VENEZUELAN News

[righthand]

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Sunday 7 Aug 2005 was elections day throughout Venezuela ... a day for people to vote for (elect) regional and/or local mayors and councilors. Not that you would know it.

It is NOT COVERED IN ONE US newspaper!!! I'm sure now that NED is no longer interested in financing the opposition, having had it's fingers burnt the recall vote, explains the lack of interest. Now the election will be true and fair. Just imagine it in terms of Chinese money buying/lobbying US politicians for votes to impeach Bush. You'd like Bush impeached, but not with foreign money. Thank God the Chinese have higher ethics than US politicians, who can justify anything than lines their pockets.

So not quotes from any reputable US media sources on this subject. Anyway, I'm totally bemused now as to what is reputable US media sources any more other than CNN and FOX, which is barred from my computers. I used to think NYT and WP were reputable but seemingly I was/am wrong. My next source is an Iranian source, so I'm sure they're out, out, out. Ah well, you must talk with your enemy to know what he's thinking. Remember the recent E-mails I got addressed to 'friend of Israel'. Well I would pi** on them if they were on fire, but not to close. I still have ALL my bits and you know how they like to leave their mark, permanently and circumcisedly. So talking with the enemy works! Now for my ajoined story in the Newsweek style of journalism. At least here the thread is Venezuela.

[CENTER] "Chinese influence on the rise in Latin America" http://www.tehrantimes.com/Descripti...Cat=14&Num=001 ...By Saul Landau Of the TehranTimes.com Monday Aug 8 2005 ========[/CENTER] A century ago, U.S. policy planners looked to a then weak and divided China as the answer to the country’s future trade and economic problems. Anxious exporters implored President William McKinley to act because “the Chinese market rightfully belongs to us,” a member of the Riverside (New York) Republican Club told Secretary of State William Hay. This low-wage labor source and vast potential market to the east would also supposedly solve the periodic depression problem, which in 1893, shook the country’s economic structure and motivated the elite to think about how expansion eastward would resolve that issue. “Under the stimulus of a narrowing marketplace at home and widening market opportunity of an awakening China, America’s leadership made a conscious, purposeful, integrated effort to solve the economic crisis at home by promoting the national interest abroad,” wrote historian Thomas McCormick. It did so “by using America’s most potent weapon, economic supremacy, to begin the open door conquest of the China market.” In 1898, President William McKinley “took the Philippines” because they made the ideal jumping off base for future China excursions. The U.S. kept a naval base there for 100 years, when technology no longer required refueling stops. “East Asia is the prize for which all nations are grasping,” wrote Brooks Adams, John Quincy Adams’ grandson. In January and February, Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong followed his boss’s visit with his own entourage of officials and top business executives. During these two aggressive trips to pursue investment in strategic areas, China stepped into potentially contentious turf when they signed an accord with Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez for future Venezuelan oil and gas exploration. Zeng also offered Venezuela a $700 million credit line for new housing construction to help reduce Venezuelan poverty, ignoring U.S. whining over Chavez’s “authoritarianism.” Chavez, who has won three free and fair elections in the last six years, gets stuck with the “authoritarian” label while his pro-U.S. opponents who staged a 2002 military coup, merit the “democratic” badge. This labeling mystifies those who continue to think logically. For all the tension between the two nations, the U.S. imports from Venezuela still stood at $25 billion last year, far outweighing exports to that country, which totaled $4.8 billion. But Beijing’s real poke in Washington’s mostly blind eye came with the announcement that it would give credits to Cuba. In the globalization era, Cuba remains the exception to all rules. The Bush Administration’s Latin American policy targets the “containment” of Chavez or the “punishing” of Fidel Castro, who holds the World Record for “Most Years of Disobedience.”

God they have a love their so direct style of prose. None of that farting about style beloved of the US media, who have being bending so low for so long than they live in a permanent stink haze. I'd wish that I would say what I really mean but the sandbox would disappear. There's a lot more worth reading in this story. Just think a week ago the Chinese tried to engage in some good old US capitalism and you reacted as if they wanted to buy the White House. Some capitalist, except when the shoe is on the other foot. Sauce for the goose but not the US gander!

