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."
rush does it a lot, i swear i hear him making points that freepers have made, using the exact word.
so we can call it the "Freeper echo syndrome" ;)
More proof that militant American conservatives are in the wrong religion.
What whould Joshua or Samson have done? Now that's the way to frame the question!
Bump for later
How ironic it is that just now on Fox News Col. David Hunt is being interviewed on how he sort of agrees with the Rev. and at the same time, in the background U.S. city picture there is a huge Gitgo (a Venezuelan oil company) sign above his left shoulder.
"That was exactly the response this story was meant to elicit. It's troubling how many of you had the "correct" reaction without even thinking twice."
WOW! 53 posts to get to the 'meat'! And from one who is neutral no less!
I'm afraid the noise is too load for many to hear, Antoninus.
Score 100 just the same.
Robertson should not have shared his thoughts from the pulpit advocating assassination of a foreign leader. He does however have the right under the first amendment to do do.
Since we are in a different world now since 9/11, I believe the government's policy against assassination should be revisited. Chavez is a growing threat to our security and should be treated as such.
"He's starting to occupy the same strata as Ken Phelps."
Whoa...spoke too soon...but you were right on the first one.
And when the "taking out" is attempted with dozens of $1 million cruise missiles, it's simply President Clinton being heroic.
...."We don't call for the death of people at this web site.".......
I don't know about that.
Think how things may have turned out if an operative gave Saddam an unexpected dirtnap, then his two thug kids.
They get offed without killing thouands of innocent citizens and 1900 American heroes! And $300 billion!
"Would Jesus want to put a bullet into somebody's head?"
Do YOU know Him well enough to say He wouldn't?
I condemn any person that calls for the killing of the leadership of a foreign country, under the color of religion.
Right on, Pat!
Good for Pat for opening the discussion. I love it when people refuse to be PC.
You certainly don't have to be a Christian to understand the threat Chavez poses. Just because Robertson IS a Christian, he can't speak his mind? You have to make the association with Christians, rather than just the fact of the matter? Give me a break.
When does the left NOT make a big deal of anything the right says? We're used to it. We're sick of it. And we are starting to speak out. (which is just so unconservative-like).
You have fallen directly into the liberals' trap. Freedom of speech is for everyone except Christians.
You mean that SOME of our opinions should be kept to ourselves? By what criteria?
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