Venezuelan President Carmona Resigns in Face of Riots; At Least 9 More Dead

Bloomberg ^ | 04/13 23:24 | Peter Wilson, Alex Kennedy, Patrick Gordon, and Toby Muse

[Crowcreek]

"The USA isn't GOD; but HE needs to intervine. Too many places, with too big a mess to humanly solve.

You're talking about God now, right -- not Colin Powell ?

[gfactor]

Where's Alexander Haig when they need him?

and we all know what happened to that guy.

[gfactor]

exactly. i've also heard that during the shootings, everyone was shooting, but the media only showed images of pro-chavez shooters. i'm trying to get a tally of the original dead, broken down by their partisanship -- as i've heard, unofficially a disproportionate number were chavez supporters.

[nopardons]

Yes, GOD ; no to Colin Powell, who has yet to get much of anything at all correct.

[ContentiousObjector]

my backyard has more oil than Palistine, check your map dude.

[rightwing2]

Following the interim President's surrender of authority to the Communist-controled National Authority, it looks like Chavez is on his way back. Sadly, the Venezuelan military is saying and doing nothing. For them to surrender power so quickly must mean that threats have been made or some kind of amnesty may have been offered to the coup plotters in exchange for Chavez's return. Then we also hear that pro-Chavez forces control several military bases. The situation on the ground looks bleak indeed. This is turning into a great victory for Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez! They are snatching victory from the jaws of defeat before our very eyes!

[SauronOfMordor]

Oil prices were down-trending last week when it looked like Chavez would be ousted. Expect them to climb on Monday. This will be a BIG hit to the US economy

The coup leaders should have gotten all Chavez's supporters while they had a chance.

[cricket]

"Indeed. Chavez needs to die from medical complications asap: blunt trauma to the head after jumping out of a helicopter."

Bump for the practical approach. . .

[cricket]

"The best solution would be to reinstate Chavez but have an emergency presidential election in two weeks."

. . .don't know about that; but for sure the people who are not impressed with a 'ruling communist' government; and who can leave. . .will; and be headed our way. Already are.

[BlackJack]

Remember when we had Noriega arrested......and he got loose? He went nuts.....Chavez will want revenge against the coup plotters.....Venezuela will be unstable.....Castro will send volunteers to help Chavez.....Castro needs the oil. What a screw up!!! Bush II blew this like Bush I blew the Noriega arrest.

[Bonaparte]

"Bush II blew this..."

How do you know he was even involved?

I agree with you that Chavez and the Cubans will move very quickly to lock Venezuela down. These people may be looking at many decades of communist oppression if they don't overthrow Chavez now while they still have a chance to do so. Easy for me to say, but the reality is that the military can no longer be counted on, so it will take rivers of blood to accomplish this.

[BlackJack]

Bush II should have been paying attention....big oil shipper to US. Whats that saying?....if you go after the king....kill him....nothing worse than a wounded king. After the bay of pigs failed....thats when Castro brought in the soviets and missiles.....guarantee for no more US overthrow attempts. Not that I know US was involved....but....US should have been following developments....we have soldiers in next door Columbia. Chavez will now get even closer to Castro.....purge opposition......he has to.... to survive. Bad deal. I agree with your comments.

[Bonaparte]

Yes, it is a very bad deal. But let's give Bush some credit. Afterall, if his administration was involved in the abortive ouster of Chavez, he would not exactly have been working alone. Lots of good people updating and advising him. Also, he could only have worked with what was there in Venezuela. If his only available allies down there were lukewarm or easily corrupted or treacherous or stupid or had other fatal weaknesses, even the best laid plan could easily have gone awry.