Now to beat even Newsweek at their own game and have a THIRD story again about Venezuela and my current hero Hugo, the Latino pinup, with an enough backbone for the entire Andes. There's telling ye. Well here's Hugo telling all.

[center]Venezuela's Chavez dismisses U.S. drug cooperation http://today.reuters.com/news/newsAr...A-DRUGS-DC.XML Sun Aug 7, 2005 6:02 PM ET...By Patrick Markey ==========[/center] CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday dismissed cooperation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as unnecessary in a new blow to his country's fraying ties with the United States. The Venezuelan leader, an ally of Communist Cuba and harsh critic of U.S. foreign policy, said he had suspended cooperation with the DEA and accused the agency of spying against his government. "The DEA was used as a cover... to carry out intelligence work in Venezuela against this government," Chavez told reporters as he voted in local municipal elections. "Under these circumstances we decided to shut down these agreements... the DEA is not essential to the fight in Venezuela against drug-trafficking. We will keep working with international organizations against drugs," he said. A spokesman at the U.S. embassy in Venezuela could not be contacted for comment.

Apart from the stooges in Columbia, being paid to cooperate, there is hardly a friend of the US left in South America. Hugo is largely the one that gave them the example to show the way against Bush. I know many Americans agree with Hugo but must be seen to disagree. I'm not at all sure of which order these apply.
1. Don't like having their noses rubbed in it. Still lingering liking for the office.
2. Don't like any foreigner tell you like it is.
3. Don't like the colour of his skin.
4. Admit he's right about Bush.

Hadn't intended all this verbiage but an incident happened recently to sharpen by pencil just when it was blunted after a time to reflect incident a month ago. Typical Irish, we come out fighting and I haven't even got armature status yet. Don't mind me, listen to Hugo. He let's everyone play with his sand castle. Shut Bush up or he'll get no oil and I'll talk to Hugo about the Chinese radar. 7.31am, it'll be time to get up soon.

[rcne]

There is a bias here in the states - where we are effectively censored with what "news" we hear. This issue came up recently on another board (that member was from South America) and she couldn't understand why Americans didn't care about the political situations in South America.

We just don't know about it, in fact other than the BBC, which in itself is minimal, "news' just trickles out.

It may be an internal censorship issue where only news bites get out, and I'm sure there is much more to the story, but without their news getting out, and our government filtering it we are left with a tiny filtered snapshot of events.

I agree though that if this country doesn't approve of a leader, not much about them gets out. It's similar to Cuba, we could and should drop all sanctions against them - but since we don't approve of their leadership we ban them.

We are the only ones who continue this policy though, so what good did it do. Our Cuban-Americans won't let it go, and our politicians to keep a hope for their vote think its a third rail issue.

We need to have real diplomatic relations with all countries in the final analysis.

[righthand]

Quote by: rcne There is a bias here in the states - where we are effectively censored with what "news" we hear. This issue came up recently on another board (that member was from South America) and she couldn't understand why Americans didn't care about the political situations in South America. We just don't know about it, in fact other than the BBC, which in itself is minimal, "news' just trickles out. It may be an internal censorship issue where only news bites get out, and I'm sure there is much more to the story, but without their news getting out, and our government filtering it we are left with a tiny filtered snapshot of events. I agree though that if this country doesn't approve of a leader, not much about them gets out. It's similar to Cuba, we could and should drop all sanctions against them - but since we don't approve of their leadership we ban them. We are the only ones who continue this policy though, so what good did it do. Our Cuban-Americans won't let it go, and our politicians to keep a hope for their vote think its a third rail issue. We need to have real diplomatic relations with all countries in the final analysis.

