http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060203/ap_on_...rumsfeld_chavez
Rumsfeld Likens Chavez's Rise to Hitler's
1 hour, 22 minutes ago
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld likened Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to Adolf Hitler, reflecting continuing tension in relations between the United States and the Latin American government.
Rumsfeld, asked during a National Press Club appearance Thursday about indications of a deteriorating general relationship between Washington and parts of Latin America, said he believes such a characterization "misses the mark."
"We saw dictatorships there. And then we saw most of those countries, with the exception of Cuba, for the most part move towards democracies," he said. "We also saw corruption in that part of the world. And corruption is something that is corrosive of democracy."
The secretary acknowledged that "we've seen some populist leadership appealing to masses of people in those countries. And elections like Evo Morales in Bolivia take place that clearly are worrisome."
"I mean, we've got Chavez in Venezuela with a lot of oil money," Rumsfeld added. "He's a person who was elected legally — just as Adolf Hitler was elected legally — and then consolidated power and now is, of course, working closely with Fidel Castro and Mr. Morales and others."
There have been increasing signs of hostility between Washington and Caracas, and on Monday Chavez said Venezuela's intelligence agencies have "infiltrated" a group of military officials from the U.S. Embassy who were allegedly involved in espionage.
Venezuelan authorities, including the vice president, have accused officials at the U.S. Embassy of involvement in a spying case in which Venezuelan naval officers allegedly passed sensitive information to the Pentagon.
It was not the first such charge by Chavez.
He has accused President Bush of backing efforts to overthrow his leftist government, and specifically has charged that the United States supported a short-lived coup in 2002, fomented a devastating strike in 2004 and expelled some American missionaries from Venezuela for alleged links to the CIA.
Washington has repeatedly rejected the allegations.
Responding to Venezuela's expulsion of a U.S. naval officer from Caracas, the State Department on Friday declared a senior Venezuelan diplomat persona non grata and gave her 72 hours to leave the country.
Spokesman Sean McCormack said Jeny Figueredo Frias, the embassy chief of staff, has been ordered to leave.
On Thursday, Chavez had said that Venezuela was expelling naval attache John Correa for allegedly passing secret information from Venezuelan military officers to the Pentagon.
McCormack said the U.S. action was a direct response to Correa's expulsion.
"They initiated this and we were forced to respond," he said.
Full Version: Look who's talking
This is pure propaganda, probably trying to scare people again, so the increase in the already massive defense budgets makes us feel "safe." Rumsfeld is clearly out of touch with what is really happening in Venezuela.
QUOTE
February 1, 2006
Another world is possible!
Last week, CODEPINK went to Mali and Venezuela for the World Social Forums. There, we were inspired to see how deeply the world supports peace. Prominent personalities, women's organizations and even Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed on to our latest campaign to end the war in Iraq, Women Say No To War. Many others agreed to bring the signatures to U.S. embassies on March 8, International Women's Day.
President Hugo Chavez, who met with CODEPINK cofounders Medea Benjamin and Jodie Evans, and Peace Mom Cindy Sheehan, became the 30,000th person to sign the Call for Peace. "There is no stronger force than strong women demanding peace. I'm delighted to sign on, and will encourage women throughout Venezuela to sign," he said.
The momentum for this campaign is building, but we need your help to make sure we reach our goal of 100,000 signatures by March 8. Here's how:
Help us get more signatures. You can spread the call virally, download petitions to take to your workplace, put these banners on a friendly website, or write an article about the campaign (click here for a sample).
Pledge to do something for peace on March 8, International Women's Day. You can raise funds for our Iraqi Women's Fund, hold a vigil, visit a congressperson, protest at a recruiting station, or join us in Washington DC. Click here for ideas or to register an event.
In one very moving gathering we organized in Caracas, Cindy Sheehan was joined by Yanar Mohammad, founder of the Organization for Women's Freedom in Iraq, and Colombian activists trying to end their decades-long strife. Together, we all recited the Colombian group's powerful slogan: "We women did not give birth to and raise our sons and daughters to kill other women's sons and daughters. Not one man, not one woman, not one penny for war."
