Posted on 08/30/2006 9:48:01 AM PDT by yoe
Thousands of flag-waving Syrians greeted Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Damascus on Wednesday as he began a three-day official visit, challenging what he called American "imperialism."
Called the "great guest" by the Syrian news agency SANA, Chavez is receiving the red-carpet treatment. On Wednesday, Syrian President Bashar Assad hosted a reception for Chavez at the People's Palace, where he was honored with a 21-gun salute.
As Assad greeted him at the airport late Tuesday, Chavez said that the two countries had the same political vision -- and that the two leaders would sign a document on Wednesday opposing what he called American "aggression" in the Middle East.
Chavez, an outspoken critic of Washington's foreign policy, has been strengthening ties with Iran and other Middle Eastern countries as well as North Korea -- two of the countries named by President Bush as being in the "axis of evil."
Assad has defied U.S. calls to close down the offices of Palestinian terrorist organizations headquartered in his capital, permitted cross-border traffic of anti-American insurgents into Iraq, and facilitated and supplied the Hizballah terrorist organization with weapons, the U.S. says.
Assad called Chavez' visit "historic" and praised him for his support of Arab nations.
On Wednesday, crowds applauded Chavez' "brave" stand in recalling Venezuela's ambassador to Israel to protest Israel's response to Hizballah's cross-border attack in July. Israel later responded in kind, recalling its ambassador to Venezuela.
Since then, Chavez' popularity in the Arab world has soared. According to the AKI news agency, Chavez is very popular in Syria and some in the media have even referred to him as "an Arab president."
Last week, Chavez -- comparing Israeli leaders to German dictator Adolph Hitler -- accused Israel of "genocide," saying the Jewish State should be brought before an international tribunal because of its actions during the recent war in Lebanon.
State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey declined to comment on whether the U.S. viewed Chavez' visit as a provocation.
Casey said that Venezuela was free to establish ties with whomever it wished -- and the important thing was to encourage Syria to "meet its international obligations" and comply with United Nations resolutions 1559 and 1701.
Resolution 1559 calls for all foreign forces (Syria) to quit Lebanon. Although in principle Syria withdrew its troops from the country over the last two years, experts say Damascus still exerts authority in the country.
Resolution 1701, which brought about the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hizballah, says countries such as Syria and Iran must stop supplying arms to Hizballah.
Nuking two punk puke thug dog countries at once. Never been done.
This guy is going to be more and more trouble as the world turns. he has delusions of Grandeur and too much Venezuelan money to carry them out.
It really is as plain as the nose on one's face isn't it? All I can say is, prepare to take care of you and yours yourself, as it appears that our fearless leaders have no intention to.
How much money are we still giving Syria I wonder.
We are gonna stack their dead like cord wood.
Imagine fascists calling others names.
Where's Pat Robertson to order a hit???
beginnings of WW3?
What if Americans really WERE imperialists?
WASHINGTON - After years of world leaders condemning America for overreaching its power, Americans elected their first ever Imperialist President.
"We do everything we can to help the world, but we're still resented, they call us imperialist pigs," said DC cabbie Albert Shlutnick. "Now they'll see what imperialism is really like."
Americans got a raw taste of its new leadership this morning at the first press briefing with President Hillshire in full form.
The president opened the briefing with astonishing news: "Good morning ladies and gentlemen, I would like to announce that Iran and North Korea no longer exist. Are there any questions?"
Most in the press sat stonefaced in disbelief, then erupted in laughter taking it for a joke. But the longer Hillshire remained somber, the more they realized he was serious.
"This is a Holocaust of historic proportions," said a reporter from the BBC news, continuing: "Sir, you are a war criminal."
Hillshire chuckled, replying: "Will somebody get the English accent out of here, I thought we got rid of that after the Tea Party."
As the Secret Service escorted the BBC reporter from the briefing room, Hillshire continued: " If there are any other Europeans in attendance, just remember you'd be a Nazi or a Soviet without America, so just keep brewin' the good beer and keep quiet, maybe we'll leave you alone for now. Are there any other questions?"
"How did you annihilate those countries?" ABC news asked.
"Ah, let's see, we dropped water balloons on them? Come on, I'm not going to reveal operational details. Let's suffice it to say that we'll soon have some satellite imagery showing the new shape of things over there."
"Mr. president, did you notify any other world leaders of your actions?"
"Actually, we did prank-call the Iranian president, we asked him if his refrigerator was running. When he said it was, we said 'not for long,'" the president said.
"What are your future plans?" asked Fox News.
"We're tossing a gigantic tariff on all Chinese imports. We're also diverting all charitable funds that were going overseas to American causes. Many never realized America is the most giving nation in the world, and now we're bringing it back home," Hillshire said.
"Oh, and we've closed the United Nations," Hillshire continued. "After all, it was our idea in the first place. We started it over here, so we can end it."
"Will there be no allies then? No diplomacy?" asked the New York Times.
"Actually, all the other 'nations' will soon be taxpaying states, or be nuked out of existence. To start the process we've retained all their ambassadors and delegates as hostages."
The reporters stood in dumbfounded silence.
"Hey don't blame me, the voters put me here. After all, the world dubbed us imperialists the moment we finished pacifying much greater aggressors. Maybe we just needed to remind everyone how restrained we once were," the president said.
"Do you have any words of encouragement for those in the world community?" asked a French journalist.
"Citizens of the world, your first tax bill will be arriving shortly. Make checks payable to the U.S. Treasury. Oh, and welcome to America," the president said with a wink.
Standard What-If disclaimer: The preceding is pure fiction, and fiction is always more illuminating than fact.
It's all fun and games until you sire a swishy Caesar. That's the problem with these top down deals.
Oooh. Ooooh. Should we be getting scared now?
Another missed opportunity to put a JDAM to good use on a two-fer.
Remember the old proverb
" the friend of my enemy is my enemy"
ping-a-ling
Oh I love it!!!!
REAL American Imperialism lol hahaha
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