertson suggests U.S. Special Forces should "take out" the Venezuelan chief of state, a proposal that has produced consternation even in the trigger-happy Bush White House.

A FAILED COUP ATTEMPT

The president and his advisers also want Chavez gone, but their approach has been far more subtle. In 2002, they verbally (and perhaps otherwise) supported a failed coup attempt against him by internal right-wing forces. At that time, the Bush administration, in contrast to the Organization of American States, was quick to recognize the legitimacy of the initially successful plotters and was subsequently embarrassed when Chavez returned to power within 24 hours.


(snip)

However, the ranting attacks of its surrogates in Congress and in the media indicate that underlying antagonisms have not abated. They've merely been pushed to the back burner, and recent developments are bringing them once more to the fore.

The major development has been the worldwide oil crisis and the drastic rise in gasoline and heating-oil prices in the United States. This, combined with the fact that Venezuela's share of American petroleum imports has grown to 14 percent and made OPEC's charter member in the Western Hemisphere our No. 1 supplier of refined crude (ahead of Canada, Mexico and Saudi Arabia), has again set up the Chavez government as a potential target.


http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/insight/stories/06021...

Venezuela has a hundred billion dollar surplus that is being invested back into their country. How is America doing in that dept? :shrug: These Republican are worse LIARS than fishermen.

on Hugo Chavez:

Blair shows a worrying disregard for democracy by parroting the US line on Chávez's legitimacy

Colin Burgon
Friday February 17, 2006
The Guardian


While it is no secret that the US has frequently interfered harmfully in the domestic politics of Latin America, history generally regards UK policy as independent, unburdened by paranoia and largely constructive. But is this commendable attitude now under review?

At the most recent session of prime minister's questions, I asked Tony Blair if he shared the satisfaction of many Labour backbenchers at the progressive changes occurring across Latin America, most notably in Venezuela. I also requested reassurances that UK policy towards the region would not be shaped by the furious lobbying of rightwing Republican elements within the US.

The prime minister's response surprised many of us on the Labour benches. Skilled diplomat that he undoubtedly is, Blair's response seemingly lacked any nuance of diplomacy.

His assertion that Venezuela should "abide by the rules of the international community" lacked recognition of the country's democratic credentials. When one considers that Hugo Chávez won a electoral majority in 2002, survived an attempted coup thanks to massive public protests, and was the resounding winner of a referendum on his administration in 2004, the implied accusation seems inaccurate. It would be extremely helpful for Blair to clarify exactly what reservations he harbours regarding Venezuela's international legitimacy.
(snip/...)

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/comment/0,,1711777,00.html

(snip/...)

:dem:

every argument they're invited to? Dammit, they're so dysfunctional ans stupid enough to fall for it.

the US as more of a danger to their right to popularly elected governments than Chavez.

Just ask Chile or Isabel Allende about their previous experience regarding who endangered a democractically elected government there. As I recall, it wasn't Castro.

So "populism" is now a dirty word? Considering that the RW'ers freely avail themselves of it when rail against the "liberal elite," then their American brand of right wing populism is taking this country down the drain. Condi's a spokesmodel for the US oligarchy.