I wonder, who's next?
Posted on 04/12/2002 8:50:45 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Friday accused the Venezuelan government of ousted President Hugo Chavez of provoking a crisis by ordering Chavez supporters to fire on peaceful demonstrators.
The White House was clearly pleased by the toppling from power of Chavez, whose left-leaning policies frequently angered the U.S. government. Chavez resigned under pressure from military leaders after a huge protest march in Caracas in which at least 10 people were killed and 100 wounded.
"Details are still unclear, but what we do know is that the actions encouraged by the Chavez government provoked a crisis. According to the best information we have, the government suppressed what was a peaceful demonstration of the people," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer.
He said Chavez government supporters on orders fired on unarmed, peaceful protesters, resulting in 10 killed and 100 wounded.
He said the United States expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and looked forward to working with democratic forces in Venezuela to "restore the essential elements of democracy."
Sounds like George Bush escaped the clutches of his evil twin.
It would not surprise me a bit to discover that the we had people who were active among the opposition, and in contact with the Venezuelan military.
I wonder, who's next?
Bump!
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This fellow was connected to a lot of countries.
No doubt;)
Mike
"What is your take on the "bless the CIA" angle?"
It's the old American ego in action, the idea that nothing happens in thois world that we didn't have a hand in.
This was the people of Venezuela simply saying "enough"!
189 posted on 4/11/02 9:06 PM Pacific by Luis Gonzalez
I see that the stupid little leftist myth has taken hold in conservative circles. Yeah, the same CIA which help this country avert a disaster on September 11. "The Soviet Union is in great shape" - CIA in 1990. CIA my athlete's foot!
If so, he works fast!!
Ramon Rodriguez, a serving navy officer and close Chavez confidant who was interior minister until the president resigned on Friday morning, was punched by a furious mob as he was led handcuffed to a police vehicle outside an upscale Caracas apartment building.
"He is suspected of responsibility for yesterday's incidents," the mayor of Caracas' Chacao neighborhood, Leopoldo Lopez, told reporters.
Chavez was being detained at a military base, although it was not clear if he had been charged. Rodriguez has been the only one of his former ministers to be arrested, but police have rounded up several men suspected of firing on the huge anti-Chavez protest in central Caracas on Thursday.
Chavez, 47, a former paratrooper, resigned early on Friday under pressure from senior armed forces officers who had lost patience with his confrontational leadership style and left-wing populist politics. [End]
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State Dept. Statement on Venezuela - Fri Apr 12, 2:04 PM ET - By The Associated Press [Full Text] The State Department statement Friday on the ouster of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez:
In recent days, we expressed our hopes that all parties in Venezuela, but especially the Chavez administration, would act with restraint and show full respect for the peaceful expression of political opinion. We are saddened at the loss of life. We wish to express our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and look forward to working with all democratic forces in Venezuela to ensure the full exercise of democratic rights. The Venezuelan military commendably refused to fire on peaceful demonstrators, and the media valiantly kept the Venezuelan public informed.
Yesterday's events in Venezuela resulted in a transitional government until new elections can be held. Though details are still unclear, undemocratic actions committed or encouraged by the Chavez administration provoked yesterday's crisis in Venezuela.
According to the best information available, at this time: Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans gathered peacefully to seek redress of their grievances. The Chavez government attempted to suppress peaceful demonstrations. Chavez supporters, on orders, fired on unarmed, peaceful protesters, resulting in more than 100 wounded or killed. Venezuelan military and police refused orders to fire on peaceful demonstrators and refused to support the government's role in such human rights violations. The government prevented five independent television stations from reporting on events.
The results of these provocations are: Chavez resigned the presidency. Before resigning, he dismissed the vice president and the cabinet. A transition civilian government has promised early elections.
We have every expectation that this situation of democracy will be resolved peacefully and democratically by the Venezuelan people in accord with the principles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. The essential elements of democracy, which have been weakened in recent months, must be restored fully. We will be consulting with our hemispheric partners, within the framework of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, to assist Venezuela. [End]
I think Chavez might have been giving Castro oil under price in return for "expertise", such as running his street thugs et al.
Interesting development...
The CIA which defeated the Red Army in Afghanistan. When Democrats run the CIA from the White House or Congress, diaster ensues. Right now, they don't have that power. And Bush, according to Woodward, signed a secret EO after 9/11 unleashing the agency. You can bet there is decades of frustration waiting to express itself. I believe we have only seen the beginning with Chavez.
Aside from that, just having the good guys in office encourages freedom fighters. The people who kicked out Chavez knew they would not get a warm reception under Clinton or Gore. With Clinton taking bribes from the PRC and PLA and the ChiComs active in Venezuela nobody was about to risk a coup.
Yes, Castro was getting very favorable prices, and he is about $90 - $100 million behind in payments for that oil. I have read some reports that say that Castro is turning around and selling the oil at a nice profit, in which case Chavez was giving oil to Castro so that Castro could rake in some US dollars.
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