Posted on 03/11/2007 12:35:47 PM PDT by HarmlessLovableFuzzball
The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, on a tour of Latin America, has launched a stinging attack on the US. Visiting Bolivia, the firebrand leftist leader said that capitalism was "the road to hell". Mr Chavez underlined the billions of dollars of aid Venezuela is ploughing into Bolivia's economy at a time when the US is reducing its contributions.
US President George W Bush has avoided discussing his rival's regional trip during his own visit to Latin America.
Heaven and earth
"Those who want to go directly to hell, they can follow capitalism," Mr Chavez said in the town of Trinidad in Bolivia.
"And those of us who want to build heaven here on earth, we will follow socialism," he added.
Recent floods in the town left thousands of homeless and their livestock drowned.Venezuela's aid package of $15m (11.4m euros) outweighed the sum offered by the US tenfold.The country also sent in aid workers who attended their president's speech on the airport runway. During his visit, Mr Chavez also pledged more than $1bn (£0.5bn; 0.76bn euros) for oil projects and community radio stations in the country.
Mr Bush spent Saturday in Uruguay where he spoke of the US care for the "human condition" and its "quiet, effective diplomacy".
Rural retreat
He defended capitalism, saying one way to lift people out of poverty was to encourage investment.
"I would call our diplomacy quiet and effective...aimed at helping people, elevating the human condition, aimed at expressing the great compassion of the American people," he said.
Mr Bush (right) said Americans cared about the human condition. The US president has pointedly refused to directly respond to Mr Chavez's comments as they make parallel tours of the region.
Mr Bush's presence in Latin American states has been met with protests and marches, some of which have turned violent. About 20 people were arrested in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo on Friday after an estimated 6,000 people took to the streets.
On Saturday, Mr Bush avoided the crowds by meeting the president at his rural retreat some 125miles (200km) west of the capital. Mr Bush is heading to Colombia on Sunday where he will meet the region's most loyal ally, President Alvaro Uribe, followed by Guatemala and Mexico.
There are about 22,000 members of the security forces posted around Bogota in preparation for Mr Bush's arrival in the Colombian capital.
Mr Chavez, meanwhile, travels on to Nicaragua.
If he had any credibility left before this, I can't imagine he still has it now.
I really really want someone to put this creature out of its misery.
Let's see...aren't hoards of Venezuelans leaving Venezuela for the US?
No Hugo - the F-15E is the road to hell.
Without oil his communist experiment would be impossible.
Surely you jest - the left just laps this crap up, and the media just adores it. They follow Chavez around with big puppy dog eyes, behaving like lovestruck teenagers.
US President George W Bush has avoided discussing his rival's regional trip during his own visit to Latin America.
This is the second story I've seen with this reference in it, and high up as well. Looks like the DBM has found its meme for this trip - Bush is scared to confront Chavez because he knows what a failure he is in comparison.
It is time to simply stop using CITGO products. No way will I spend one penny with them. That kind of thing will send him a message, if he has a brain big enought to absorb it up.
Captalism = Capitalism
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Chavez shows that he is a non believer. All Liberals believe that they are Godlike and that they control heaven
I don't recall reading about "taking" from the rich in the bible. There's plenty about "giving" but not much about taking.
That's the problem with liberal socialists, they miss the whole free will of Christianity. I think it's a fear of facing the freedom of consequence that results from free will.
Im not sure that boycotting CITGO will do any good.
Im unsure as to how the gasoline is distributed. Its my understanding that not all oil sold at citgo is from venuzueala. At any rate it will probably only hurt the American owners of Citgo gas stations.
I say Boycott socialism! ;0)
They also miss the part about heaven.
If we truely believe that we can build heaven on earth than what is heaven for? why believe in Jesus or God?.
Liberals believe that man has power over heaven and hell.
"capitalism: road to hell"
yeah, just ask anyone who has lived through communist hell.
mr chavez seems to be competing for the position of scu%bag number one in the socialist heirarchy.
(doesn't he know that hillary! holds that esteemed position?
How does the quote go??? "The very thing that makes the state a hell on earth is that man seeks to make it his heaven"????
Joe Kennedy doen't really care about America or Americans which is why he should be sent to live with his best bud Chavez. Chavez's speech would be a goldmine for anyone willing to point out Kennedy's real mindset.
For the express lane to hell, see Socialism.
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