Invade us and it's no more oil, Chavez tells US

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | Mar. 9, 2004 | AP

[Rennes Templar]

Venezuela's President, Hugo Chavez, has vowed to freeze oil exports to the US and wage a "100-year war" if Washington ever tried to invade his country.

The US has repeatedly denied ever trying to overthrow Mr Chavez, but the leftist leader has accused Washington of being behind a failed 2002 coup and of funding opposition groups now seeking a recall referendum on his presidency. US officials say Washington supports peaceful elections in Venezuela.

But Mr Chavez accused the US of ousting the former Haitian President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and warned it not to "even think about trying something similar in Venezuela".

Venezuela "has enough allies on this continent to start a 100-year war," Mr Chavez said during his weekly television and radio show on Sunday.

"US citizens could forget about ever getting Venezuelan oil" if the US ever tried to invade.

If people wanted a referendum against him, they should seek one peacefully, he said.

In the rambling five-hour broadcast that mixed threats with appeals, he also said he regretted the deaths of eight people in the recent street protests by opponents calling for him to submit to a recall vote.

"So what is it this Government is trying to do? Destabilise its secure [oil] supplier?" Mr Chavez asked. He said the recent anti-Government protests were "made in the USA". Venezuelan oil exports were not affected by them.

Venezuela provides about 15 per cent of US oil imports but relations between the two countries are rocky over Mr Chavez's friendship with Cuba's President, Fidel Castro, his criticism of US-led negotiations for a free trade zone in the Americas, and his opposition to the Iraq war.

The US was slow to condemn the 2002 coup attempt, initially accusing Mr Chavez of provoking his own downfall.

Mr Chavez has increasingly railed against US meddling in Venezuelan affairs as his opponents step up protests to demand the recall vote. American officials have recently accused Mr Chavez of becoming increasingly autocratic.

On Saturday, at least 500,000 Venezuelans marched in Caracas to protest against a National Elections Council decision last week that an opposition petition for the recall vote did not have enough valid signatures. Opponents turned in more than 3 million signatures on December 19 but the council ruled only 1.8 million were valid. It ordered more than one million citizens to confirm they had signed, and rejected more than 140,000 signatures.

Rioting over the decision killed eight people and injured scores more. The violence subsided after the Organisation of American States and the US-based Carter Centre pledged to help give citizens a fair chance to prove they signed.

Venezuela is riven between those who fear Mr Chavez is trying to impose Cuba-style socialism and those who say he has given an unprecedented political voice to the impoverished majority.

Mr Chavez insists election officials have reason to believe the recall petition is fraud-ridden. He claims many signatures belong to dead people, minors and foreigners.

Associated Press, Reuters

[Rennes Templar]

It's scarey knowing a guy this insane is running that country.

[Peace will be here soon]

Chavez, has vowed to freeze oil exports to the US and wage a "100-year war" if Washington ever tried to invade his country.

---

If we invaded , this guy would be toast. LOL !! What a nut ! What is it with these lefty/socialist/dictator/communist morons?

[freebacon]

"Venezuela "has enough allies on this continent to start a 100-year war,"

We're very impressed Mr. Chavez, and frankly scared out of our minds. Who would ever even consider taking on the FEARSOME Venezuelan warrior; and his terrifying comrades.

[FairOpinion]

He doesn't get it. If we invade, he will not remain president, and will have no say about Venezuela's oil.

"All your oil wells belong to us"

[jla]

Hugo 'Wilhelm' Chavez, has vowed to freeze oil exports to the US and wage a "100-year war" if Washington ever tried to invade his country.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Who would ever even consider taking on the FEARSOME Venezuelan warrior; and his terrifying comrades.

Welll...I'm not doing anything this weekend. I'll gas up the truck, you wanna get some sandwiches and drinks?

[FreeReign]

But Mr Chavez accused the US of ousting the former Haitian President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and warned it not to "even think about trying something similar in Venezuela".

Chavez has seen what happened to Aristide. Both Aristide and Chavez were helped into power by Bill Clinton.

Is Chevez next?

Reminiscing, here's quote from the then Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson when he was attending the Hugo Chevez Inauguration back in 1999;

[Bill Richardson]: "since the last time that I was here (October 1998) representing Bill Clinton, I have seen democracy in Venezuela flourish. As friends, Venezuela and the United States have many struggles to overcome."

[blackbart.223]

"Venezuela's President, Hugo Chavez, has vowed to freeze oil exports to the US and wage a "100-year war" if Washington ever tried to invade his country."

Damn! I'm shaking in my boots right now.

[squidly]

Chavez is starting to remind me of someone.......

[BluH2o]

In the rambling five-hour broadcast that mixed threats with appeals ...

Shades of Fidel Castro, who, in his younger years, would rant and rave against the U.S. at packed auditoriums in Havana for endless hours. Cubans, who have little else in the way of entertainment, would clap spontaneously each time Fidel denegrated the U.S., at least initially, as the hours wore on they became bored, it became a chore. Cuban soldiers and police officers (probably equally bored) would dutifully patrol the crowd looking for enthusiasm laggards and arrest them.

[Riley]

This is the second 'Jack D. Ripper' reference I have happened across on FR tonight. I just watched 'Dr. Strangelove' again, last night. Weird.

[marron]

Venezuela bought Citgo with its three large US refineries precisely to guarantee market share in the US. They aren't going to do anything of the sort. He is just trying to impress the rubes.

It will work, but probably less and less on fewer and fewer.

I was in Venezuela during his abortive uprising years ago. Bush Senior made a few politely vague remarks about democracy and the rule of law, and people went into a frenzy, some of them, that the US was going to invade. An acquaintance told me, "I like you, but when the marines come I will be fighting with my people." I started laughing. I said, the US doesn't care what you guys do. There aren't going to be any marines. And, obviously, I was right.

This time, things are considerably worse, there is much more in play, and I would still say that it isn't the marines he has to worry about. Once his own people have had enough, he will be praying for some marines to see him safely into exile, but I doubt they will be there. He will have to trust to his Cubans to get him to safety, and I don't think his Cuban exile is going to last too long either. He is betting a losing hand.

[InvisibleChurch]

when will kerry go there to smooth things out?

[blackbart.223]

"Cuban soldiers and police officers (probably equally bored) would dutifully patrol the crowd looking for enthusiasm laggards and arrest them."

Stalin's foot soldiers did much the same. So much for the workers paradise.

[Lawgvr1955]

I think Chavez sees his good friend Fidel's days are numbered and he sees a vacuum about to need filling. He'll take over as the pain in the US's side in South America/Caribbean area.

[marron]

That doesn't mean that their aren't some navy guys in civilian clothes making the rounds, finding out where people live, and maybe a few investors from Miami meeting with various functionaries, finding out who is who and where they stand on various issues, and maybe a few ex-military guys looking up old friends in the Vz military, maybe some of the DEA guys are introducing new friends to their former contacts in the Vz national police.

That could happen, I wouldn't swear that it wouldn't...

[inkling]

But don't forget the vaunted Venezuelan Air Force...

Venezuelan Navy C-212-400 Patrullero for maritime patrol.

[SteelTrap]

Nope - with a threat of this magnitude, we have to send in the big guns - Haliburton.

[vanmorrison]

It would seem that the Venezuelans are going to have to start shooting at this SOB and his minions if they're ever going to see the light of day again. Do they have it in them? We'll see...

[Texasforever]

Invade us and it's no more oil, Chavez tells US

Is he going to drink it?