Posted on 02/24/2004 9:07:29 AM PST by Tailgunner Joe
Reporting on the impending visit to Washington D.C. of a group of five envoys of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, VHeadline.com reports they will bring to the members of the press in Washington “new evidence” on the participation of President Bush in the Venezuelan events of April 2002 and on the accusation recently made by President Chavez that President Bush is the “author” of the killings of Venezuelans in April 11 and following days.
These are grave accusations indeed, and I am sure that the Washington press will give due consideration to these charges.
The members of the group of envoys are largely undistinguished, with the exception of Mr. Calixto Ortega, who is a person who generally makes sense. Nicolas Maduro and his companion Cilia Flores belong to the radical wing of the government’s party. Ismael Garcia is the man in charge of doing Chavez’ dirty work in all matters related to the Presidential Referendum ... now in imminent danger of being derailed by a collusion of dishonest government bureaucrats. Mr. Contreras I have never heard of.
They will probably speak through interpreters ... which, in itself, is very unsatisfactory but inevitable.
No doubt the Venezuelan Ambassador to Washington, Mr. Bernardo Alvarez, will be there to lend assistance when the envoys look bewildered. If I were there ... an impossibility since I am in Venezuela ... I would ask some of the following questions:
1. Is there any connection between your accusations against the US Presidency and the critical political situation your President Chavez finds himself in? Could it be that these accusations are designed to distract local and international public opinion from the predicament President Chavez is in?
2. In Monterrey, Mexico, President was seen warmly applauding President’s Bush speech. Why would he applaud a murderer?
3. Could you explain why President Chavez electoral promises have all been abandoned? Crime rate is at an all time high. Unemployment is at an all time high. Children abandoned in the streets are more numerous than ever. Numerous cases of corruption have been denounced in PDVSA and in the social programs of the government. Would you still call this a revolution for the betterment of the poor?
4. In 200 years as a republic, Venezuela has had only four "three sun" Generals: Bolivar, former President Lopez Contreras in the 1930s, and, during the last five years, two more: General Garcia Carneiro, one of the last members of his graduating class and General Rincon, the man who announced the resignation of President Chavez during the April 2002 events. Since these promotions should only be given for exceptional duty and honors won on the battlefield, what were the criteria utilized by President Chavez in the promotion of these two Generals?
5. The Presidential referendum is in clear danger of being invalidated. Do you think that the reasons for this invalidation will hold up in an international court of law? Do you really believe that this decision will give the current government the legitimacy it needs to continue in power, although governing seems already to be out of the question?
6. Why does the government keep claiming that PDVSA’s oil production figures are in the order of 3.2 million barrels per day when all international agencies (including OPEC), point to a production level of no more than 2.6 million barrels per day? Obviously, you cannot deceive international public opinion. Is this a claim only for internal propaganda purposes?
7. Why does President Chavez remain determined to utilize the international reserves for domestic current expenditure? Would not this decision trigger a wave of distrust by the international financial community and damage the quality of Venezuelan international debt? The huge volume of reserves has been obtained only at the expense of an almost total national economic paralysis during 2003, even if a petroleum rebound might take place in early 2004 due to high oil prices.
8. Since President Chavez arrived in power 5 years ago, the national internal debt has increased by a factor of eight and is now of the order of $16 billion. Today the local Venezuelan banks carry 65% of their debt portfolio in government paper. Isn’t this situation an invitation to internal financial disaster? Venezuelan banks now depend on the government as much as the government depends on internal banks. What happens if the government defaults or simply tells the banks that if they want to get paid they have to align themselves with the government?
9. Is it true that brother Adan Chavez’ naming as Venezuelan Ambassador to Cuba is designed to put him in charge of making all necessary arrangements to protect his brother’s already considerable international assets and to guarantee that President Chavez will have a safe exit route, when and if he abandons power?
10. President Chavez claimed that his government would promote a participatory, rather than a representative democracy. Why is it then that all political candidates of the government for regional elections in Carabobo, Zulia and all other States have been hand-picked by him, without any internal discussion or celebration of primaries? Mr. Calixto Ortega, one of the members of this group of envoys was a victim of this autocratic, arbitrary style. Since he wanted to be candidate for the State of Zulia and was passed over by Chavez in order to benefit an army General, has he anything to comment? How and why was he discarded?
11. Vladimir Villegas, president of Venezuelan TV Station 8 (owned by the Venezuelan nation, not by the government), has recently admitted to journalist Milagros Socorro in an interview with El Nacional that “I am not in my job as a journalist but as a politician. I am in a war and cannot afford to be objective.” Since this station belongs to the nation and not to the government, isn’t this an open admission of dishonest and illegal conduct?
12. At a recent event, Mrs. Lina Ron, one of the most violent of President Chavez’ followers, inaugurated her “ political party.” She said that her party would not recognize a referendum against President Chavez, no matter what. Two Ministers were present: Diosdado Cabello and Jessie Chacon. Cabello announced that the government would invalidate 2 million signatures if need be. Chacon is the person who was pictured standing over the dead body of a government employee during the 1992 coup. Are these persons, the impudent manipulator and the killer, still in President Chavez’ cabinet?
These and many more questions come to mind knowing that the very professional Washington press corps will have a go at the group of envoys.
Some other questions:
Dear journalists: If you think you are going to get coherent, reasonable answers to any one of these questions you are in for a disappointment … unless ... one of these persons decides to talk freely and ask for political asylum.
These commies certainly know who their allies are.
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