Posted on 03/19/2006 4:40:13 PM PST by freedom44
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday lobbed a litany of insults at U.S. President George W. Bush ranging from "donkey" to "drunkard" in response to a White House report branding the left-wing leader a demagogue.
Chavez is one of Bush's fiercest critics and has repeatedly accused the U.S. government of seeking to oust him from the presidency of Venezuela, the world's No. 5 oil exporter and a supplier of around 15 percent of U.S. crude imports.
"You are a donkey, Mr. Bush," said Chavez, speaking in English on his weekly Sunday broadcast.
"You're an alcoholic Mr. Danger, or rather, you're a drunkard," Chavez said, referring to Bush by a nickname he frequently uses to describe the U.S. president.
A White House report released last week on pre-emptive force in national security described Chavez as a "demagogue" who uses Venezuela's oil wealth to destabilize democracy in the region.
Washington is increasingly at odds with the former soldier over his close alliance with Cuba and Iran. U.S. officials dismiss his anti-U.S. tirades as rhetoric meant to stir nationalism before presidential elections in December.
Chavez's remarks also came after Venezuela's El Universal newspaper printed an interview with U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela William Brownfield, who reiterated his government's concern over growing ties between Venezuela and Iran.
Tensions between the Washington and Caracas rose in January after Venezuela expelled a U.S. naval attache on espionage charges and the U.S. State Department responded by removing a top Venezuelan diplomat from Washington.
Chavez was elected in 1998 on an anti-poverty platform, and has used billions of dollars in oil revenues to finance development programs for the poor as part of his self-styled socialist revolution.
He won a overwhelming victory in a recall referendum in 2004, but his critics at home and in Washington say he is centralising power in an increasingly authoritarian system and cracking down on political opponents.
Does he know that the US Democrats have the donkeys as its symbol LOL?
Real classy guy.
This is really insulting. Calling our President a Democrat.
In a related story, President Bush calls Chavez a doodie-head.
A "drunkard" and a "donkey"?
Does Chavez realize that Ted Kennedy is not our President?
What's Hugo's DU name?
No problem. Hugo may become a pile of ashes at some point if he isn't careful.
The LEFT WILL SUPPORT him now. HE is the Democrats kind of guy.
Yes, very insulting to say President Bush reminds him of a Democrat. I truly agree.
A donkey AND a drunkard? Who says the President isn't multi-talented!
Let Chavez and his !#$%^ in the ditch bring it on. He wants to start a fight that he won't win. Chavez and the Enemy Within led by the ones in congress that are Communists bring it on. President Bush is an Excellent President and Commander in Chief. I'm a Patriot and I'm AMERICAN and as long as the Stars and Stripes are flying I'm in the Fight. If you want to know where I will be if they aren't flying, I'l tell you. I'll be dead because I will not give AMERICA up. God Bless ALL of our people in uniform and their families.
We should have let the coup plotters take him out 4 years ago. Bush was far too nice, not wanting to look mean and imperialistic, so he distanced himself from the coup group after the short-lived overthrow. It's the same mistake we've made with fat-boy al-Sadr.
Beat me to it.
In addition, Venezuela makes a lot of women's sandals, cotton clothing and sun glasses.
I don't know how to play witht his like you guys do. I just type and go. :)
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