Bush sees Chavez as threat undermining democracy

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/31/AR2006073100674.html

Bush sees Chavez as threat undermining democracy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Monday he sees Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as a threat to undermining democracy but not a military threat.

Chavez has threatened to shut his government U.S.-based refiners and sell oil to other nations if Washington decided to cut diplomatic ties, a prospect that Washington has not suggested it would do.

Bush told Fox News Channel's "Neil Cavuto" that Chavez' threat is an "indication that we've got to make sure we've got a wise energy policy in the United States" and repeated his desire to wean the country from its dependency on foreign oil.

As for whether he sees Chavez as a threat to the United States, Bush said: "No, not a military threat. We've got a very strong military and we can deal with any threat to the homeland there is. And will if we have to. But, no, I don't view him as a threat. I view him as a threat of undermining democracy."