Nice Going Dr. Robertson!
Pat Robertson, with his remark about assassinating Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, turned the paranoid Chavez into a paranoid president more likely to cut off the oil supply.
According to this Associated Press article in the Washington Post, Chavez will hold President Bush responsible should anything happen to him.
"'If something happens to me, the responsible one will be George W. Bush,'" said Chavez, who has repeatedly accused the Bush administration of plotting to overthrow him.
Source: AP article in August 26 Washington Post
With such paranoia, even if Chavez is ousted or harmed by domestic opponents, a successor or ally could surely hit the United States where it hurts, the pocketbook, through oil, even if the U.S. has no involvement.
For those without registration to the Times, here are they key points:
"Foes of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez clashed with his supporters on Saturday during an opposition march to demand electoral reform before parliamentary elections later this year.
"Six people were injured after hundreds of opponents of the populist leader marched from western Caracas to the center of the capital, where they skirmished with Chavez sympathizers in a volley of smoke bombs, rocks, bottles and fireworks.
"The street clashes were the most serious violence in months between supporters of Chavez and his opponents, who believe Venezuela's electoral board is biased and must be overhauled before National Assembly elections in December.
"Opponents say Chavez has become increasingly authoritarian in his rule of the world's No. 5 oil exporter. They say he has packed institutions like the Supreme Court and the electoral council with loyalist appointees and is driving the country toward Cuban-style communism.
"Chavez supporters say his ``revolutionary'' programs are finally using the OPEC nation's vast oil wealth to help the poor after years of neglect by previous governments."
Source: Reuters article filed August 27 in the New York Times.
Additionally, though it will never happen, Chavez may try to seek Robertson's extradition for his call to assassinate him. Here's the short report, published by Reuters on August 29 in the New York Times.
"CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug. 28 (Reuters) - President Hugo Chávez said Sunday that his government would take legal action against Pat Robertson and potentially seek his extradition after the American evangelist called for Washington to assassinate the South American leader.
"'I announce that my government is going to take legal action in the United States," Mr. Chávez said in a televised speech. "To call for the assassination of a head of state is an act of terrorism."
"Mr. Robertson, who apologized for the remark, said he was expressing his frustration with Mr. Chávez's constant accusations against the Bush administration.
"Mr. Chávez, long a critic of American foreign policy who frequently charges that Washington is plotting to kill him, called Mr. Robertson a "public menace."
"He said Venezuela could seek Mr. Robertson's extradition under international treaties and take its claim to the United Nations if the Bush administration did not act.
"Mr. Robertson, the founder of the Christian Coalition and a strong supporter of Mr. Bush, said last Monday that if Mr. Chávez "thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it.""
Way to go, Doctor Robertson. You know just how to anger the leader of a country that accounts for 11% of our oil imports. Perhaps you would like to make fun of Kuwait's leaders, next? Or, call for a saturation bombing of his home, maybe?
According to this Associated Press article in the Washington Post, Chavez will hold President Bush responsible should anything happen to him.
"'If something happens to me, the responsible one will be George W. Bush,'" said Chavez, who has repeatedly accused the Bush administration of plotting to overthrow him.
Source: AP article in August 26 Washington Post
With such paranoia, even if Chavez is ousted or harmed by domestic opponents, a successor or ally could surely hit the United States where it hurts, the pocketbook, through oil, even if the U.S. has no involvement.
For those without registration to the Times, here are they key points:
"Foes of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez clashed with his supporters on Saturday during an opposition march to demand electoral reform before parliamentary elections later this year.
"Six people were injured after hundreds of opponents of the populist leader marched from western Caracas to the center of the capital, where they skirmished with Chavez sympathizers in a volley of smoke bombs, rocks, bottles and fireworks.
"The street clashes were the most serious violence in months between supporters of Chavez and his opponents, who believe Venezuela's electoral board is biased and must be overhauled before National Assembly elections in December.
"Opponents say Chavez has become increasingly authoritarian in his rule of the world's No. 5 oil exporter. They say he has packed institutions like the Supreme Court and the electoral council with loyalist appointees and is driving the country toward Cuban-style communism.
"Chavez supporters say his ``revolutionary'' programs are finally using the OPEC nation's vast oil wealth to help the poor after years of neglect by previous governments."
Source: Reuters article filed August 27 in the New York Times.
Additionally, though it will never happen, Chavez may try to seek Robertson's extradition for his call to assassinate him. Here's the short report, published by Reuters on August 29 in the New York Times.
"CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug. 28 (Reuters) - President Hugo Chávez said Sunday that his government would take legal action against Pat Robertson and potentially seek his extradition after the American evangelist called for Washington to assassinate the South American leader.
"'I announce that my government is going to take legal action in the United States," Mr. Chávez said in a televised speech. "To call for the assassination of a head of state is an act of terrorism."
"Mr. Robertson, who apologized for the remark, said he was expressing his frustration with Mr. Chávez's constant accusations against the Bush administration.
"Mr. Chávez, long a critic of American foreign policy who frequently charges that Washington is plotting to kill him, called Mr. Robertson a "public menace."
"He said Venezuela could seek Mr. Robertson's extradition under international treaties and take its claim to the United Nations if the Bush administration did not act.
"Mr. Robertson, the founder of the Christian Coalition and a strong supporter of Mr. Bush, said last Monday that if Mr. Chávez "thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it.""
Way to go, Doctor Robertson. You know just how to anger the leader of a country that accounts for 11% of our oil imports. Perhaps you would like to make fun of Kuwait's leaders, next? Or, call for a saturation bombing of his home, maybe?
posted by Will at 1:36 AM
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