The Colombian women of the Ruta Pacifica said they would join us outside their US Embassy on March 8. Parliamentarian Nidia Diaz from El Salvador, the only country in Latin America with troops in Iraq, said she'd organize a big anti-war forum in El Salvador. The Canadian Autoworkers and Postal workers pledged to circulate the Call for Peace among their union members. And at the Forum in Mali, the main organizer and former Minister of Culture Madame Aminata Traore signed on, as did Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Executive Director of the African Women's Development Fund.
As George Bush continues to shed the blood of Iraqis and U.S. soldiers, waste billions of our precious resources on killing, and threaten a new confrontation with Iran, let's join our sisters and brothers the world over to say-loud and clear-"Not one man, not one woman, not one penny for war."
With thanks,
Dana, Farida, Gael, Jodie, Medea, Nancy, Rae & Tiffany
P.S. On Tuesday night, during President Bush's State of the Union address, CODEPINK held protests around the country and Cindy Sheehan was arrested inside the Capitol for simply wearing an anti-war t-shirt. Click here to hear her account of the sorry state of the union.
Check out our latest Women Say NO to War t-shirt, now available on our online store.
Another world is possible!
Last week, CODEPINK went to Mali and Venezuela for the World Social Forums. There, we were inspired to see how deeply the world supports peace. Prominent personalities, women's organizations and even Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed on to our latest campaign to end the war in Iraq, Women Say No To War. Many others agreed to bring the signatures to U.S. embassies on March 8, International Women's Day.
President Hugo Chavez, who met with CODEPINK cofounders Medea Benjamin and Jodie Evans, and Peace Mom Cindy Sheehan, became the 30,000th person to sign the Call for Peace. "There is no stronger force than strong women demanding peace. I'm delighted to sign on, and will encourage women throughout Venezuela to sign," he said.
The momentum for this campaign is building, but we need your help to make sure we reach our goal of 100,000 signatures by March 8. Here's how:
Help us get more signatures. You can spread the call virally, download petitions to take to your workplace, put these banners on a friendly website, or write an article about the campaign (click here for a sample).
Pledge to do something for peace on March 8, International Women's Day. You can raise funds for our Iraqi Women's Fund, hold a vigil, visit a congressperson, protest at a recruiting station, or join us in Washington DC. Click here for ideas or to register an event.
In one very moving gathering we organized in Caracas, Cindy Sheehan was joined by Yanar Mohammad, founder of the Organization for Women's Freedom in Iraq, and Colombian activists trying to end their decades-long strife. Together, we all recited the Colombian group's powerful slogan: "We women did not give birth to and raise our sons and daughters to kill other women's sons and daughters. Not one man, not one woman, not one penny for war."
The Colombian women of the Ruta Pacifica said they would join us outside their US Embassy on March 8. Parliamentarian Nidia Diaz from El Salvador, the only country in Latin America with troops in Iraq, said she'd organize a big anti-war forum in El Salvador. The Canadian Autoworkers and Postal workers pledged to circulate the Call for Peace among their union members. And at the Forum in Mali, the main organizer and former Minister of Culture Madame Aminata Traore signed on, as did Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Executive Director of the African Women's Development Fund.
As George Bush continues to shed the blood of Iraqis and U.S. soldiers, waste billions of our precious resources on killing, and threaten a new confrontation with Iran, let's join our sisters and brothers the world over to say-loud and clear-"Not one man, not one woman, not one penny for war."
With thanks,
Dana, Farida, Gael, Jodie, Medea, Nancy, Rae & Tiffany
P.S. On Tuesday night, during President Bush's State of the Union address, CODEPINK held protests around the country and Cindy Sheehan was arrested inside the Capitol for simply wearing an anti-war t-shirt. Click here to hear her account of the sorry state of the union.
Check out our latest Women Say NO to War t-shirt, now available on our online store.
QUOTE(beamer619 @ Feb 3 2006, 01:22 PM)
This is pure propaganda, probably trying to scare people again, so the increase in the already massive defense budgets makes us feel "safe." Rumsfeld is clearly out of touch with what is really happening in Venezuela.
Beamer, Negroponte made it very clear in the hearings yesterday just how much the administration loves Hugo......He actually put some special emphasis and vehemence in his report to the committee with regard to Chavez's nationalitic pursuits and his pulling out of the US oil market.......I don't know what they plan to do to him, but they've got a plan.....
