Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is urging his military to defend Venezuela in the face of Colombia's military bases agreement with the United States.
Chavez fumed that at the recent UNASUR summit in Ecuador, "Colombia's representative had the audacity to apologize" saying he could not reveal details of the controversial military agreement for lack of "permission from the U.S. government."
"Go with shame, feel sorry for others!" said Chavez, who continued to insist that Colombia is required to give details of the agreement to the entire region.
Both Venezuela and Brazil failed to explain to UNASUR their recent weapons purchases from Russia and Iran, among others.
Chavez said that Brazil has asked "for a guarantee that the United States forces would not make incursions into surrounding countries."
According to Chavez, Colombia will give no guarantees. "[Venezuela] will not insist on guarantees, because if anything can be guaranteed its that they will use those military bases against us. ... I have no doubt. So what we have to do here, generals and admirals, is prepare to defend this country," he said.
The U.S. forces stationed in Colombia would "carry out intelligence, counterintelligence, and conspire against Venezuela," President Chavez said.
Newspaper El Espectador reports that Chavez alleges that "the empire" (the USA) has plans to overthrow or even assassinate him in order to take control of Venezuela's oil wealth, the world's fifth largest oil exporter and fourth largest supplier of the United States.
Franco
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... "Chavez alleges that "the empire" (the USA) has plans to overthrow or even assassinate him in order to take control of Venezuela's oil wealth, the world's fifth largest oil exporter and fourth largest supplier of the United States." Ya, that's it Chavez, the US is going to attack you for your oil. See, the US Congress will not let US Oil companies drill for any more oil in the US (third largest reserves in the world) because they want the US off oil and onto alternative energies ASAP. But the US military needs the oil see, so the US Military is being paid under the table by the oil companies to take yours, they will split the profits to boot.. So, put your head between your legs and kiss your ass good bye. |
Franjo
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... You really need to get your facts straight Franco, I laugh when people try to use some statistic to look smart, yet are way off. http://www.nationmaster.com/gr...l-reserves ... US has the 13th largest oil reserves. Venezuela 7th. |
Andrewmann552
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... The title of this article is dangerously irresponsible, almost Orwellian. Chavez's warnings are purely defensive, overblown and loud? Sure. But he is clearly warning against US-sponsored aggression from Colombia which is now a hotel for US hardware, advisors and is opening seven bases for their use. Imagine if China or Russia did the same in Mexico, how would the U.S. react? Colombia Reports is being very irresponsible with this headline which only helps exasperate the situation, sow fear into people and do what the Uribe government accuses Chavez of doing. |
lukeweyland
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... Rubbish! No doubt that Chavez has the same hatred for Uribe as Uribe has for him. Venezuela would be no match for Colombia - I mean thecountless billions of dollars worth of US, Colombian & Israeli hardware based in Colombia. Chavez simply wants to ensue that there are no more uninvited guests in the form of Colombian death/drugs squads visiting Zulia from the west.. Or any US 4th fleeters dropping in either. |
tomtom33
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... I never thought I'd agree with Andrew on anything. I do in this case. However, he states his case in words that also go over the top. And the China/Russia/Mexico example is in no way analogous, not even close. Did Tio Hugo ever stop to think that the US would not need to use any Colombian bases to take him out if they so chose? Hugo desperately needs a villain to keep the peasants(everyone else has left) from wondering why their economy is circling the bowl. Unfortunately such desperation may lead to desperate measures. Maybe CR is not so far off base here. |
Andrewmann552
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... Tomtom33, the idea that the US wouldn't use bases to destabilize or hit another country is giving too much credit to the US's technology. If this were the case, why was a bombing and land invasion needed for Panama? Or let's not use a direct invasion as an example, just look at Nicaragua, the US used its base in Honduras to arm, train and then send over the Contras. With two wars being fought in the Middle East, it is not too crazy to believe the US will use the bases for other purposes, not necessarily a full invasion. US bases in Iraq have been used to shelter the MEK, a Stalinist terrorist group which carries out deadly attacks inside Iran. "Tio Hugo" is a loudmouth, but he also knows his history. |
tomtom33
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... I never said that the US wouldn't use its bases for nefarious purposes. In fact, I hope they do. I'm not very pleased with Tio's saber rattling. My point was that, if the US so desired, Hugo would be toast without using any base other than those located on US territory. Ever been to MacDill? Everything could be handled from there. |
Andrewmann552
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... tomtom33, I see your point. But how can anyone support the US destabilizing Venezuela? If anything that will only make the situation worse for the region. Reagan turned Central America into a wasteland, and we all know what the results and consequences have been. |
tomtom33
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... I would argue that Chavez has seriously destabilized Venezuela. And I don't see things getting any better while he is still around. Reagan may have caused some problems in CA. But it's not like he woke up one day and decided to mess with paradise. There were plenty of problems there to start with. To say that he turned CA into a wasteland is, again, way over the top. But I will confess my ignorance when it comes to most of CA. I lived for a time in Costa Rica but know little of the rest of the area. |
Richard
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... It's absolutely absurd to think that Reagan turned Central America into a wasteland. I get so fed up with people who say ridiculous things like "The US installed Pinochet!", apparently having no realization whatsoever that virtually the entire Chilean Army (the most professional in Latin America) and the majority of the Chiliean Congress supported the coup. The CIA helped, surely, but they hardly managed it. And you can't blame them for helping if you really know the history down there. Likewise, Central America, like all of Latin America, is fucked up primarily because of the people who live there. Corrupt elites were toppled by loony toons coalitions of humanities professors (haha) and illiterates. That's all these "people's movements" were. Basically the children of the elite who lacked the intellect and manners to become businesspeople or diplomats became third rate intellectuals who believed whatever European leftists told them. They then went out and worked up the passions of illiterate peasants and tried to build a better work by fucking everything up. And don't forget the Cuba and Russian activities in Central America. |