Nothing to disagree with. Only a moron could disagree with " We need to have real diplomatic relations with all countries in the final analysis". Even if it's only know your enemy. Given it's track record on lying to it's own citizens, I would think that it's in every citizen interest to be self-informed. Relying on the US media alone is clearly foolish. Now here's the first US paper to at least attempt to cover their elections. How can they be judged 'true and fair' if they are not observed!

[CENTER]Vote is closely watched - Mercury News[/CENTER] [CENTER]BALLOTING FOR LOCAL OFFICES SEEN AS KEY FOR PRESIDENT'S ALLIES[/CENTER] [CENTER]By Thais Leon, Associated Press. Posted on Mon, Aug. 08, 2005[/CENTER] http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...d/12329652.htm CARACAS, Venezuela - Voters across Venezuela cast ballots to select thousands of local officials Sunday in elections that could predict how well President Hugo Chávez's political allies will fare in key congressional elections in December. Chávez said the elections marked "one more step in the strengthening of the electoral system" to prevent irregularities. Casting his ballot in a poor neighborhood of Caracas, he said "there is security, there is calm throughout the country." Chávez, a former army officer who is up for re-election in 2006, has drawn loyal supporters and bitter enemies through his close ties to Cuba's Fidel Castro and his sharp criticism of the U.S. government and Venezuela's wealthy "oligarchy." Recent polls suggest Chávez has about a 70 percent approval rate, but it was unclear whether that would translate into a resounding victory for pro-Chávez politicians. Pro-Chávez lawmakers currently control 53 percent of the National Assembly and are trying to increase their majority in December elections.

There's similar coverage fro Associated Press in other Area newspapers. Of course still nothing from the MAJOR US Newspapers. I'm surprised?

[center]Local elections could foretell Chavez backers' futures Across Venezuela, more than 38,700 candidates for local offices sought voters' approval. The results could foreshadow December's congressional voting. Miami Herald Posted on Mon, Aug. 08, 2005 http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/12327916.htm [/center]

Notice 38,700 candidates . Doesn't seem like a dictatorship to me.

[center]Venezuela Vote a Test for Chavez Allies By JORGE RUEDA, Associated Press Writer, SFGate.com -San Francisco Chronicle - Saturday, August 6, 2005 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...i155316D27.DTL [/center]

Notice, missing is New York and Washington. How is that?

[RVonse]

I might be oversimplifying a bit but could it be that they just simply don't expect much interest from their customer base over this topic? Maybe even complacent or sloppy reporting?

Still it is curious that they at least did not even mention a word of any of it. You do have to wonder.

[righthand]

Quote by: RVonse I might be oversimplifying a bit but could it be that they just simply don't expect much interest from their customer base over this topic? Maybe even complacent or sloppy reporting? Still it is curious that they at least did not even mention a word of any of it. You do have to wonder.

Sure, but would you look at what they consider is earth shattering and prime headlines. I certainly would not like to be paying big bucks for the quality of coverage. It's fine getting it free on the net, but paying money?

Here's the thing. If the Press room refuse to comment on a political story, then it never gets started. Remember Downing Street Memo. If the 'majors' don't cover it then WE DON'T COVER IT. They set our agenda. That's not reporting as I knew it. It's like the 'embedded' style of non-reporting now operates particularly for the 'majors'. And it's all so comfortable. Remember Downing St. - sure we thought you knew that, we knew it two years ago.

Now just when you thought to come out of the kitchen, I'm going to give you a story from Cuba. That's Iran, Venezuela and Cuba. I could have gotten China, but there would be heart attacks all round. Sounds to me like a free press worldwide, except of course for the States.

