Posted on 03/13/2008 10:29:32 AM PDT by SmithL
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday urged nations such as Venezuela to meet their U.N. obligations and keep terrorists out of their territories.
"Borders are important. But borders cannot be a means by which terrorists hide and engage in activities that kill innocent civilians," Rice said after meeting with Brazilian leaders on a two-day trip to South America.
Her comments come a day after President Bush said Venezuela's response to the recent crisis in Colombia and Ecuador was "the latest step in a disturbing pattern of provocative behavior by the regime in Caracas."
The Bush administration is ramping up its tough talk against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, while at the same time praising its South American allies for holding strong against terrorism.
The latest rhetoric, including discussion of whether Venezuela should be designated a state sponsor of terror, is aimed at isolating Chavez and building stronger alliances inside Latin America at a time U.S. foreign policy remains deeply unpopular throughout the world.
Rice planned to visit Chile after her stop in Brazil, using the opportunity to engage leaders who the administration says have been helpful to U.S. economic and anti-terrorism efforts.
Left out of Rice's itinerary are those countries that have been critical of the U.S., including Argentina.
Rice met Thursday morning with Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and Foreign Minister Celso Amorim.
While the leaders discussed such issues as the economy and the use of biofuels, overshadowing their agenda was the recent clash in Ecuador.
Earlier this month, Chavez and Ecuador's president, Rafael Correa, ordered troops to their Colombian borders and withdrew their ambassadors from Bogota after Colombia killed a top rebel leader, Raul Reyes, on Ecuadorean soil.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
And what about our borders???????????
Oh, you know we are better than that. We are an open and free society. Get in goose step FRiend!
I’m glad Rice is following up on this. She hasn’t seemed to be very attentive to Latin America. I think the State Dept policy may be benign neglect, hoping the lefties will just fade away, but that’s not going to happen, especially with Hugo using every dime he gets to spread his “Bolivarian” regime throughout the continent.
We need to show support for the few rational actors down there. Lula is a socialist, but he’s fundamentally reasonable and wants to stimulate business and commerce in Brazil. He’s worth talking with, and of course, Colombia definitely needs our support.
“Borders are important. But borders cannot be a means by which terrorists hide and engage in activities that kill innocent civilians”
I wish she would explain that to Jorge Bush.
Here comes McCains, VP,and 2012 nominee against B Obama
Condi Rice has all the credibility of Maddy Albright at this point, she has caved on North Korea, caved on Iran, is busy selling out Israel to the Muzzies, why should we expect anything more than talk in regards to Venezuela?
That will be Condi’s legacy: All talk, and no action.
“Borders are important. But borders cannot be a means by which terrorists hide and engage in activities that kill innocent civilians,” Rice said
Should’ve known she wasn’t talking about OUR borders.
Talks tough with Chavez but bends over for the Palestinians?
Rice Toughens Talk Against Chavez
And that tough talk has worked to change what, where?
Her credibility is long gone.
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