Posted on 03/26/2003 2:01:45 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez condemned the United States on Wednesday for "deciding what is good and bad in the world."
"No country, no matter what its name - in this case it's called the United States of America - has the right to decide what is good and bad in the world," Chavez said in a speech to business owners. "No country has the right to do that or to invade a people or bomb a city where there are children, women. For God's sake! Innocent human beings."
His words were met with loud applause and cries of "Peace! Peace!"
Washington has sour relations with the leftist Chavez, who frequently accuses global powers of exploiting poor countries for their own economic interests.
In 2000, Chavez defied the United States by becoming the first head of state to visit Saddam Hussein after the 1991 Gulf War. Washington also resents Chavez's friendship with Cuban president Fidel Castro.
It was the second time in a week that Chavez denounced the war. He again urged the United Nations to condemn the strike, saying it "breaks with international order" and risks throwing the world "into a stage of the law of the jungle in which the strongest always imposes itself."
On Tuesday, U.S. Embassy spokesman John Law dismissed Chavez's criticism, insisting the United States its allies were "acting in defense of the interests of the United Nations." Law said toppling Saddam would allow Iraqis to "create a new, prosperous and free country."
On Tuesday, several dozen Venezuelans of Arab origin joined Chavez supporters to protest the war. Downtown Caracas is splattered with graffiti reading, "Bush you will die" and "If the Yankees want bloodshed they will have bloodshed."
Yet most Venezuelans seem dispassionate about the war, consumed by their country's own political troubles, including a recent unsuccessful two-month strike to oust Chavez.
That's where you're wrong, Hugo. Terrorism is bad. Saddam is a terrorist. Therefore, Saddam is bad.
Nations decide every day what is good and bad, and act accordingly. Perhaps Mr. Chavez can explain why his government considers the oppressive regime of Fidel Castro "good," and the American republic "bad." His answer might even explain why he considers himself "good" while so many of his countrymen consider him "bad."
Bump!
The documents may not mention to Bible.
Interesting "slight of tongue" the way you phrase that. It's not a matter of may not. They don't. Had the founding fathers wanted to mention the Bible in the U.S. Constitution and or the Bill Of Rights they would have. Obviously they saw important reasons to not include any reference to the Bible in the U.S. Constitution and or the Bill Of Rights.
Those documents are what the U.S. laws are based on. Now, if you want argue that for more than a century politicians in congress have mostly ignored the U.S. Constitution and Bill Of Rights, I can agree with that. In that case, how they have trashed the constitution is dishonest and wrought with fraud. If you want to argue that for several decades politicians in congress have mostly ignored the U.S. Constitution and Bill Of Rights in favor of using the Bible as their guide, have at it. Don't expect me to agree with you though.
. . . Hugo Chavez Supports Saddam Hussein and Terrorism. Several Congressional Democrats Support Chavez. What's Wrong With This Picture?Late last year, 16 U.S. congressmen voiced their approval for Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. Representatives Barney Frank, John Conyers, Chaka Fattah, Jan Schakowsky, Jose Serrano, and others complained in a letter to President Bush that the United States was not adequately protecting Chavez against a groundswell of internal opposition to his increasingly authoritarian rule . . .
Beyond Venezuela's borders, he celebrates, protects, and does business with terrorists. . . .
A day after the September 11 terrorist attacks, President Chavez declared that "The United States brought the attacks upon itself, for their arrogant imperialist foreign policy." Chavez also described the U.S. military response to bin Laden as "terrorism," claiming that he saw no difference between the invasion of Afghanistan and the September 11 terrorist attacks....
My only point, regarding the very first posting, is that good and evil are relevant, because our country believes that evil truly does exist, and must not prevail.
I agree that good and bad are relevant in this country. It was the first point you made in in your very first post that was in error and thus irrelevant.
He doesn't listen to his own people who think he's REALLY BAD! Saddam's people think he's REALLY BAD! Saddam didn't listen and it looks like Mr. Chavez isn't listening either.
Mr. Chavez, what does the UN do to countries that don't listen to them? Talk them to death.
What does the USA do to countries that don't listen to them? Deny them status as allies, with all the freebies that offers and if they become a threat, we take them out!
Spoken like a man who lost control of his country for several months.
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