Caracas, Aug 8 (Prensa Latina) As Venezuela prepares to swear in new local councilmen and town boards following Sunday´s elections, international observers commented on the clarity and efficiency of the Venezuelan electoral system. Although final tallies are still to be confirmed, all indications show municipal elections among 38,000 candidates from 900 parties and organizations gave a new triumph for forces supporting President Hugo Chávez, which already have a congressional and governmental majority. The Venezuelan electoral board president, Jorge Rodríguez, said there was a minority opposition campaign for absenteeism. Nevertheless, the turnout was better than in 2000 and was conducted impeccably, according to international observers. Colombian national electoral board member Guillermo Reyes pointed out that low voter presence is a common phenomenon in the entire region, but the voting process was reliable and straightforward. His view was also shared by Roberto Rivas, president of Nicaragua´s electoral board, who said Venezuela can be proud of its "absolutely secure" electoral system. mh/ccs/rc/ml/mf [center] Chavez Clear Favorite in Local Venezuelan Governments Havana, August 9 / 4:48 UTC Latin America News Agency [/center] http://www.plenglish.com/Article.asp...7D&language=EN

[Milton Bradley]

The sad truth is that a lot of American media sources have gone the cut&paste route, and they are selective about the topics at that. One topic after the next get credited to foreign sources such AP, UPI, and Reuters. We only send our people out to cover the fluff stories, or the fake compassion stories.


There has been some talk over here as of late (on C-SPAN of course) about the lack of American "journalists" (mostly the televised media types) not doing a lot of on site reporting lately. Little, it seems, has come from the debate.

[rcne]

I read somewhere yesterday that Venezuela was setting up their own news network, modeled after CNN.

Maybe that will get more news out - though some criticize that it will be government run and naturally slanted toward the ruling party's doctrine.

Brazil isn't signing on, it seems they are also coming out with a South American news service.

In any case, maybe now the rest of the world will have the opportunity to have another source of news. Competition is good, especially in the information arena.

[righthand]

rcne I read somewhere yesterday that Venezuela was setting up their own news network, modeled after CNN. Maybe that will get more news out - though some criticize that it will be government run and naturally slanted toward the ruling party's doctrine. Brazil isn't signing on, it seems they are also coming out with a South American news service. In any case, maybe now the rest of the world will have the opportunity to have another source of news. Competition is good, especially in the information arena.

I'm delighted with your interest.

Hugo Chavez was the one how first sparked my interest in politics and the net. That came about through our national TV station airing a documentary on the attempted coup by two Irish film makers. They shot the event live. I don't believe that such event was ever filmed live before. It's now called "The Revolution will not be Televised". It is unbelievable. I'm not sure if US customs allow it's import. It would be considered subversive by those wanting to prevent it's release. Amnesty wished to show it in either the US or Canada. Their staff were threatened. I have a lot of info and four copies. It can be got in the UK for 8.00 sterling. His continuous difficulties lead me to the States and hence my present interests.

On the question of the new Latin 'CNN', I've giving you an excellent US link Democracy Now. It's one of the E-mails that I check daily. It has Audio, Video and transcript links. It's probably the best, although is also excellent. You can PM me if you wish also at MWC where I'm helping out.
Democracy Now!
New Latin American Television Network Telesur Officially Launched
Audio of "New Latin American Television Network Telesur Officially Launched"

DN!Some are calling it Latin America's al Jazeera. This weekend, a coalition of leftist governments, media outlets and movements, led by Venezuela, officially launched Telesur - a new Latin America-wide satellite TV network. We go to Caracas to speak with Andres Izarra, Venezuela's communications minister and president of Telesur as well as attorney Eva Golinger. The station is being launched with help from other Latin American governments including Argentina, Cuba and Uruguay. The driving force has been Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, whose government has contributed 70 percent of Telesur's financing and owns 51 percent of the channel. The channel's board members include a group of international supporters including the actor Danny Glover, the writer Tariq Ali and Nobel Peace Prize winner Adolfo Perez Esquivel.

"Competition is good, especially in the information arena". So the US keeps saying. But...

When the Chinese tried some US capitalism, they were turn on. You'd think they bid for the White House. The only gainer was the other US oil company, who then had no competition. US style capitalism. Right on.

How shortsighted. If there had been any difficulties later with China in the future, then you could have seized the assets. Usually you don't give them back for a decade after the difficulty. But think there is NO US company in the world as big as the state company CHINA. For now, US is the loser.

