Thread: Chávez to Fox -- ‘Don’t mess with me’

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Chávez to Fox -- ‘Don’t mess with me’ or you’ll be ‘pricked’
President Hugo Chávez accused Mexican leader Vicente Fox on Sunday of disrespecting him and his close ally the Argentine president, warning Fox: “Don’t mess with me.�

Tensions between Fox and Chávez spilled over after this month’s Summit of the Americas in Argentina, where Fox sought to defend a U.S.-backed proposal for a free trade zone while Chávez proclaimed the idea dead.

“President Fox left bleeding from his wound,� Chávez said during his weekly radio and TV show, “Hello President,� echoing remarks days ago in which he accused Fox of being a “puppy� of the U.S. government for supporting its plans for the Free Trade Area of the Americas.
Chávez recalled a folk song from Venezuela’s cattle-raising plains about a thorn, saying it seems appropriate for Fox since “you’re a man of horses.�

After reciting the lyrics, Chávez said: “Don’t mess with me, sir, because you’ll come out pricked.�

Venezuela’s populist leader has proclaimed the recent summit a victory, noting Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay brought up opposition to the free trade pact.

Fox, apparently irked by the resistance of Chávez and Argentine President Néstor Kirchner, said after the summit that “there we have some presidents, fortunately a minority, who blame other countries for all their problems.�

Chávez accused Fox of “attacking� him and Kirchner, and of violating summit protocol in trying to press for an agreement on the free trade zone when that wasn’t on the agenda.

“The only very hard response I’ve given to any president was... to President Fox. He disrespected me,� Chávez said, adding that by responding he was simply defending his country.

Chávez’ stinging accusations against Fox on Wednesday sparked a diplomatic response, with Mexico demanding a “satisfactory explanation.�

Caracas has offered no apologies while top diplomats have held talks on the matter.

Chávez’ latest accusations showed he had no intention of backing down.

He said Fox and other leaders who sought to back the free trade plan “weren’t able to achieve their plan� at the summit.

The U.S.-proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), which aims to create the world’s largest free trade zone, was first proposed in 1994 and was supposed to have been finalized in January, but has been stalled amid deep divisions in Latin America.

Chávez argues that the plan would help big U.S. companies at the expense of Latin America’s poor, and has instead proposed a “Bolivarian Alternative� pact which are based on socialist principles.

Chávez claimed U.S. President George W. Bush left the summit “with his tail between his legs.�

He also criticized the stances of Peru, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago in favoring the free-trade pact.

Chávez called for applause on his program as he replayed videos from the summit, praising Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay for opposing the U.S. plan.

He also said Venezuela, though a member of the Andean Community, “has nothing to look for� in that organization since its members aim to join the free trade zone.

Playful as usual, Chávez sang lyrics from folk songs and replayed a video of Bush tepidly applauding and looking on blankly, saying leaders’ expressions “speak a world� about what they wanted to say but didn’t.

As for Trinidadian Prime Minister Patrick Manning, “he has a world vision very different from ours,� Chávez said, noting that Trinidad hopes to host the FTAA headquarters.

Chávez says that he is leading Venezuela away from U.S.-style capitalism and toward socialism – a mission he says Jesus would have approved that he spoke for the poor. Chávez recalled telling Manning: “Remember Jesus.�

Chavez is funny. He also seems committed to his people and improving their situation. I hope he'll keep capitalism as a basic economic system in Venezuela which coupled with some socialist programs could help his country and the region stand strong into the future.

The actions of the Wackident and his Treason Treaties are actually anti-capitalism plans which may be turning countries like Venezuela away from one of the best systems in the world, regulated capitalism.

That is a fall-out, unfortunate indeed, of a Traitor in the American White House.

GET HIM OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE!!

I'm beginning to like Chavez more and more. He is putting TWO of our enemies in their respective places! He is basically standing up to the "big boys" and telling them to STICK IT. Like you, Judy--I hope he will keep capitalism for his country and MAYBE he will. At least, he didn't let Bush and Fox get the best of HIM at the summit!

Yes, I hope this friction with our nation doesn't turn his nation permanently away from capitalism. I can understand from their view the "stink factor" at the present time, but it would be much better for them to study our system PRE-BUSH and see it for all its wonder and glory for most people. Even our system still has faults, but the faults are with the individuals manipulating the system, otherwise, it would work extremely well for almost all Americans and the citizens of any other nation who pursue with appropriate regulations to keep the Liars, Cheaters, Thieves and Globalists out of it.

regulated capitalism

The only thing that is regulated here anymore is the raising prices and the steady flow of jobs going off-shore. Camon fed raise that rate more please!

I can understand your wish to have them see what America was PRE-Bush, Judy, but is that really going to do any good?? Isn't it too late to go back to THAT America?? Don't you think the damage is already done? It will take our LIFETIMES to get rid of what it only took them a few years to get--free trade agreements that have just destroyed America's middle class. You KNOW how hard it is to UNDO mistakes of the past.

The Venezuelans can study our economy PRE-Bush. It's all available in statistics to see how it works without these alien, globalist, traitor interferences. They need to go back to the 80's Pre-Bush One which would give them a good model of how our system works. Looking at our system now shows a declining economy with all the good things down and all the bad things up which would with good reason turn anyone away from our system.

All this economic data is available for decades.

And, THEN, IF we EVER recapture our country, we can study THEIR model. Isn't that a sad commentary??

A president of a country ACTUALLY caring about what the citizens think and then STANDING UP FOR THEM!

I think Fox and Bush could learn from those presidents! They know that FTAA is not going to help their country or their people and they said so! Good for them!

IMAGINE THAT!!!