Thread: Chavez snubs US

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061205/ap_ ... election_3

This man is a menace and is an amazing Spin Doctor on his own PR! We might share an interest, but it is an opposing one.

Brownfield said the United States and Venezuela share an interest in cooperating on issues including combatting drug trafficking, international crime and terrorism, as well as trade and energy issues.

Chavez snubs U.S. overture for dialogue By CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER, Associated Press Writer
Tue Dec 5, 6:50 PM ET

CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez snubbed a U.S. overture for dialogue on Tuesday, saying he is always willing to talk but doubts Washington sincerely wants to improve relations.

Chavez, who overwhelmingly won another six-year term in elections Sunday, said if the U.S. really wants to take meaningful steps, it would halt the war in Iraq and extradite a jailed Cuban militant who is wanted in Venezuela for a 1976 airliner bombing.

"They want dialogue but on the condition that you accept their positions," Chavez said at his first news conference since Sunday's vote.

"If the government of the United States wants dialogue, Venezuela will always have its door open," he said. "But I doubt the U.S. government is sincere."

The comments from Chavez came shortly after U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield congratulated Venezuelans on a peaceful vote and expressed Washington's willingness to seek a less conflictive relationship with Chavez.

"The president was re-elected by the decision of the Venezuelan people," Brownfield told the Venezuelan broadcaster Union Radio. "We recognize that and we're ready, willing and eager to explore and see if we can make progress on bilateral issues."

Brownfield said the United States and Venezuela share an interest in cooperating on issues including combatting drug trafficking, international crime and terrorism, as well as trade and energy issues. "Venezuela is a partner of the United States, for geographical reasons, for historical reasons," he said.

The United States remains the No. 1 buyer of Venezuelan oil, but tensions have often precluded dialogue. Chavez accuses Washington of backing a 2002 coup against him, while U.S. officials worry about the health of Venezuela's democracy in a government dominated by Chavez and his allies.

Chavez also said his landslide re-election victory in a vote marked by the highest turnout in years showed Venezuela supports a radical turn toward socialism.

Chavez spoke after the elections council formally declared him the winner, defeating Manuel Rosales with nearly 63 percent of the vote. Electoral officials said turnout was about 75 percent. Chavez won some 7.2 million votes out of more than 11 million cast, the results showed.

"Those who voted for me didn't vote for me. They voted for the socialist plan, to build a profoundly different Venezuela," Chavez said, praising the Rosales camp for accepting his victory. "I want to salute the responsible opposition ... It was time they assumed the attitude of true democrats."

Rosales, meanwhile, said that although the opposition suffered a setback in the vote, it has won a victory of sorts by uniting forces to challenge Chavez in the future.

"This is a political triumph in the middle of an electoral setback," Rosales said. "We are going to continue fighting."

Recent polls suggest Venezuelans hold a variety of opinions about socialism. An Associated Press-Ipsos poll last month found that 37 percent favored a socialist economic system, 22 percent favored capitalism and 33 percent preferred a mix of the two.

Eighty-four percent opposed adopting a political system similar to that of Cuba, which has become Venezuela's close ally under Chavez.

During the news conference, Chavez read a note from ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro congratulating him on his victory. Chavez said he could tell from the signature that Castro was gaining his strength back.

On Tuesday, Cuba's Communist newspaper published a brief message on its front page that was signed with Castro's name.

"The victory was resounding, crushing and without parallel in the history of our America," read the message in the Communist Party daily Granma.

Chavez has said he plans to seek constitutional reforms to end presidential term limits and enable him to run again in 2012. Rosales pledged to fight that bid with a proposal instead to reduce terms to four years.

Chavez also has said he plans to deepen oil-funded social programs aimed at reducing poverty. He says he will fully respect private property, though he also pledged to deepen agrarian reform and has hinted he might nationalize Venezuela's largest telecommunications company.

Electoral observers from the European Union said in a preliminary report Tuesday that they backed the results of Sunday's election and that overall the vote was carried out smoothly and securely.

However, the EU mission noted a few areas of concerns, including a high participation of public employees in Chavez's campaign events, unbalanced coverage in both state and private media, and a heavy use of government advertising by Chavez, and to a lesser degree, Rosales.

