Posted on 01/29/2009 1:33:12 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
BELEM, Brazil (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday urged U.S. President Barack Obama to return the military base of Guantanamo to Cuba after applauding his decision to close the prison for terrorism suspects there.
The anti-U.S. Cuba ally has tense relations with the United States and was been one of the most outspoken critics of former President George W. Bush, though he has kept open the possibility of improving ties with Obama.
"Now he should return Guantanamo and Guantanamo Bay to the Cubans because that is Cuban territory," he said in a speech at the World Social Forum in Brazil, a gathering of activists billed as an alternative to the Economic Forum of business leaders in Davos, Switzerland.
Shortly after taking over last week, Obama ordered that the Guantanamo Bay prison for terrorism suspects be closed within a year, showing a clear break from Bush's policies.
The United States took possession of the land around Guantanamo Bay in southeastern Cuba under a lease established after the 1898 Spanish-American War. In a 1903 agreement, Washington rented the land in perpetuity and pays a yearly fee. Since 1960 Cuba's communist government has refused to cash the checks. ....
Chavez said he wants to improve relations with the United States but is waiting for further signs Obama will move away from U.S. "imperialism."
"Let's wait and see, I don't have many illusions, the empire is intact," he said. "In Venezuela we are prepared to resist 10 more years, 20 more years, 100 more years of imperialist aggression."
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
For Pete’s sake, Hugo - don’t tempt him!
Chavez is bucking for the assistant secretary of state job...
Maybe Chavez should give Venezuela back to Spain.
Give it back? We won it from Spain after the Spanish-American war.
And I guess Kim in North Korea will tell Zero to give Wyoming back to the Indians.
Putin will undoubtedly step in and insist that the Us return Texas to Mexico.
Despots everwhere can smell blood with this weak, apologetic, unaccomplished Ivy League appeasement chump from across the globe.
Making Gitmo 0’s Panama Canal?
Fixed it.
And the pinko socialist Obami will probably do it. He and Hugo will become bootie bros.
LOL! Great cartoon!
Sure—when you give Venezuela back to Spain!
“Just giving Venezuela back to Venezuela would probably be much appreciated.”
AMEN! It was a gorgeous country with wonderful people when I lived there in the 70s - I can’t stand hearing from my Venezolano friends what it’s become. VERY like Cuba’s decline.
Colonel, USAFR
Jimmuh Carter gave away the Panama Canal, now it's run by the Chinese - no threat there!
If we are going to "divest" of Gitmo, let's at least put it on eBay and get something for it.
Chavez is a 2-bit pissant marxist, much like Rev. Wright and Wm Ayers.
If we give it back, it should be completely leveled.
So much treason and so little time for hussein to plunder.
LLS
so this is how it comes down? this president is being ordered around by third world cuntries?
How about, NO! But Obama will do it to make nicey with the old communist down there, and please his own leftist supporters in the U.S.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.