By their very contemporary record of deeds and actions, who is more like Hitler? Rumsfeld or Chavez. Gosh, the old iron-head thinks all Americans are raised stupid! 
Can anyone here remember back in the old day's when everyone was paranoid and Fearful of the Rise of Communism?
Change the Name and substitue a Flag and Bingo ! your back in Business!
Change the Name and substitue a Flag and Bingo ! your back in Business!
QUOTE(DWB04 @ Feb 3 2006, 04:33 PM)
Beamer, Negroponte made it very clear in the hearings yesterday just how much the administration loves Hugo......He actually put some special emphasis and vehemence in his report to the committee with regard to Chavez's nationalitic pursuits and his pulling out of the US oil market.......I don't know what they plan to do to him, but they've got a plan.....
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle....NEZUELA-USA.xml
US-Venezuela ties tested after diplomats expelled
Fri Feb 3, 2006 2:12 PM ET
By Patrick Markey
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela and the United States have taken relations beyond heated rhetoric by expelling diplomats in a new test to fraying ties between Washington and a world oil power.
Flush with petroleum cash and with Cuba as his key ally, Chavez has positioned himself at the center of regional opposition to U.S. President George W. Bush by promoting his socialist revolution as the antidote to U.S. influence.
Making charges reminiscent of the Cold War, the Venezuelan leader on Thursday expelled U.S. naval attache for espionage and warned he would throw out the full U.S. military mission if authorities caught its officers spying on his government.
Washington responded on Friday by expelling a Venezuelan official, whom it described as the ambassador's chief-of-staff, in a tit-for-tat measure.
"This is not going to lead to breaking of relations, but the government's decision will have repercussions in Washington," said Riordan Roett of the Western Hemisphere Program at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington.
"I can't remember the last time a U.S. diplomat was expelled from Latin America. For Chavez to do this means he is looking for a fight or has found the fight he wants," he said.
Ties between the United States and the world's No. 5 oil exporter have deteriorated steadily since Chavez came to office seven years ago, promising sweeping reforms for the poor.
Chavez calls Bush "Mr. Danger," attacks his "imperialist" policies and accuses Washington of trying to kill him. U.S. officials say Chavez has teamed up with Cuba to destabilize the region with his revolutionary message.
Even before the expulsions, Washington's attempts to block military sales to Venezuela and Chavez's charges of U.S. espionage had European diplomats asking where the two governments were headed.
Venezuela's vice president, Jose Vicente Rangel, said on Friday relations were "complicated and difficult" but the government would not allow the dispute get out of hand.
"They are moving their pieces and we are aware of the game and we will respond in a calculated manner to these aggressions
without going to any extreme," he told reporters.
OIL AND DIPLOMACY
The U.S. Embassy in Caracas has tried to hold meetings at every level of the Venezuelan government for the last 18 months, but has had no success, a spokesman said.
With communication often limited to public accusations, the U.S. ambassador has started reading to the press from a small card he carries with him listing 24 plots the government has attributed to Washington so far.
While Venezuela still supplies about 15 percent of U.S. crude imports, Chavez has steadily moved to break his country's traditional economic reliance on the United States by seeking out trade and energy deals with Iran, China and Russia.
He has presented himself as flag-bearer for a resurging left wing in South America and supported causes from U.S. peace activist Cindy Sheehan to Peruvian nationalist Ollanta Humala and Iran in its dispute over its nuclear energy program.
Chavez foreign policies have irked Washington, which has described the former army commander as a negative influence in South America. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld compared Chavez on Thursday to Adolf Hitler and other U.S. officials warned about his growing ties to Iran and North Korea.
"The Rumsfeld comment is further proof that the administration doesn't have a coherent policy. There are very conflicting signals," said Michael Shifter at the U.S. think tank Inter-American Dialogue.
Boy, oh, boy, doesn't Bush truly hate Chavez? Chavez is loved by his people as they voted for him almost unaminously in Venezuela. And each time Chavez voices or make his media appearance, poor, poor Bush has to be reminded that he, Bush, has to cheat with machines and with lies to get a slim majority of America's population to wear his Presidential Crown.
They hate when we call Bush hitler, but love to call everyone else Hitler.
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