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| Caribbean-Latin America | ||
| Chavez Threatens to Jail Diplomats, Shut Refineries | ||
| 2006-02-05 | ||
| Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened to jail diplomats and close refineries belonging to the U.S. unit of the state oil company in an escalating war of words with the President George W. Bush. U.S. diplomats continue to engage in espionage in his country, Chavez told hundreds of thousands of supporters today during a government rally commemorating the 14th anniversary of his abortive coup attempt in 1992 against former President Carlos Andres Perez. He said he would jail U.S. diplomats caught spying, while challenging the U.S. to break diplomatic ties. The two countries exchange tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats earlier this week. Chavez expelled the U.S. naval attache to Caracas on Feb. 2, which was followed the next day by Washington declaring a Venezuelan diplomat persona non grata. ``If the government of the U.S. wants to break relations with Venezuela, and they take the decision, it would cost me nothing to order the closure of the refineries we have in the U.S.,'' Chavez said. ``Then we will see where (the price of) oil will go, or a gallon of gasoline. It would cost me nothing to sell oil to other countries in the world.''
Houston-based Citgo sells 8 billions gallons of gasoline every year, according to the company's Web site. ``We now sell 1.5 million barrels a day of oil to the U.S.,'' Chavez said. ``We have never missed our commitment.'' Venezuela could sell oil now going to the U.S. to India, China and Latin America, said Chavez, who said his government has proof of spying by U.S. diplomats. During his speech, he read several e-mails that he said proved U.S. staffers were engaged in espionage. Chavez, who was dressed in a red shirt and wearing his trademark red beret, said the South American country, which is the world's fifth-largest oil exporter, will also seek to build up its defenses by purchasing arms from other countries. Venezuela earlier purchased 100,000 Russian AK-47s, and Chavez said he wants to buy enough weaponry to put 1 million men and women under arms in the case of an U.S. attack. The government will shortly submit a bill to Congress, seeking funds for the purchase, Chavez said. Beside more rifles, Venezuela will also buy rocket launchers, he said. ``We are in contact with countries where the U.S. can't do a thing,'' said Chavez. Chavez didn't name the countries. The U.S. has attempted to block Venezuela arms purchases from Brazil and Spain.
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| Posted by:lotp |
| #14 Joe, you don't understand... _his_ wife divorced him and has made public statements in the past that he needs to step down from offfice. |
| Posted by: Phil Fraering 2006-02-05 20:39 |
| #13 Sniff, sniff - Yet another unreliable, beer-bellied, defective, warmongering, anti-Perfectionist rapist molester abuser Male Fascist brute whom needs a Motherly, Perfectionist, Kindly Communist female like CINDY = HILLARY to save his soul and the entire country. WE LOVE YOU, JUDY DEAN - D *** YOU, AMERICA, STAND BY YOUR MADMEN!? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-02-05 20:32 |
| #12 jailing diplomats equals an act of war...go ahead Hugo |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-02-05 12:52 |
| #11 But he won the election fair and square. I certified it myself. I really think that President Bush should stop antagonizing this legitimate leader of a friendly nation. If that antagonism were to cease I'm confident that we would have a prosperous and mutually fulfilling relationship with the leader of Venezuala. Thank you, yes, I do think I am rather smart. Hmmm, yes. |
| Posted by: Jimmuh Cahter 2006-02-05 11:45 |
| #10 |
| Posted by: Rantburg Interiors to Go 2006-02-05 11:24 |
| #9 As long as we know where he sleeps........ |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-02-05 11:21 |
| #8 As others have noted, Chavez has been hosting visitors from Iran and Hamas of late. It's not a random act on his part. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-02-05 10:54 |
| #7 ...Cripes, another 5 cents a gallon beause this mook shoots off his mouth. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2006-02-05 10:53 |
| #6 TP7025, you could make your point about Chavez without the "pile of dung" label for all of Latin America. I'd rather not have to redact the good points you're making due to that sort of thing. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-02-05 10:03 |
| #5 Chavez is a fly buzzing around our pile of dung that we call South America. He doesn't understand what he is messing around with, when he threatens to cut off our vital oil supply. A navy blockade would put a terrible strain on his little country in just a few days. Economic sanctions and seizure of state assets would be equally as bad. He should think before he opens his pie hole. |
| Posted by: Throsing Pholuting7025 2006-02-05 09:44 |
| #4 This comment is telling "If the government of the U.S. wants to break relations with Venezuela, and they take the decision, it would cost me nothing to order the closure of the refineries we have in the U.S.,'' Chavez said. ``Then we will see where (the price of) oil will go, or a gallon of gasoline. It would cost me nothing to sell oil to other countries in the world.'' Logic dictates non contradictory identification. If hugo was truly a revolutionary for venezuela, why wouldnt he be interested in selling as much overpriced oil as possible to meet the challenges for venezuela? The answer is that he's not interested in his people, he's solely interested in his front that elevates himself within the lefts heirarchy of hegemonic cults of personality. Of course there are those who fail logic and reason, in order to latch onto one myth or another.....mr chavez is a myth, a legend in his own mind, driven by subversion, equipped with the tool of extortion..... another piece of saran wrap masquerading on the world stage as someone legitimate. |
| Posted by: Snoluth Snineck5289 2006-02-05 09:20 |
| #3 The hotter things get in Iran, the more lip we'll get from Yugo. He's on the team.. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-02-05 09:20 |
| #2 And so it continues, chavez the useful idiot, takes the next step toward leftist hegemony. Anyone who does not already see this guy as the latest in a long line of useful idiots, cultivated for their probability for terror, and a population to loot, are just plain simpletons. we have hugo formenting revolution and subversion in the us from his base of operations in venezuela, it was inevitable, and the kook in iran at the center of the middle east front. Each are what they are, useful idiots in the ongoing battle to subvert freedom through subversion. Its east to spot trends begause the formulas never change, IMO its humane to decpaitate these subversives well before the larger suffering is rolled out on everyone who opposes them. Homer Simpson presidents of failed ideaology, postured against a record that is clear, millions dead in their aftermath ( Pol POT MAO, Stalin, etc), the inevitability of this trend is clear. |
| Posted by: Snoluth Snineck5289 2006-02-05 09:07 |
| #1 it would cost me nothing to order the closure of the refineries we have in the U.S.,'' Chavez said. Oh goody. A gold plated opportunity to seize the vast majority of Venezuelan foreign assets. Money for nothing and the refineries for free. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-02-05 08:49 |