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."
Agreeing with someone's statement isnt the same as calling for it...which you accused me of doing. I asked you to show me where I called for it.
You said:The "thinking" expressed by Utopia is that -- at least on THIS site -- we don't openly call for ANYONE's death.
Maybe we should just pull this thread then???
Honest to goodness, some of these new people take us for ignorant, don't they?
Awwwwwwwww, Hugo and Fidel have got their cute little caps on.
"I don't seem to remember a body count."
Hey, it's okay with me if Delta Force only beats him up and maroons him on a desert island.
are you going to reply to my post or duck behind howlin's post?
I really don't care if he screamed "Just joking!" when they cut to commercial. At best it was an utterlly appalling display of behavior.
ping!
So if somebody calls you a jerk, and I say "Right on" that doesn't mean that's what I think?
BTW, you're parsing words almost as well as Bill Clinton.
Maybe YOU should just stop calling for the death of the leader of another country and the rest of the thread will be fine.
Umm, I did. Like I said. You say "Right on, Pat", then you take his position. Don't try and deny that you didn't call for Chavez's death after the fact.
I agree, Robertson is a disgrace.
Evidently, its OK if "our" religious leader calls for the deat of someone else, but its an outrage for "their" religious leader to call for the death of someone.
Hypocrisy once again.
Not to me; I've never called for the death of anyone on this site in the seven years I've been here.
And if you're saying I did, you're a flat out liar.
Well, I'm glad you can be so flippant as to compare Jesus' crusade against the moneychangers to a special ops invasion.
Are you sure you never said "drop dead" to anyone...:-)
Holy crap that's silly. Of course it is.
you still didnt reply to 40....hmmm interesting.
What a bunch of self-righteous a-holes on this thread.
Robertson's right, and every one of you naysaying pricks knows it.
So get off of what religion he is or isn't.
Evidently not very well.
Let's leave it at that.
Why? Can't you prove what you claimed?
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