Monica Frassoni, the Italian head of the EU mission, said complaints had been received of alleged pressure on public employees to vote for Chavez. She said such pressure would violate electoral laws, but the mission was not able to evaluate those complaints.

boycott Citgo Gas

Good idea, but it is a double edged sword since we need the oil and it hurts American stockholders. We should probably drill more in the US but the environmentalists are opposed and leaves us vulnerable to evil leaders. It's a no win situation.

Well ... Chavez did say publicly a month or so maybe two months ago that he will resume active dialogue with the US government when Bush is out of office. If 2 years doesn't matter on anything else, a couple of years on Venezuela won't either. I mean they're selling us all the oil we want from them. It's busines as usual. They aren't doing anything to harm us. If there is something we want from them ... well we should have thought of that before we tried an unsuccessful coup, had Pat Robertson on the air suggesting assassinating Chavez, had the OAS force new elections which resulted in the same selection of Chavez but with a wider margin, Bush should have said "HI" at the FTAA conference last fall, and well .. so many things.

I've found that when you want something from someone and they don't really need you, that being nice to them works alot better than being mean to them. Buy hey ... don't mind me ... I'm sure Bush has the situation under control in Venezuela just like he does in New Orleans, Iraq, and everywhere else in the World.

Don't worry ... it's just 2 more years ... then you'll see Chavez at the White House at all the dinner parties with the new President of the USA flanked by Kim Jong Il and Ahmadinejad with everyone making nice and planning good "bidness" deals.

I've got a feeling "Hope" is on the way via .... New York.

:P

Originally Posted by Judy

I mean they're selling us all the oil we want from them. It's busines as usual. They aren't doing anything to harm us. If there is something we want from them ... well we should have thought of that before we tried an unsuccessful coup, had Pat Robertson on the air suggesting assassinating Chavez, had the OAS force new elections which resulted in the same selection of Chavez but with a wider margin, Bush should have said "HI" at the FTAA conference last fall, and well .. so many things.

I've found that when you want something from someone and they don't really need you, that being nice to them works alot better than being mean to them. Buy hey ... don't mind me ... I'm sure Bush has the situation under control in Venezuela just like he does in New Orleans, Iraq, and everywhere else in the World.

Don't worry ... it's just 2 more years ... then you'll see Chavez at the White House at all the dinner parties with the new President of the USA flanked by Kim Jong Il and Ahmadinejad with everyone making nice and planning good "bidness" deals.

I've got a feeling "Hope" is on the way via .... New York.

:P

Judy, you scare me. I am wondering...were you born in the US? I do not understand your allegiance to Hugo Chavez. You have a couple of holes in your theory: what evidence do you have of a coup? Chavez does no harm? He is on a one man mission to take down the US and spread propaganda, and has said so publicly. Aren't you an American citizen? That means you too. Pat Robertson is not a government official so that is a pointless discussion, and has no bearing. Hugo Chavez acts like a child, throwing a tantrum, and the US treats him as such. Our business relationship with Venzuela is clearly just that, and we both profit from it.

There a couple of things that bother me about Chavez. One is providing Venezuelan papers for visas to the U.S. for people from countries that are known to sponsor terrorists. Another is his courting of OPEC.

Judy, you scare me. I am wondering...were you born in the US? I do not understand your allegiance to Hugo Chavez. You have a couple of holes in your theory: what evidence do you have of a coup? Chavez does no harm? He is on a one man mission to take down the US and spread propaganda, and has said so publicly. Aren't you an American citizen? That means you too. Pat Robertson is not a government official so that is a pointless discussion, and has no bearing. Hugo Chavez acts like a child, throwing a tantrum, and the US treats him as such. Our business relationship with Venzuela is clearly just that, and we both profit from it.

Neese, yes, I was born in the United States. I'm an American Citizen. My family is Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution. In fact we've documented, (my elderly aunt does this research), back to the Colonies now. So, neese, we've all been here a long time. Fought in all the wars ... 3 uncles and my Dad were in WWII ... one Uncle was at Iwo Jima. My brother-in-laws father was a 4-Star Air Force General who had the distinction of being fired by a former President for protecting America's Air Force Pilots in Vietnam. I'm a 4th Generation Republican that's so far has never voted for a Democrat. I've worked on the campaigns of and helped put 3 men in the United States Senate and 1 as Governor of my home state.