[righthand]

In any case, maybe now the rest of the world will have the opportunity to have another source of news. Competition is good, especially in the information arena.

[center]The Miami Herald.."Ambassador: Venezuela still committed to drug fight"
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/12373161.htm
...Sat, Aug. 13, 2005[/center]

Question: How will Venezuela's decision to end cooperation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency affect counter-drug efforts in the region? Answer from Bernardo Alvarez, Venezuela's ambassador to the U.S.: Venezuela is currently revising the cooperation agreement with the DEA that has allowed that agency to work within Venezuela without coordinating with government institutions and strategies. This revision is merely part of a process by which Venezuela is seeking to harmonize cooperation agreements with the strategies and policies promoted by CONACUID, the institution charged with fighting drugs in Venezuela. Cooperation agreements with the United Kingdom, France, and Spain complement the work of the government of Venezuela; it is merely our desire that the agreement with the DEA do the same. The revision of the cooperation agreement does not change Venezuela's internationally recognized commitment to fighting the production, transshipment, and use of drugs.

[Hermes]

Quote by: righthand . Sunday 7 Aug 2005 was elections day throughout Venezuela ... a day for people to vote for (elect) regional and/or local mayors and councilors. Not that you would know it. It is NOT COVERED IN ONE US newspaper!!! I'm sure now that NED is no longer interested in financing the opposition, having had it's fingers burnt the recall vote, explains the lack of interest. Now the election will be true and fair. Just imagine it in terms of Chinese money buying/lobbying US politicians for votes to impeach Bush. You'd like Bush impeached, but not with foreign money. Thank God the Chinese have higher ethics than US politicians, who can justify anything than lines their pockets. So not quotes from any reputable US media sources on this subject. Anyway, I'm totally bemused now as to what is reputable US media sources any more other than CNN and FOX, which is barred from my computers. I used to think NYT and WP were reputable but seemingly I was/am wrong. My next source is an Iranian source, so I'm sure they're out, out, out. Ah well, you must talk with your enemy to know what he's thinking. Remember the recent E-mails I got addressed to 'friend of Israel'. Well I would pi** on them if they were on fire, but not to close. I still have ALL my bits and you know how they like to leave their mark, permanently and circumcisedly. So talking with the enemy works! Now for my ajoined story in the Newsweek style of journalism. At least here the thread is Venezuela. God they have a love their so direct style of prose. None of that farting about style beloved of the US media, who have being bending so low for so long than they live in a permanent stink haze. I'd wish that I would say what I really mean but the sandbox would disappear. There's a lot more worth reading in this story. Just think a week ago the Chinese tried to engage in some good old US capitalism and you reacted as if they wanted to buy the White House. Some capitalist, except when the shoe is on the other foot. Sauce for the goose but not the US gander! Now to beat even Newsweek at their own game and have a THIRD story again about Venezuela and my current hero Hugo, the Latino pinup, with an enough backbone for the entire Andes. There's telling ye. Well here's Hugo telling all. Apart from the stooges in Columbia, being paid to cooperate, there is hardly a friend of the US left in South America. Hugo is largely the one that gave them the example to show the way against Bush. I know many Americans agree with Hugo but must be seen to disagree. I'm not at all sure of which order these apply. 1. Don't like having their noses rubbed in it. Still lingering liking for the office. 2. Don't like any foreigner tell you like it is. 3. Don't like the colour of his skin. 4. Admit he's right about Bush. Hadn't intended all this verbiage but an incident happened recently to sharpen by pencil just when it was blunted after a time to reflect incident a month ago. Typical Irish, we come out fighting and I haven't even got armature status yet. Don't mind me, listen to Hugo. He let's everyone play with his sand castle. Shut Bush up or he'll get no oil and I'll talk to Hugo about the Chinese radar. 7.31am, it'll be time to get up soon.

Why do we need to hear about stolen local elections in a second world country that is backsliding into a third world communist dictatorship..?

