Venezuela's Chavez Says U.S. Backed Coup

[Khephra]

By ALEXANDRA OLSON
Associated Press Writer

February 17, 2004, 3:37 PM EST


CARACAS, Venezuela -- President Hugo Chavez angrily accused the United States on Tuesday of backing a coup in 2002 and of helping Venezuela's opposition stage another attempt to overthrow him.

Chavez also accused the Bush administration of spreading lies about his government to justify its demise, saying it used similar tactics in Iraq, and of falsely charging Venezuela with supporting Colombian rebels.

He said the United States was providing hundreds of thousands of dollars to Venezuelan groups that organized a petition for a recall referendum on his rule -- and to groups that are plotting his ouster.

"The government of Washington is using the money of its people to support -- not only opposition activities -- but acts of conspiracy," Chavez said in a speech to small business owners.

"The government of the United States is attacking the Venezuelan people again, just like they attacked the people of Iraq," he added.

more.................

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-venezuela-us,0,1319301.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[Mithras61]

1. I thought we had already established that...

with some FOIA fulfillments. I think it was about a week or 10 days ago that I saw some official documents that pretty much made it clear that the Bushistas were financing the anti-Chavez-Frias people.

[Fargin Ice Hole]

5. Personally I'm not opposed to hearing it another time....

Scream it from the Roof tops Chavez!!!!!!!:headbang:

[Mithras61]

6. I'm not opposed to hearing it again, but

it needs to be said that US Government documents have established that the Bushistas are backing the coup. It needs to be said loudly, and on US TV or the average person here will never hear about it. But simply reiterating the Chavez-Frias claim without citing the documents as proof is trying to discredit Chavez-Frias as a conspiracy theorist, especially when you quote the state department as denying involvement.

[Fargin Ice Hole]

12. Did you see Powells recent speech about Haiti......

I had to find this in Googles Cache.....

"We will accept no outcome that, in any way, illegally attempts to remove the elected president of Haiti," Powell told reporters. At the same time, he said, both sides in the dispute need to work out a "peaceful political solution."


I about rolled over from histarics.

[denverbill]

2. Why all the talk? We already have forums for this stuff.

Take it to the World Court, the ICC, or the United Nations.

The US is harboring people accused of committing terrorist acts in Venezuala. Bush is aiding and abetting terrorism if he refuses to turn them over for trial.

[Just Me]

4. Ahem,...U.S. exempted itself from the reach of those int'l bodies,...

:eyes:

Go figure.

3. I don't blame Chavez for being worried

VERY worried.

Interesting that there is not a single mention of oil in the article. I'm curious if this is because Chavez didn't mention it or because it's not getting reported.

[xchrom]

7. all of this will matter

when abc, nbc, cnn, etc decide to report the news.
i can always dream.

[SinkingInTheRain]

8. Where are the Democrat party leaders on this?

Kerry should be all over this and using it against Bush for trying to overthrow an elected leader and a very democratic leader such as Chavez is.

[newyawker99]

9. Hi SinkingInTheRain!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Dirk39]

10. They're desperately searching...

for freedom fighters in Miami. Chavez can't be elected, it's not possible. People, who nationalize oil-production, can't be elected, it's not possible, it's a violation of human rights.

The democratic party leaders are where they've always been.

Hello from Germany,
Dirk

[Fargin Ice Hole]

13. Why rock the boat???? Kerry continues to use safe methods of bashing...

Tried and true blah blah blahs that don't go near enough....

To exemplify any other subject could cost him to be incredible. And god forbid if you confuse the Sheep.

He has his song and dance down pat. Dance away Ketchup boy!!!!!

[JNelson6563]

11. oh yes, it smacked of spooks

it was pretty obvious.

Julie