I worked in government as a economic developer, then for a major corporation (globalist but a nice one at the time) and then started my own industrial real estate company.

My family consists of farmers; workers; teachers; professionals; and public servants.

We've been here a long long time, neese. And let me tell you ... the day Americans are "scared" of a two-bit politician like Hugo Chavez ... then the problem isn't with Hugo Chavez, now is it?

The day our existence is threatened by a country like Venezuela or a leader like Hugo Chavez ... then the problem isn't with Hugo Chavez, now is it?

I think what we have here, neese, is that there are some business interests in Venezuela that think they're deal down there might turn sour under Hugo. Well ... they need to work it out because I do believe he's going to be there for a long long time. His political plan from what I've read in the news about it is to take oil revenues and disperse those throughout his country to improve life for his people and yes to do that he needs a higher tax structure and a more socialistic system ... I believe he will go for the mix which is some social programs while allowing free enterprise to prevail in most instances. There is no evidence anywhere in the world that totally socialistic countries; totally communistic; or totally capitalistic systems work. Every developed nation has some "mix" of socialism and capitalism.

I do not have any loyalty to Hugo Chavez ... I'm just getting a kick out of him giving the Bush Administration a hard time. I do agree with his opposition to the FTAA which is the issue that drew my attention to him in the first place.

Hugo Chavez poses no threat to the United States.

Bush and FTAA pose the threat.

Ironically, a little two bit politician stopped them both to our extreme benefit.

Tell me about yourself, neese.

Wow! That is some line up! The reason I asked you if you were born in the US was to figure out why you keep defending Hugo Chavez.I did not need your resume, but thanks for the information, it was very interesting. I was raised to be a patriotic American, who even if I do not agree with the policy, should at least respect the position. This man respresents the United States, which I am proud to live in, and I feel an obligation to protect what is ours. I agree, we need change in our country, but doing things out of spite does not seem like the rational way of doing it. However, siding with a corrupt government official from another country over our own President seems unAmerican to me. Now, knowing your family's history, it shocks me even more! Why take pleasure in another person's pain? Especially knowing that Chavez wants to see the US fall. I also don't understand you defending his "good deeds". Do you think that elections was legitimate? I sure don't. I don't recall saying that I was scared of Hugo Chavez, I believe that I said that you scare me. I can't relate to your thought process, and obviously you can't relate to mine. I am not scared of Hugo Chavez but I am understandably wary of him. Don't underestimate anyone, it is certain demise. He is very comfortable with the likes of Cuba and Russia, amongst others, and although you feel he has no power on his own, there is power in numbers. Think about that...


Please explain:

And let me tell you ... the day Americans are "scared" of a two-bit politician like Hugo Chavez ... then the problem isn't with Hugo Chavez, now is it?

neese ... I think I see your problem. You were raised to defend the individuals who happen to hold certain positions from time to time right or wrong.

NO NO NO NO.

We are Americans.

We do NOT defend these Traitors right or wrong for heaven sakes.

You NEVER support a President or anyone who is selling out your nation lock stock and barrel.

Why in the world would you think this is Patriotic? It defies everything our nation stands for. You NEVER support the position when the position is wrong. You NEVER side with a man from Texas who happened to become President of the United States when he's bullying a poor nation like Venezuela. I personally do not care what anyone does in Venezuela. But I am certainly not going to criticize a Leader who is in his view and based upon the outcome of the election helping his people.

Why in the world would you not recognize the good deeds of Chavez which includes buildings schools to educate his people? Why haven't they already been built? This is 2006? What were the other leaders you apparently liked better doing all these hundreds of years?

Why in the world would you not recognize Chavez ensuring that his people have food they can afford to buy? Why don't they already have plenty of food to eat? What were the other leaders doing all these years? Letting their people starve to death?

Why in the world would you not recognize Chavez for making a deal with Cuba to exchange low cost oil to help Cuba with its economic development in exchange for Cuban Doctors to help take care of the medical needs of Venezuelans? Why don't they already have plenty of doctors to care for the sick in Venezuela? What were the other leaders doing all these years? Letting their people die from lack of medical attention?