No one cares because nothing can be done until Chaves collapses the economy and throws the entire region into chaos.

Besides, the msm is too busy, promoting Bush's war for oil.

[righthand]

Quote by: Milton Bradley The sad truth is that a lot of American media sources have gone the cut&paste route, and they are selective about the topics at that. One topic after the next get credited to foreign sources such AP, UPI, and Reuters. We only send our people out to cover the fluff stories, or the fake compassion stories. There has been some talk over here as of late (on C-SPAN of course) about the lack of American "journalists" (mostly the televised media types) not doing a lot of on site reporting lately. Little, it seems, has come from the debate.

Here's interesting coverage by The JERUSALEM POST!!!! You would wonder at their interest. Could Israel be about to expand into 'US sphere of influence'. Maybe it was just a bad news day and they went for "the cut&paste route, and they are selective about the topics at that" you suggest. Indeed there's not a lot of good news theses days. No I'll not list them, well in no particular order, just in the last few weeks.
[center]
Threat to Divest Is Church Tool in Israeli Fight
Israel ranks among most corrupt in West
Amnesty International condemns discriminatory laws passed by the Israeli Knesset
U.S. investigators want to question Israeli diplomat
Vatican rejects Israeli complaint
Israeli bus killer lynched by mob
Soldier jailed for activist death
The Cost of Israel And US Wars
[/center]

[center]Bush gets guilty verdict in Venezuelan "court"
By ASSOCIATED PRESS ...CARACAS, Venezuela
The JERUSALEM POST ...Aug. 15, 2005 6:10
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...=1124072330366 [/center]

Witnesses from dozens of countries, including Colombia, Vietnam and communist-led Cuba, argued their cases against the alleged "imperialist" foreign policies of the United States before the jury. Thousands of young men and women from leftist groups participating in the world youth festival cheered when the judge on Sunday read the verdict ending the two-day trial: "Condemned, for crimes against humanity." "We declare President George W. Bush in particular as guilty, of being directly responsible for the crimes," said Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel as he continued to read the verdict. The mock trial was part of the festival, hosted by Venezuela and held under the slogan "Against Imperialism and War." Events included debates and forums on issues ranging from proposals for wiping out poverty to aiding alternative media to opposing US imperialism worldwide. Witnesses at the trial held in a Caracas stadium pointed to the war in Iraq, Washington's financial support for the Colombian government's fight against Marxist rebels and US economic policies that often leave many developing nations in poverty as evidence of crimes committed by Bush. Chavez, a self-proclaimed "revolutionary" who has become one of Latin America's most outspoken critics of US foreign policy, was the last witness called to the stand. The Venezuelan leader said the Bush administration was behind a short-lived 2002 coup and devastating 2003 strike, both of which failed to oust him as planned. He also accused US officials of planning his assassination.

[righthand]

Holiday jet crashes after engines fail, killing 160
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...738513,00.html
TIME of London ...By Tom Hennigan

ALL 160 passengers and crew aboard a Colombian airliner were killed yesterday after it crashed in wooded mountains in Venezuela, the fourth commercial air crash this month. The passengers were French citizens returning to the overseas territory of Martinique from holidays in Panama. Most were local government officials who had chartered the flight for a holiday with their families. Passengers included a baby and four children. The eight crew were Colombian. Magalie Grivallier, a government spokeswoman, said Martinique, which has a population of 432,000, was so small that “virtually everybody had a cousin on that plane”. The pilot of the twin-jet McDonnell Douglas MD82 belonging to West Caribbean Airways had radioed air-traffic controllers that his engines had failed and requested permission for an emergency landing. Radio contact was then lost.

