Aircraft Carrier USS George Washington, Now Taking Part in Naval Exercises That Venezuela Says are Meant to Intimidate It.
Posted on 05/09/2006 2:27:33 PM PDT by Leisler
Could it be that Washington is trying to intimidate Venezuela with large-scale naval maneuvers in the Caribbean Sea? According to this article from Venezuela's Cadena Global, President Hugo Chavez said, 'We aren't afraid of the Paper Empire!,' and 'We are preparing ourselves' for America's attempt to 'enslave us.'
During his Sunday "Hello President [Alo Presidente]" program, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez maintained that the purpose of the American military presence in the Caribbean is to "intimidate" his Government, and he warned that the "Bolivarian Revolution isn't afraid of the Empire." Chavez also announced that he would push forward a legal reform to increase taxes paid for the extraction of oil.
"There are 6,000 sailors in the Caribbean and I don't know how many aircraft carriers and submarines. Just because they sail around the Caribbean with fleets they feel like putting there, they aren't going to threaten us, they aren't going to frighten us, we aren't afraid of the Paper Empire!" Chavez declared.
The Venezuelan ruler argued that the presence of the United States Ambassador to Caracas, William Brownfield, "onboard and outfitted by the fleet," shows that "those military maneuvers taking place right here under our noses, are meant to threaten us."
Brownfield has rejected claims that his country's military maneuvers in the Caribbean, as part of "Operation Partnership of the Americas," are meant to intimidate Venezuela.
Taking part in the United States maneuvers, beside the aircraft carriers, are over a hundred combat aircraft, a cruiser, a destroyer, a frigate with missiles and 6,500 sailors, according to various sources.
The American maneuvers, which began in April and will continue through May, are taking place in international waters and also within the waters of Curacao, Aruba, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, San Cristobel and Nevis, among other Caribbean nations.
Chavez insistently denounced the presumed intention of Washington "to invade" Venezuela to take over its reserves of over 3.15 billion barrels of oil (according to official figures). The White House denies the allegation.
"If the United States thinks it can come here and enslave us, there will be nothing left for us to do than go to the mountains and to the neighborhoods and resist the aggression. We are preparing ourselves," the Chief of State reiterated during his Sunday program.
Chavez accuses the Government of the United States of "Imperialism" and of "meddling" in Venezuela's internal affairs, while Washington calls the President of Venezuela "authoritarian" and a promoter of "anti-American" sentiment.
Aircraft Carrier USS George Washington, Now Taking Part in Naval Exercises That Venezuela Says are Meant to Intimidate It.
*points at screen name*
one well placed round
Little Ceaser making promises he can't keep.
Buy a vowel, dufus. Better yet, buy a clue!
We did maneuvers in the Caribbean when I was in the Navy over 10 years ago. Guess we were trying to intimidate him then, too.
Did you ever see the movie, "The Mouse That Roared"? I think this is a situation like that.
It's not the ships that are intimidating so much as it's all those bombs coming in from everywhere.
Hmmm...nice strike package fly over.
Chavez ping, Howie's at it again.
"Paper empire."
Chavez has to be stand up comic at heart...
Hey Hugo, just ask Saddam's kids about the US's paper empire...uh..oh...wait...that might be kinda hard.
Wouldn't it though? Just for fun! GAWD, then the world WOULD have to wonder what the US is up to.....
great psych advantage.
It's all about Chavez though,,just ask him,,it's all about HIM.
The bombing begins in five minutes.
"'We are preparing ourselves' for America's attempt to 'enslave us.'
Don't think he would make much of a slave........lets just pop him and take his oil......we don't need slaves, we have George's illegals.
What a beautiful sight! I used to live in Colorado Springs where the Air Force Academy is, and every time an Air Force Cadet flew over I teared up!
First Iran, then Venzuela drawing a line in the sand. It's like they are double daring us.
Oh, blow it out your shorts, Hugo!
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