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Note: The following post is an exact quote:
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1467393/posts
US Senator Asks Rumsfeld to Stop Criticism of Chavez
VOICE OF AMERICA/AP ^ | 20 August 2005 | --
Posted on 08/20/2005 2:28:10 PM PDT by johnny7

Hugo ChavezA prominent U.S. Republican senator has asked the defense secretary to tone down his criticism of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, suggesting it could hurt drug fighting efforts in the region. The request was made in a letter Friday from Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania to Secretary Rumsfeld, and follows the senator's meeting Wednesday with Mr. Chavez in Caracas.

The following day, Mr. Rumsfeld said during a South American visit there was evidence that Venezuela and Cuba were involved in Bolivia "in unhelpful ways." Political unrest in Bolivia has led to the resignation of two presidents there in the last two years. Senator Specter says his meeting with Mr. Chavez led to diplomatic talks next week to resolve differences between narcotics officials, and a moratorium on adverse comments might be helpful.

Some information for this report provided by AP."

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1465243/posts

"Iran, Venezuela discuss oil embargo"
Toward Freedom, VT ^ | August 17, 2005
Posted on 08/17/2005 11:17:30 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "TEHRAN — "Oil is the lifeline of the West, and most of the West's military industries are dependent on it,” the Tehran Times suggested in an editorial last week. Irritated by a recent resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that called for a halt to Iran’s uranium conversion program, the newspaper suggested that oil-rich states form a united front and use oil as a tool to confront "western neocolonialist countries."

In Venezuela, Pres. Hugo Chavez has taken the idea a step further, threatening to halt oil exports if alleged attacks on his country continue, according to Agence France Press. Appearing last week as a witness at a symbolic “anti-imperialist court” in Caracas, Chavez said, “Washington’s molestation may cause more serious problems; our two oil tankers going to the U.S. everyday may go to another country.” He added that the “Northern America market is not compulsory for us.” Venezuela exports 1.5 million barrels of oil to the United States daily.

According to the Islamic Republic News Agency, the Iranian newspaper’s editorial described oil as “the most potent economic weapon for settling scores,” and suggested an embargo on oil sales to the United States and European countries that are pressuring Iran to end its nuclear program. It also criticized what it sees as a double standard, noting that Israel, Pakistan and India have nuclear weapons, and that most of them have conducted tests."