[rmnunez]

Many critical lefties and assorted antigringans watch with rapt attention political developments in Latin America. Chavez is a strong leftist leader challenging US dominance who holds out hope for fellow-travellers who are always in the hunt for a leader to challenge US hegemony. Things in Venezuela, despite the Bolivarian ideals which supposedly inspire their paramilitary ruler and former coup leader, there are serious problems in the country (censorship, criminal expropriations, capital flight, drug trafficking... plus the problems Chavez brings on by courting Castro). In Brazil Lula is in trouble with the rampant corruption evident in his cabinet, will we ever get an accurate appraisal of the integrity in Chavez's cabinet? What are the changes such details will be disclosed relating to Castro's?

[righthand]

[center]


Venezuela Expects Oil Exports to China to Soar ...Aug. 22 2005...Bloomberg [/center]

Petroleos de Venezuela SA, South America's largest oil company, expects its exports to China to rise fivefold by 2012 as it seeks to lessen its dependence on the U.S. market. Sales of crude oil and petroleum products to China may top 300,000 barrels within years, the state oil company said in a press statement. In an interview, Petroleos de Venezuela board member Asdrubal Chavez said the company expects to reach the 300,000-barrel a day mark by 2012. "China has many opportunities for us,'' said Chavez, who is a cousin of President Hugo Chavez. Board member Chavez is accompanying Energy and Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez on a tour of China and Japan, which started on Saturday. President Chavez has repeatedly said that he wants the South American country, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter, to diversify its customers and reduce its dependence on the U.S. market. The U.S. currently takes about 60 percent of Venezuela's daily exports of about 2 million barrels a day.

Venezuela plans to spend $56 billion through 2012 to about double the country's oil production capacity to 5.1 million barrels a day. The country is now producing about 2.6 million barrels a day.

I think someone should have many words with Hugo. Promise no more coups attempts, no more assassination attempts, no more NED monies to influence democratic elections, no more sanctuary for terrorists, honour international agreements on returning terrorist for trial, and all the other items that illegal actions of the bush administrations.

.

[righthand]

Quote by: rmnunez Many critical lefties and assorted antigringans watch with rapt attention political developments in Latin America. Chavez is a strong leftist leader challenging US dominance who holds out hope for fellow-travellers who are always in the hunt for a leader to challenge US hegemony. Things in Venezuela, despite the Bolivarian ideals which supposedly inspire their paramilitary ruler and former coup leader, there are serious problems in the country (censorship, criminal expropriations, capital flight, drug trafficking... plus the problems Chavez brings on by courting Castro). In Brazil Lula is in trouble with the rampant corruption evident in his cabinet, will we ever get an accurate appraisal of the integrity in Chavez's cabinet? What are the changes such details will be disclosed relating to Castro's?

Inter change the names and you could be talking about bush's USA.

Venezuela's PDVSA opens office in China
...AFX News Limited ...08.22.2005, 02:10 PM

CARACAS (AFX) - Venezuela's state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA)has opened an office in Beijing to explore business opportunities in China, a company statement said. 'PDVSA China will evaluate opportunities in the region, inland and offshore, and will be a bastion for shoring up relations with new strategic partners,' Venezuelan Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez said after inaugurating the new office in Beijing, according to the statement. Venezuelan oil exports grew 560 pct between 2004 and 2005 to 68,800 barrels per day from 12,300 bpd, the statement said. PDVSA said exports to China could potentially reach 300,000 bpd, or 100 mln barrels per year. Venezuela's quota under OPEC is 3.1 mln bpd, with about half of that going to the US.

[righthand]

Quote by: rmnunez Chavez is a strong leftist leader challenging US dominance who holds out hope for fellow-travellers who are always in the hunt for a leader to challenge US hegemony. Things in Venezuela, despite the Bolivarian ideals which supposedly inspire their paramilitary ruler and former coup leader, there are serious problems in the country (censorship, criminal expropriations, capital flight, drug trafficking... plus the problems Chavez brings on by courting Castro).

Censorship NO, that is TOTALLY UNTRUE "that Venezuelan elections are open and fair, that Chavez has been approved in polls or referenda no less than seven times, and there is more substantial free speech than in Britain". "The leaders of the coup are still free and unpunished. " source ...INDEPENDENT OnLine

Drug trafficking: Could this be unique to Venezuela???

