Chavez: Defense council to be created-(SANTA)

wiredispatch ^ | 4/13 | afp

[Flavius]

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said his government is working to create a NATO-like South America defense council along with Brazil and other countries.

During a speech Sunday night, Chavez said the council would unite the region's countries to "design our own defense policies." He said Venezuelan officials planned to discuss it with Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim when he visits Caracas on Monday.

The leftist leader said he brought up a similar proposal at the start of his presidency in 1999 but that it met with opposition in the region.

"I once said that if NATO exists — the North Atlantic Treaty Organization — why couldn't SATO exist? The South Atlantic Treaty Organization," Chavez said. "We've placed it on the table for Latin America once again."

Chavez was addressing a crowd of supporters outside the presidential palace on the sixth anniversary of his return to power after a short-lived 2002 coup.

[hosepipe]

All Sunglasses and important looking Hats..... No military expertise..

[TLI]

[TLI]

[Chode]

Chavez: "You are a devil, you smell like sulfur, you are a drunk, you are the demon, you are a dictator, you are an assassin Mr. Devil, you are..."

Bush: "YEAH, Yeah, yeah, WHATever... just fill'er up MonkeyBoy!!!"

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

[Rob112586]

Castro:Russia as Chavez:China, mark my words. But hey, we’ve got terr’ists to worry about. Nothing to see here. </s>