Chavez Visits Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hails Castro

Voice of America ^ | August 1 | Matt Steinglass

[PghBaldy]

On a state visit to Hanoi, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez hailed Cuban President Fidel Castro, who has been hospitalized following gastro-intestinal surgery. Chavez visited the tomb of former Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh, and confirmed a deal to help Vietnam build its first oil refinery.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, center, poses with Vietnamese legendary general Vo Nguyen Giap and his wife Mrs. Ha After visiting the tomb of the former Vietnamese Communist leader Ho Chi Minh Tuesday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez hailed Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who has temporarily handed over power to undergo surgery.

"Viva Fidel Castro!" he exclaimed.

Mr. Castro is a close ally of Mr. Chavez, who says he is deeply concerned for the elderly Cuban leader's health.

During a meeting with Vietnamese business leaders in Hanoi Tuesday, Mr. Chavez confirmed a deal to help Vietnam build its first oil refinery. Venezuela, an oil industry giant, can provide Vietnam with needed technical and financial assistance.

Mr. Chavez is gradually nationalizing Venezuela's oil industry. Assisting Vietnam's state-owned oil company, PetroVietnam, fits well with his economic philosophy.

Mr. Chavez condemns capitalism and neo-liberalism.

Mr. Chavez's visit to Vietnam is part of a world tour of countries such as Belarus, Russia and Iran. All have large state-owned energy companies, authoritarian leadership, and rocky relationships with the United States. Mr. Chavez is encouraging them to share his own wariness toward America - not just its policy, but its culture.

Mr. Chavez says Venezuelans are getting fat from cooking with imported American ingredients, which he calls "trash food." He also denounces American hamburgers and superhero movies.

Vietnam's economy still has a large state-owned sector. But overall, it has spent the past two decades moving away from socialism and toward private ownership. And the country has cultivated better relations with the United States, its former enemy, which is now one of its leading trade partners.

So while Vietnamese business leaders applauded Mr. Chavez's friendship with their country, none joined him in denouncing the United States, or capitalism.

[PghBaldy]

He really is trying to be the next Castro. He doesn't need sugar daddy (ala USSR was to Cuba). He is a danger to the US, and beloved by the American left. He also has plenty of $ from oil.

[GeronL]

Mr. Chavez, who says he is deeply concerned for the elderly Cuban leader's health

So is Tom Dashcle

[lilylangtree]

Was Cindy Sheehan with Chavez? Would not be surprising if she was.

[Axhandle]

How much longer before he visits the Clinton library and heaps praise upon His Slickness?

[NormsRevenge]

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez listens to a reporter's question under a giant bust of former Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh, during a press briefing at the presidential palace in Hanoi, Vietnam on Monday, July 31, 2006. Chavez, the first-ever Venezuelan president to visit Vietnam, was on a two-day visit to boost bilateral trade and economic relations. (AP Photo/Tran Van Minh)

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Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez adjusts a wreath at the mausoleum of the late Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh during a wreath laying ceremony in Hanoi August 1, 2006. REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM)

[NormsRevenge]

Visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, left, and Vietnamese legendary general Vo Nguyen Giap, right, clap during Chavez's visit to Giap's home in Hanoi, Vietnam, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2006. Chavez praised Vietnam for its battle against 'imperialism' and pledged to help the communist country develop its nascent oil and gas industry during a state visit. (AP Photo/Hoang Dinh Nam, Pool)

[EagleUSA]

Scum attracts scum.

[RS]

"Chavez Visits Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hails Castro"

Carnac the Magnificent predicts nexts weeks headline -



Chavez Visits Castro Mausoleum, Hails Ho Chi Minh

[chichilarue]

Chavez-Castro-NK-Iran, scum does attract scum, but they're acting up because they know Bush/Condi won't do anything to them. We need to be much tougher, Ledeen has it right,
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=N2RlNjNjZWNlOTQzNTVjMTRjMWY4MzRkMDQzYmY5ZjM=

[LeoWindhorse]

flying home over the wide Pacific soon are we , Hugo ?

Isoroko Yamamoto

Amelia Earhart

they are calling you dude.....

[Hugin]

Iran, Vietnam, this guy sure gets around. Couldn't we just do an Admiral Yamamoto on him out over the ocean someplace? Then send condolances over the unfortunate accident.

[Mike Darancette]

Poor Hugo, the glory days of Communism are gone. Gone are jailing and liquidating the bourgeois, repressing class enemies and the clergy.

How Hugo would have loved being on the execution squad that killed the Czar and his family.

Poor Hugo is just another Stalin wanna be who will probably be killed by his own army.

[Hugin]

Looks like you posted while I was typing. Great minds think alike.

[LeoWindhorse]

they really ought to 'splash' the guy ....
We are missing a golden opportunity if we don't .
Inviting countless years of aggravating frustration
as a new Castro with even more diabolical connections
and intentions . Look at his alliances !
At what point does it behoove us to throw
out the diplomatic rules and strike our enemies
a mighty blow? Must we resign ourselves to having to
finally invade nations and attack entire populations
when diplomacy is usually ineffective ?
Cut the head off of the snake whenever and however possible.
This is a global war , we need to fight it as such.

[NurdlyPeon]

And by the way, boys and girls, let's not EVER, EVER forget the fact that in the Vietnamese Communist War Remnants Museum (formerly known as the "War Crimes Museum") in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), a photograph of John Kerry hangs in a room dedicated to the anti-war activists who helped the Vietnamese Communists win the Vietnam War. The photograph shows Senator Kerry being greeted by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Comrade Do Muoi.

http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/staticpages/index.php?page=20040531140357545

[Billthedrill]

Man, can Baby Huey pick losers or what?

[Khurkris]

I look for the Viets to play Chavez for the chump-monkey he is.