Courting Castro: UNTRUE. "It is true that the medical missions are staffed by Cuban doctors, who Chavez has exchanged with Castro in return for access to Venezuela's oil." source ...INDEPENDENT OnLine

Covert aid from the US to the Venezuelan opposition since Chavez came to power: $4m

[CENTER]-------------[/CENTER]

Venezuela: revolutionarie s and a country on the edge
INDEPENDENT OnLine ......Published: 25 August 2005

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/...icle307975.ece
Venezuelans were hardly surprised by an American preacher's call to kill their President. After all, the US funded a coup attempt against him

Venezuela is living in the shadow of the other 11 September. In 1972, on a day synonymous with death, Salvador Allende - the democratically elected left-wing President of Chile - was bombed and blasted from power. The CIA and the US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, had decided the "irresponsibili ty" of the Chilean people at the ballot box needed to be "rectified" - so they installed a fascist general, Augusto Pinochet. He "disappeared" at least 3,000 people and tortured 27,000 more as he clung to power right up to 1990.

It is harder to see why the opposition loathe Chavez with such snarling ferocity that they want a foreign power to intervene How much of the division in Venezuela is based on race? Although there are exceptions, the wealthy elite tends to be white, and the skin tone gets darker the farther you go into the barrios. The wealthy seem to have whipped themselves into a hysteria, convinced that their maids, their police and their president are going to turn on them and lynch them in their homes. The media carefully reinforces this impression, creating a fantasyland for the top 20 per cent to scream in. Yet if you ask them for facts - actual examples of persecution or dictatorial behaviour - they either offer demonstrably false urban myths, or declare: "It will happen soon!" It is true that the medical missions are staffed by Cuban doctors, who Chavez has exchanged with Castro in return for access to Venezuela's oil. But you would not know - from what the opposition says in every Venezuelan newspaper, or from the propaganda of Pat Robertson - that Venezuelan elections are open and fair, that Chavez has been approved in polls or referenda no less than seven times, and there is more substantial free speech than in Britain. In Venezuela, people can (and, every night, do) call on television for the President to be killed. Indeed, Chavez has been so reluctant to commit a crackdown that the leaders of the coup are still free and unpunished. "Venezuela will never go back to being governed by Los esqualidos. We won't go back to being a country where the petrol money is used for a minority and not for the barrios. So what will happen if Chavez is killed? Civil war. We are ready."

[oranged]

How did Hugo Chavez end up allying with China, when China is economically fascist and he is communist?

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: oranged How did Hugo Chavez end up allying with China, when China is economically fascist and he is communist?

There are limited sources of allies when you go against the big bully on the block.


The only people that get any press in the West anymore are those who regurgitate the official story. If you are not going to play along with the US State Dept., you are not going to be heard, only talked about by the US media outlets.


For example, how many people know that the US had to violate both our own constitution, and Columbia's constitution to allow US special forces to kill Pablo Escobar on Colubian soil?


Not a report they are fond of telling the American people because they wish for you to continue funding their wars of aggression.

[righthand]

Venezuela signs Jamaica oil deal
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4181528.stm
Wednesday, 24 August 2005, 19:26 GMT 20:26 UK

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has signed a deal with Jamaica to supply it with oil at preferential rates. Mr Chavez said his country, the world's fifth largest oil producer, was meeting the "call of conscience" by supplying cheap oil at a time of rising prices. The agreement is part of a regional Petrocaribe initiative - proposed by Mr Chavez - to which most of the Caribbean countries have signed up. Jamaica is the first to formalise its participation in the project. Venezuela has been discussing similar deals with many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in recent months.

Win there be any oil left for the USA?

The Jamaica agreement represents only a tiny proportion of the 3.1 million barrels produced by Venezuela each day. Hugo is seeking to develop diversified energy ties with the Caribbean, Latin America and CHINA and other Asian countries.