Posted on 08/22/2005 8:42:04 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson called on Monday for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, calling him a "terrific danger" to the United States.
Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition of America and a former presidential candidate, said on "The 700 Club" it was the United States' duty to stop Chavez from making Venezuela a "launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism."
Chavez has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of President Bush, accusing the United States of conspiring to topple his government and possibly backing plots to assassinate him. U.S. officials have called the accusations ridiculous.
"You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it," Robertson said. "It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war ... and I don't think any oil shipments will stop."
Electronic pages and a message to a Robertson spokeswoman were not immediately returned Monday evening.
Venezuela is the fifth largest oil exporter and a major supplier of oil to the United States. The CIA estimates that U.S. markets absorb almost 59 percent of Venezuela's total exports.
Venezuela's government has demanded in the past that the United States crack down on Cuban and Venezuelan "terrorists" in Florida who they say are conspiring against Chavez.
Robertson accused the United States of failing to act when Chavez was briefly overthrown in 2002.
"We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability," Robertson said.
"We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator," he continued. "It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with."
And killing Chavez wouldn't be "extreme"???!! Wouldn't that make us just like the Muslims?
Come on Pat! Why would you say such a thing? For crying out loud, that is all the body of Christ needs, is a call for killing someone!
What would Jesus do, Pat? What DID Jesus do? I don't think you are spending enough time with him....take a break.
Wow, aren't you the spinmeister. He said, and I quote, "If he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it." That isn't even close to the way you're trying to spin it. Nothing there about whether or not we are considering it; he even said he doesn't know what our assassination policy (here it is Pat: as a policy, we don't).
Umm... perhaps Televangelist Pat Robertson did?
It's being presented and endorsed on this and other threads in religious terms. So... yes. Just like the Muslims.
All kinds of people get killed in the bibul, so what's the problem?
Well, heck, if God told Pat to say that, then, who are we to argue.
"Wow, aren't you the spinmeister."
Not deliberate. And, speaking of spin, it still doesn't equate with calling for the death of Chavez, now does it? As if Pat Robertson has the authority to make good on it anyway.
Robar 50 Cal Bump!
I endorsed it, but not in religious terms. I said that I didn't care who said it, it is about time. Actually, I think that it's past time. Chavez should have been eliminated before Bush even took office.
Ah, we don't "do" that at FR.
Umm, what? What part of "I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it" do you not get? Or if you need confirmation, how about, "We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability"?
The "thinking" expressed by Utopia is that -- at least on THIS site -- we don't openly call for ANYONE's death.
If you feel like you need to say stuff like that, you're at the wrong web site.
There is another longer thread going and there was also one that was deleted. It's been done on those. But, you're right. It hasn't been supported on this thread in religious terms yet. Trust me, though. It's coming...:-)
Thanks a lot, Pat.
You've just lost the Republicans many thousands of potential votes.
Why don't you stick to diverting hurricanes, you idiot.
"Calling for death" versus "I think we ought to." Spin it into some sort of fatwah-equivalent if you like (and you clearly do like). But, there is a big difference, semantically speaking.
"Bullshit. Osama Bin Laden had declared direct war on America"
Ah but of course....Chavez hasn't threatened America.....he's just a "good" Commie, right?
Are you really this ignorant???
"Venezuela and North Korea Connect"
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=17748
"Even more troubling than Russian intervention, recent reports indicate that a North Korean military sales delegation has visited Caracas with the intention of selling Chavez intermediate range ballistic missiles."
"‘New Castro’ threatens to take his feud with America nuclear - (Chavez rattling nuke sabers!)"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1413034/posts
"“We want to initiate nuclear research and ask for help from countries like Iran,” he said."
"An overview on the relationship of Chavez, Castro & terrorism"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1309533/posts
"Chávez’s Venezuela prepares for confrontation with the US"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1365879/posts
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