We need a million rifles to repel US, Chavez says

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | February 6, 2005 | AP/Reuters

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he is considering buying enough rifles to arm one million people ready to repel a possible US invasion.

Chavez also threatened to close down his government's US-based refineries if Washington decided to cut diplomatic ties.

During a speech warning his supporters that Washington was considering an invasion of Venezuela, Chavez said that 100,000 Russian-built Kalashnikov assault rifles would not be enough to defend the country.

"We still need a higher number of rifles. The 100,000 Russian rifles are not enough, Venezuela needs to have one million well-equipped and well-armed men and women," he said.

"I've started making contacts with some countries" that would be able to supply the rifles, Chavez told the crowd of supporters to rousing applause.

Relations between Washington and Caracas have been tense in recent months in part because of US criticism of Venezuela's purchases of military equipment, including 100,000 Russian-made assault rifles.

Chavez said Venezuela did not want to go to the extreme of cutting off petroleum supplies to the US but he said if Washington wanted to break relations he could easily order Venezuela's US refineries closed.

"We'll see how high oil prices go, we'll see how much a gallon of gas will cost. I could easily sell the oil we sell to the United States to other countries," he said.

"We don't want to get to that extreme, we want them to leave us in peace."

Venezuela is the world's fifth biggest oil exporter and supplies about 15 per cent of US petroleum imports.

Washington has made no suggestion that it plans to cut off relations with Venezuela but Washington ordered out a Venezuelan diplomat after Chavez expelled a US military attache on spying charges earlier this week.

During Saturday's marathon speech, Chavez extended his war of words with Washington, comparing US President George Bush to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler while commemorating a failed 1992 coup he led as a lieutenant colonel.

"If any president in this world is similar, including physically, to Adolf Hitler it is Mr Danger," said Chavez, prompting cheers from his supporters following a march through Caracas.

"The imperialist, mass murdering, fascist attitude of the president of the United States doesn't have limits. I think Hitler could be a nursery baby next to George W Bush," Chavez added.

The Venezuelan leader's statements followed comments made on Thursday by US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who compared Chavez to Hitler and warned darkly about populist leadership in Bolivia and Cuba.

AP/Reuters

[Cincinatus' Wife]

By saying the U.S. will invade, Chavez works to elevate himself as worthy of notice and promotes himself as the anti-U.S. leader (dictator) to rally behind.

It's a joke having a book fair in Cuba. Chavez and Castro seem to be enjoying the irony.

Cuban President Fidel Castro (R) and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez share a laugh during the opening ceremony of the International Book Fair in Havana February 3, 2006. The Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez arrived Friday in Cuba for 24-hour visit in order to accept an international award from Unesco and open Havana international book fair honoring Venezuela, local media reported. REUTERS/Claudia Daut

[voletti]

Both Ahmed Nezhad and Chavez are actiuvely courting trouble.
Choicews have consequences.
Time to relearn the old lessons, eh?

[x1stcav]

Has 'El Gordito' ever thought of nationalization as a cure to his threats to manilulate his ownership of Citgo? I, for one, have stopped buying their gas.

[kentj]

Nice hunter safety shirt???? Hummmm

[SamAdams76]

Those million rifles in the hands of citizens will come in handy for the eventual revolution that will finally overthrow this repressive government.

Worked for us in 1775.

[bill1952]

Thats the ticket scumboy.

Arm the populace of a socialist dictator and see what shakes out.

[therut]

The Nuts at DU love this guy. Now if the US government was buying 1 gun for the citizens to repel an invasion the DU nuts would be screaming. Since Chavez is a Socialist/Communist it is glorious that he is doing so. I hope the people turn them on him. Which they will eventually as history shows. Of coarse he will only arm his thugs.

[sgtbono2002]

A Saddam Hussein wannabee, It wont be long and he will be screaming for nukes to protect his country with.

What he going to do with a million rifles? Bury them? He cant afford to give them to every citizen. Where are all the UN anti- gun nuts who want to take rifles from American citizens? This guy is like every other wannabee dictator, he shouts about threats that simply arent there. The US doeant go around invading countries that arent threats.

[Recon Dad]

We should not let them get their hands on one million guns. Someday after they chuck them as they run somebody is going to have to pick them up and dispose of them. On the other hand maybe we could sell them to him for oil. Double hit for us.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Another tinhorn dictator heard from. When the hell are we going to finally start drilling our own reserves?

[OneLoyalAmerican]

Greetings SamAdams76:

Those million rifles in the hands of citizens will come in handy for the eventual revolution that will finally overthrow this repressive government.

Great minds think alike? Deje la revolución comenzar.

Cheers,
OLA

[WestVirginiaRebel]

"I will call you...Mini-Com-Me!"

[Recon Dad]

Remember the line "You're no John F Kennedy". Well it applies to old Hugo. "You're no Fidel Castro".

My prediction is coup within 18 months.

[YOUGOTIT]

"Chavez said Venezuela did not want to go to the extreme of cutting off petroleum supplies to the US but he said if Washington wanted to break relations he could easily order Venezuela's US refineries closed"

Lets take them over as a matter of national security and NO ONE should be purchasing any of their product as long as they are in the hands of a dictator like Stalin.

[son of caesar]

on a military sales site that i peruse occasionally, letters of intent are constantly being published by venezuela looking for weapons. guess who will supply them eventually? our good friend china.

[hershey]

But democrats don't want to drill in Anwar.

[Loud Mime]

Really? Cindy let you do THAT to her?
When is the kid due?

[kingu]

This isn't for international consumption, but for domestic consumption. Chavez has no intention of following constitutional law (or any law) and is just getting everyone ready for him to declare an emergency, sure that the US will be invading any time now, and cease having any elections in his country.

A dictator is being born. Lucky for him, we don't rise to the bait. If we did, however, the nation would be run over in a matter of days. Good on him that we've got a thick skin.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Didn't Chavez hear we got a new gun that shoots 240,000 bullets a minute (no kidding)?

He's going to need more than a million crappy Russian rifles!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The middle class Vens know hes nuts. If Chavez shut down Citgo, his economy would tank in a month.