Posted on 05/14/2006 3:18:49 PM PDT by kevin_in_so_cal
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has warned the US that any attack on Iran will have devastating consequences and send oil prices soaring.
Mr Chavez, on a two-day trip to the UK, called for a socialist new world order and said nations were cowards for not standing up to the "American empire".
The US has not ruled out military action against Iran over its nuclear programme but is pursuing diplomacy.
Hundreds of supporters gave Mr Chavez a rapturous welcome in north London.
Packed ballroom
The president told the meeting in Camden, hosted by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, that a US military attack on Iran would lead to Tehran cutting off its oil supply.
"If the United States attacks Iran... oil could reach $100 (£52) a barrel or more," he said.
"Moreover, Iran has said it would attack Israel, and I know they have the wherewithal to do so.
"This would be a terrible escalation and I do not know where it would end and I do not know who would get out the first nuclear bomb or how many people would die. No-one would be safe from this madness."
Mr Chavez said the US "doesn't know what to do" in Iraq, which he called "the Vietnam of the 21st Century".
Jubilant supporters cheered him, many clad in Venezuela's red, blue and yellow and banging drums, while hundreds more were left outside the packed ballroom.
Mr Chavez said capitalism was a "destructive" system and that "socialism is the way forward".
Mr Chavez called unrestricted free trade "a trap by the world's most powerful so they can keep the weakest in slavery".
Britain and a number of other countries have criticised Mr Chavez's moves to exert greater control over his country's oil reserves - the world's fifth largest.
On Friday Prime Minister Tony Blair urged Venezuela to use its energy resources responsibly.
The president's trip has been described as a private one - he has made no request to see Mr Blair or any government officials.
On Monday Mr Chavez will have lunch with Mr Livingstone, and will deliver a lecture in the evening.
BBC Americas editor James Painter says Mr Chavez's strategy for this trip is similar to the one he used when visiting the US in September last year. He does not meet government officials but rather appeals over their heads to appear as a man of the people.
Our correspondent says Mr Chavez does not want a "European flank" opening that would support the critical comments made of his regime by the US.
Nice. (rolls eyes)
And lets not forget this:
He's becoming almost as annoying as Al Gore.
Hey,Hugo...your main worry these days is that we might go for a "twofer".A .50 cal round delivered to the back of your filthy Maoist head will take care of half the problem.
but they look so convenient together
Hugo can go inhale the nearest exahust pipe. The she-hag can too.
That's because their brains share the same, single neuron. Ever notice how Gore is never in public when Chavez is and vice versa? THat's because one is waiting for the Fed Ex box with their shared neuron to be returned.
If our government ever gets serious again about running this country, they have a lot of work to do. With special focus on the 3-letter agencies.
a US military attack on Iran would lead to Tehran cutting off its oil supply.
"If the United States attacks Iran... oil could reach $100 (£52) a barrel or more," he said.
"Moreover, Iran has said it would attack Israel, and I know they have the wherewithal to do so.
"This would be a terrible escalation and I do not know where it would end and I do not know who would get out the first nuclear bomb
Oh let's see, if Iran is attacked they will attack a smaller
neutral country??
Don't worry Caesar, we'll save a bomb for you.
Only idiots keep socialism from the dungheap of history.
"....the way forward." My Arse!
Two of the bigger mistakes of the last four-plus years were letting Hugo and fat boy Al Sadr live. Both should have been made to disappear.
We're gonna bomb Iran one way or another... any reason we couldn't bomb venezuela at the same time??
History says destroy your enemy to finality!!! We have not learned that lesson!!! Shame!!!!
Correct. The only thing which has ever advanced the cause of freedom and peace among nations has been decisive victory.
This delusional bastard will be dead or out of office before Christmas....
Semper Fi
Why haven't some special forces taken this idiot out, uhhh, of the public spotlight, a long time ago?
Oh, that's right, he's a stoolie of the NWO puppet masters to help harrass, attack and divide the USA.
I mean, hasn't some remote jungle village lost it's idiot? Couldn't he be returned for some therapeutic head shrinking by the village . . . uh psychiatrist?
Perhaps we could volunteer him to colonize Pluto along with Scuba Teddy and Cindy Sheehan and Boxerface? Maybe throw in Soreloser, Skerry, Puhlousy, Windy McKinney, and Dashdull for good measure?
One JDAM away from irrelevancy.
Someone needs to take this talking pineapple out and soon.
"Hey Hugo! You remember that guy who used to run Panama? What was his name again?"
He's got a face like "spud's mackenzie"; or Pappy Boyington's dog "meatball" (black sheep squadron).
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