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Chávez arming to fight attack by U.S.
The Miami Herald ^ | Feb. 12, 2005 | Phil Gunson and Steven Dudley

Posted on 02/12/2005 7:28:32 AM PST by David1

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To: David1
Venezuela Reality Check

January 21, 2005

During a recent South American tour, a U.S. Senate delegation showed how futile it is to patronize despots. Members struggled to invent common bonds with Venezuela’s authoritarian leader, and then promised what they couldn’t deliver.

In Caracas on January 10, Senators Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) called on President Hugo Chávez, offering to repair testy relations with Washington if he would assure oil exports to the United States and cooperate with U.S. counternarcotics efforts in Colombia.

~snip~

At Rice's confirmation hearing these three Senators---all on the Committee---really pushed her to promise to make nice to Chavez. It caught the attention of we who were watching, that's for sure. Dodd's time at the hearing starts around here and he got right to Venezuela. Rice declined to say Chavez was someone we could work with.

41 posted on 02/12/2005 8:33:15 AM PST by cyncooper
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To: David1
It was common knowledge that many Nazis fled Germany for South America at the end of WWII. I see two German names that are part of the Chavez regime.

The Communists remind me of the Russia vs. USA basketball game in the Munich Olympics - have the officials on your side and keep playing until you win, regardless of the rules. (For those too young to remember, there were only 1 or 2 seconds left with the U.S. leading by one. The Russians had to go the length of the court and tried to heave the ball to their giant center to stuff in the basket. They failed. The Russian referee then called a violation of some sort and gave them another chance. They failed again. Same deal again. On the third effort they made it and were declared the winner.)

The Communists will keep trying even though their ideas are throughly discredited. Not able to win with ideas, they lie, cheat, murder, imprison, torture, etc., until they subdue the opposition.

Never forget that is what the Democrats have become in this country, especially Hillary. Don't forget the law breaking, the lying under oath, the threats and intimidation of perceived enemies, the FBI files, the private investigators, the incorporation of Larry Flynt into their efforts, and the many suspicious murders during the Clinton/Gore administrations. Nothing has changed. We are at war for our lives and our way of life.

42 posted on 02/12/2005 8:42:56 AM PST by Mind-numbed Robot (Not all things that need to be done need to be done by the government.)
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To: David1
chavez = the RAT that Roared!!!
43 posted on 02/12/2005 8:45:26 AM PST by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: David1

One of the things that hurt the Soviet Union in the 1980's was the deregulation of petroleum pricing by the Reagan Administration. The dramatic increase in supply dropped the price of oil from $45 to $12. This ruined a reliable source of hard currency for the bankrupt Soviets, and hurt their ability to provide oil to client states at a subsidized price.

Right now, a lot of Chavez' domestic support results from social programs funded by oil revenues. Perhaps if our government permitted drilling in ANWR, Chavez' support could be undermined.


44 posted on 02/12/2005 8:51:32 AM PST by Daveinyork
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To: David1

Instead of lasting three seconds in a US onslaught he will actually last FIVE seconds!


45 posted on 02/12/2005 9:04:12 AM PST by Killborn (It's called C4. Use lots and lots of it.)
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To: Daveinyork

We need to rethink high speed rail along the eastern corridor and other options that will eventually lessen our dependence on oil. Flywheel technology is an example of something that is waiting for advances in material science to become economically feasible for mass use. Solar power that relies on batteries will never be a viable solution. A long life reasonably priced flywheel energy storage unit would make solar power more cost effective and lead to rapid growth in installations.

Only by lessening the demand for oil and gas and driving the price into the basement can we remove the potential for mischief from those with oil. Energy independence is the solution.


46 posted on 02/12/2005 9:12:31 AM PST by meatloaf
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To: bvw

Watch Guyana. Venezuela has a colorable claim to the western half of it. It's been a low level dispute for over a century. Hugo might see it as an easy win that would sure up his lagging numbers at home. Of course, such a naked violation of sovereignty would make it easy for the US then to intervene.


47 posted on 02/12/2005 9:20:21 AM PST by BroncosFan ("It's worse than a crime - it's a mistake." Talleyrand.)
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To: Migraine

he is getting bad advise from his parrot...


48 posted on 02/12/2005 9:28:29 AM PST by chilepepper (The map is not the territory -- Alfred Korzybski)
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To: BroncosFan

i hope he invades it. just the pretext we needed...