Why in the world would you not recognize Chavez and his free education for students to attend the University? Education is how you advance a nation and the people who live in it. What were the other leaders doing all these years? Letting their people's minds waste due to poverty and the inability to attend the University? Just reserving education for the affluent?

As Americans .. we recognize certain individual rights and the right to food, medical attention and education rank at the top of the list.

Why in the world would you want to criticize a President of Venezuela who is trying to ensure those rights for his people?

I don't care what his motives are .... if he becomes popular because he fed and educated Venezuelans where others before him hadn't, then he probably deserves all the votes he got.

Such a man and such a country can't hurt the United State unless we have become so weak, so poor, so non-sovereign that such a person could possibly influence our nation politically.

Hugo Chavez is not making our country poor or weak ... our President is doing that.

You attack a President of another nation who has nothing to do with the United States economic condition yet applaud our own who is responsible for all for it.

I don't understand that.

As Americans we respect all countries and all their leaders until they do something to US ... not the creep in the White House none of US like anymore either ... but to US ... the American People.

Hugo Chavez has and will not ever do anything to harm the American People. He doesn't have the authority or capability and I doubt the desire. If he wants to take pot shots at a man he believes for whatever reason who tried to perform a coup against him, led the nations to contest Chavez's first election, has confidants like Pat Robertson suggesting the man be assassainated, allowed a CIA Operative to go on the news the next day and confirm that assassination was the only way to deal with Hugo Chavez ...I saw it aghast that a CIA Operative still on our payroll would go on CNN and Fox News and make such outrageous statements along with Col. David Hunt who said when asked about assassination "absolutely" ... then it is no wonder Chavez doesn't like George Bush and would "snub" him.

We sold Venezuela F-16 aircraft and I'm sure they paid well for them. This stupid Bush Administration refuses to sell them replacement parts so they can operate and maintain them. So what does Venezuela do ... goes shopping elsewhere which did nothing but cost our defense contractors alot of money, our people alot of jobs, and put Venezeula in the camp with others.

When we sell a nation anything let alone something as expensive as military aircraft and then after taking their money refuse to sell them the replacement parts they need to operate that aircraft that is UNAmerican.

Venezuela is our friend. When they elect a President, then that President is our friend because the people of Venezuela are our friends. We may not like him; we may not approve of how he runs his country; we may not agree with the manner in which he deals with their socio-economic problems ... but when it comes to diplomacy and trade ... we treat that President the same as we would any President of any country and that is with respect, honor and integrity.

And we unfortunately haven't done that, have we?

It's time to treat the Presidents of all these countries Bush has tried to demonize with respect, honor and integrity and that means treating them the same as we treat any President.

This Bullying these little countries isn't getting the USA anywhere and it reflects poorly on our reputation. We kiss China's butt ... the most brutal communistic country in the history of the world .. and then disparage Kim Jong Il, Ahmadinejad and Chavez.

Whether we agree with these people or not, even when we have disputes (and I'm not even aware of any current dispute with Venezuela), we have to treat them with the same respect any independent sovereign nation is entitled to and that is the highest level of diplomatic respect.

That is how our country builds relationships, keeps our nation secure, presents trade and investment opportunities for our people and companies, but most important of all ... builds the respect in return for our nation and our people.

Originally Posted by Newmexican

There a couple of things that bother me about Chavez. One is providing Venezuelan papers for visas to the U.S. for people from countries that are known to sponsor terrorists. Another is his courting of OPEC.

If someone in the Venezuelan government has actually done this, then there should be no more Visas issued to Venezuela and the people who were admitted rounded up and deported post haste. If this hasn't already occurred, then that failure falls on BushFlop ... again.

Do you recall what country it was that is known to sponsor terrorists whose citizens entered the US on Venezuelan papers?

What's the deal with courting OPEC? Is he looking for investment dollars from OPEC to expand his exploration and development?

Well ... Bush has shunned him for 4 years .. Chavez comes to US, we shun him, he's not sitting around, he moves right on to the next group that can help him meet his objectives.

I don't know that much about the OPEC connection so anything you have that would explain that, I would really appreciate.

Thanks!!