Venezuela Wants Better Washington Ties: U.S. Senator

[Say_What]

<clips>

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he wants to "turn the page" on past hostility and improve ties with Washington, including guaranteeing long-term oil supplies, a U.S. senator said on Saturday.

"He clearly articulated a desire for better relations with the United States," Sen. Norm Coleman, a Minnesota Republican, told foreign reporters after meeting with the left-wing Venezuelan leader in Caracas.

Coleman, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs, said he detected a recent easing in the hostile rhetoric between the two governments. Venezuela is a leading oil supplier to the United States.

The U.S. senator described his talks with Chavez, who has repeatedly accused U.S. President George W. Bush of trying to topple or kill him, as "positive and constructive."

"After going through the litany of differences, he talked about turning the page," said Coleman, who also met Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez late on Friday.

http://www.metronews.ca/reuters_international.asp?id=65329

[peacetalksforall]

1. OK, it looks as though Norm has accepted a role in the admin. He's

the guy that goes in front to help create the dis-reality.

How many think that we won't declare war on Venezuela because Norm went there?

If you ask me he was on a war making mission. Find something we can object to and blow it into a big deal.

He can't be trusted. He is their tool. He is not his own person.

[Say_What]

2. Particularly that remark to Chavez about

'don't lose any sleep over it. We ain't gonna kill you.' or some such sh*t.

:mad:

[Robbien]

3. Yep. Always read the last paragraphs in these propaganda pieces

I am waiting for VHealines take on the meeting.

[Carolab]

4. Small man's syndrome.

This guy is a little tiny twerp who was never fairly elected. He's from NJ, not MN, to begin with, and he was a Democrat who switched to the Republican party. He's NOT to be trusted; he is only out for himself.

[Hardrada]

5. Norm is also justly vilified

by Garrison Keillor.

[Robeson]

6. Norm Coleman????????........

...You know, its just hard for me to relate to anything, once I hear his name attached to it, irregardless of the subject.

[dameocrat]

7. In other words

The Venezuelans are threatening to ship oil to China instead of America if Bush doesn't back off. It's like what would have happened if Sparticus had taken over Sicily.