49 posted on 02/12/2005 9:29:12 AM PST by chilepepper (The map is not the territory -- Alfred Korzybski)
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To: BroncosFan

Okay, goodpoint. Is that on the road to Chiapas, the Tzotz-choj Autonomous Zone?


50 posted on 02/12/2005 9:36:50 AM PST by bvw
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To: David1

If we stopped the War on Varios Drugas, Chavez would be easy pickings. As long as we keep the narco trade black it empowers thugs like he and Castro.


51 posted on 02/12/2005 9:45:16 AM PST by bvw
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To: chilepepper
The last time that border flared up, in 1895, was also the last time the US and UK almost came to blows. The UK supported Guyana to pressure a debtor Venezuela. Pres. Cleveland, with the noisy support (was there any other kind?) of TR, backed Venezuela and invoked the Monroe Doctrine (ah, how quaint). The Brits backed down and their documents later made clear that they decided then and there never to challenge us again in the Western Hemisphere.

Anyway, much like Saddam's 19th province claim on Kuwait and the Argies claim on The Falklands, the history of this border is murky enough to encourage Chavez. After all, if he moves in the near term, he'd have a pretty solid SA block behind him or neutral. But the geography makes me almost hope he tries something conventional, rather than the more covert, and successful, means he's now using in Bolivia and Colombia. Park a carrier or two off the coast and watch Hugo's pricey new toys explode.

52 posted on 02/12/2005 9:46:15 AM PST by BroncosFan ("It's worse than a crime - it's a mistake." Talleyrand.)
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To: bvw

Hugo's got oil. He's Castro's new sugar daddy. Fidel tried to use drug revenue to replace the USSR's backing, but it just wasn't getting the job done. The Leftists are gaining ground in corners of LA where drugs are but a secondary issue.


53 posted on 02/12/2005 9:48:20 AM PST by BroncosFan ("It's worse than a crime - it's a mistake." Talleyrand.)
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To: BroncosFan
Watch Guyana. Venezuela has a colorable claim to the western half of it. It's been a low level dispute for over a century. Hugo might see it as an easy win that would sure up his lagging numbers at home. Of course, such a naked violation of sovereignty would make it easy for the US then to intervene.

I think you are onto something. I will watch with great interest. All of what you said, plus, Guyana has a reputation for attracting low-life-loser-KoolAid-drinkers.

I also find your use of the word, "colorable", fascinating in this context.

54 posted on 02/12/2005 9:48:56 AM PST by Migraine
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To: BroncosFan

Not Castro. The illegal "right-wing narcoista" trade throughout Central America. Creates social and political dynamics that allow a Chavez standing. Massive corruption among the authorities.


55 posted on 02/12/2005 9:52:38 AM PST by bvw
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To: Mind-numbed Robot
The Communists remind me of the Russia vs. USA basketball game in the Munich Olympics - have the officials on your side and keep playing until you win, regardless of the rules.

...sounds a lot like the Democracks in Wash State, too, come to think of it.

56 posted on 02/12/2005 9:54:45 AM PST by Migraine
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To: David1

the houston chronicle has an article today that chavez is inviting conocophilips in for an oil deal.


57 posted on 02/12/2005 9:56:19 AM PST by ken21 (most news today is either stupid or evil.)
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To: David1

"propose that we move to the offensive, just like the imperialists have moved to the bloody and ruthless offensive. If you don't believe me, look at Iraq."

If nothing else, it has been worth the price to see these little dogturd despots wet their pants when they think about President Bush and the US military. Chavez, Jong Il, Gaddafi, the Iranian mullahs, all quaking in their silken slippers.


58 posted on 02/12/2005 10:08:36 AM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: kingsurfer

Buying 40 helicopters and 50 Mig 29's? That'll help the "lower masses" plenty.


59 posted on 02/12/2005 10:10:58 AM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: kingsurfer

Baloney - poverty has shot up since this thug got his hands on the oil. His oil benefits a few cronies on the ground and most of the billions are in Cayman island banks or safe with fidel who's suddenly gotten a bunch of billions no one knows how he managed to get. There are gonna be some big news stories out there coming soon about chavez's massive oil ripoff. By their results do you judge them and right now, despite record-high oil prices, venezuela's poor are poorer than ever.


60 posted on 02/12/2005 10:14:26 AM PST by Kitten Festival (The Thug of Caracas has got to go.)
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