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In Americas, Chavez is biggest thorn
Chicago Tribune ^ | July 10, 2006 | Gary Marx

Posted on 07/10/2006 11:38:21 AM PDT by Tailgunner Joe

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has emerged as the United States' most formidable adversary in Latin America since Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba more than 45 years ago.

Flush with oil money, a leftist ideology and virulent anti-Americanism, Chavez has solidified his control over Venezuela while using the country's wealth to raise his profile across the region. American policymakers have few options to counter the charismatic former paratrooper whose incendiary rhetoric and populist programs are popular on a continent gripped by poverty and resentful of American power.

One U.S. priority is to foil Venezuela's bid for a rotating seat on the United Nations Security Council that comes open next year. The U.S. is concerned that Chavez will continue backing Iran in its nuclear standoff with the West and is pressuring Latin American nations to support the candidacy of Guatemala, a close American ally.

Calls Bush `donkey,' `terrorist'

But Chavez's oil wealth gives him leverage--the threat of economic sanctions, such as those against Cuba, would not work against Venezuela--and he seems to revel in thumbing his nose at President Bush, calling him a "donkey," a "drunkard" and a "terrorist." ...

While the United States promotes capitalism, free trade and the fight against global terrorism, Chavez sees Bush as the No. 1 threat to world peace and his capitalist model as bringing poverty to the continent.

Ignoring U.S. criticisms and pushing what he describes as a "multipolar" world free of American imperialism, Chavez is bankrolling Cuba, has won a key ally in newly elected Bolivian President Evo Morales and strengthened ties with other U.S. adversaries such as Iran.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dictator; geopolitics; hugochavez; hugoping; latinamerica; multipolar; thug; venezuela

1 posted on 07/10/2006 11:38:21 AM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
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To: Tailgunner Joe

I think America should follow Ralph Peters' advice about Latin American socialists. "Don't worry. The East Germans didn't make Socialism work. Do you really think the Venezuelans can?"


2 posted on 07/10/2006 12:39:24 PM PDT by xkaydet65 (Peace, Love, Brotherhood, and Firepower. And the greatest of these is Firepower!)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

-bflr-


3 posted on 07/10/2006 12:40:59 PM PDT by rellimpank (Don't believe anything about firearms or explosives stated by the mass media---NRABenefactor)
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To: Tailgunner Joe; jazusamo; Thunder90; Hill of Tara; Victoria Delsoul; Army Air Corps; ...


PING – Hugo is at it again!

Please FReepmail me if you would like on/off the Hugo/Venezuela Ping list.

HugoPing Archive

4 posted on 07/10/2006 1:27:36 PM PDT by proud_yank (Truth to liberals is as useful as a snowblower in hell.)
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To: Tailgunner Joe
....and his capitalist model as bringing poverty to the continent.

Uh huh.
5 posted on 07/10/2006 1:32:58 PM PDT by proud_yank (Truth to liberals is as useful as a snowblower in hell.)
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To: proud_yank; Army Air Corps; Alberta's Child; HitmanLV
Calls Bush `donkey,' `terrorist'

What an idiot! Wait... he got it right.... donkeys are terrorists, LOL!

Gosh, I was feeling down, but this just made me laugh.

Hey, Hitman, take a look at this... in case you find the time without interrupting your vacation, hehe.

6 posted on 07/10/2006 7:53:10 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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To: Victoria Delsoul
...donkeys are terrorists, LOL!

But John Kerry told me that US soldiers were the terrorists. Can you explain? :-)
7 posted on 07/10/2006 8:02:44 PM PDT by proud_yank (Truth to liberals is as useful as a snowblower in hell.)
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To: proud_yank

Of course I can explain. John Kerry is a flip-flop opportunistic, who would say anything he thinks keeps his constituency happy.


8 posted on 07/10/2006 8:06:19 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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To: Victoria Delsoul

Golly gee darn, I'm really confused now! I thought liberals said they support the troops?? Or perhaps they support them before they don't support them.


9 posted on 07/10/2006 8:11:22 PM PDT by proud_yank (Truth to liberals is as useful as a snowblower in hell.)
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To: proud_yank

Hahaha, nah, you are not confused. You are seeing it like it is.


10 posted on 07/10/2006 8:13:38 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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To: Victoria Delsoul

Chavez is jussed miffed that his pal Kim is hogging the headlines and that he (Hugo) has no missiles to toss into the sea.


11 posted on 07/10/2006 8:37:58 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: Army Air Corps

I think you are right. I know you are, lol.


12 posted on 07/10/2006 8:40:31 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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To: Victoria Delsoul

I am sure that Cindy Sheehan will pay for some Estes rockets so that Hugo can have rockets just like Li'l Kim. He can call them Hugo Dong...


13 posted on 07/10/2006 8:42:34 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: Army Air Corps

LOL!


14 posted on 07/10/2006 8:51:38 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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To: Victoria Delsoul

Nice catch, Victoria. LOL.


15 posted on 07/10/2006 9:06:27 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (Can money pay for all the days I lived awake but half asleep?)
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To: Victoria Delsoul

I have noticed that Hugo, Kim, the Loon in Iran constantly compete with one another for media attention. Maybe we should start a new game show - International Idol. Representatives of the UN and the MSM could serve as judges.


16 posted on 07/10/2006 9:09:33 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: Victoria Delsoul
Hey Victoria,

This is one heck of a story! Thanks for pinging! Haha! My vacation in nyc is wonderful so far - lots of time with my family! On Friday I go see my young nephew - he turns 4 soon! Haha that will be fun!

See you later and thanks again! :-)
17 posted on 07/11/2006 2:50:26 PM PDT by HitmanLV ("5 Minute Penalty for #40, Ann Theresa Calvello!" - RIP 1929-2006)
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