Americas News
Chavez calls OAS chief an 'idiot' and says he is 'lame'
Jan 8, 2007, 22:16 GMT
Caracas - Outspoken Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez strongly criticised the head of the Organization of American States (OAS), the Chilean Jose Miguel Insulza, calling him an 'idiot' and a 'sissy.'
At the ceremony on Monday in Caracas where his new government was sworn in, the controversial leftist nationalist Chavez reacted to criticism from the OAS chief of his decision not to renew the licence of opposition channel RCTV.
'The position of the secretary general is quite lame, it is shameful ... He should resign the post of general secretary, the lame Doctor Insulza,' Chavez said, in a pun with the Spanish word 'insulso,' which means insipid or dull.
Chavez has accused the private RCTV of broadcasting subversive programmes, and in particular of having adhered to a failed coup which overthrew him for 48 hours on April 11, 2002.
Most Venezuelan media - like most traditional parties, businessmen, trade unions, student federations and part of the Catholic Church - back the opposition, which denounces Chavez's dictator-like style of government.
The current Venezuelan head of state, however, was re-elected on December 3 with around 62 per cent of the vote. He has ruled Venezuela since 1999, and is scheduled to be inaugurated on Wednesday for a six-year mandate expiring in 2013.
The country's new Vice President Jorge Rodriguez and 25 ministers - some of them also newcomers - swore their oaths Monday. Among those who made their debuts, Pedro Carreno took over the Interior Ministry and Rodrigo Cabeza took charge of the Finance portfolio. Chavez's brother Adan was named Education Minister.
Chavez said his new Cabinet aims to realise a socialist model in the fifth-largest oil exporter in the world.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
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Chavez is an excelent leader and ones who criticize him are parrots for Western idealism. IMO
As demonstrated by China the real path to good government and prosperity is a bit of ruthlessness. Democracy fails in that respect. Democracy can only work if the prosperity is already there.
Everett, how did you come up with such an insipid analysis? Do you know anything about the history of the South American 'scene'? It is a history marred by nearly two centuries of United States intervention where the people have 'feastered', as you say, in abject poverty while US companies have reaped enormous wealth from the natural resources there. Many South American companies are turning to left-leaning governments because they are sick of the trickle-down Reagonomics and free market mentality that means business get to crush anyone and anything in their path to untold wealth.
And if you want a courageous US president who will act forcefully to intervene in South America you are a total idiot who refuses to see the Middle East quagmire in which we sink deeper daily. Here's the deal, man. The US doesn't have any rights to other peoples' lands, resources and economies despite what the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine insists. If you want gunboat diplomacy, take your own self down there and get your head shot off. Take a whole boatload of right-winger neo-conservative John Ashcroft wannabe American Taliban with you, too, please. Don't let any liberals get in your way. Good riddance.
why not? Because Chavez threatens to take away that which people have worked for for all of their lives. He threatens to take their freedoms, to make these people live at his will while he lives high on the hog just as buddy Castro has all these years. It smells of a hypocritical totalarian state and quite frankly maybe thats where you and your offspring belong to ensure that you can no longer express your stupid and worthless thoughts. People with big mouths get run over by tanks in your preferred form of government.
It seems to me that the country of my birth has sympathizers with crude dictators. I do not need to address anyone as being insipid or stupid. Though, I will be free to speak my mind. This land of all peoples does not need another vile hater's oil or any other thing that is a part of his domain. Many nations are taken advantage of, including mine. It is never right to exploit others. So, how will we resolve what is an economic and a political debacle; surely, not with mere name calling, surely, not with pompous rhetoric, and surely not with divisions as great as is in existence during these, our times.
We, as a civilized people, do not strive to make others suffer in the name of freedom. We, as a humane force do not employee tactics to crush the lives of those who act as dissidents. Furthermore, we can always improve ourselves, as a liberated people liken to.
When you continue on the course of berating one another, a weakening of our values ensues. When you justify the majority choosing the road to suppression, a sadder day has dawned. When you refuse to understand the plight of the less fortunate, you begin to become less fortunate yourself.
Until we confront the cries of despair amid the swords of mad dominance, shall we for once, dream songs from the heart, dream peaceably for those who have no peace at day’s lurid end.
Chavez is battling the Americans in his own way. For years the Yankees controlled his country. The propaganda came by air, word of mouth or the good old dollar. The same tactics, the Americans continue to use throughout the world. Chavez only has the power because he quickly took charge of the very thing the US desires, Oil. He has also put his life on the line to protect it. The American capitalists will do every thing in their power to regain control. The American people can see no wrong in that.
A few facts that don't seem to be represented here are ...
1. USA dosnt give a damn about what Chavez postures and barks about, last year was a record for trade between the two countries and this year is gonna beat it again.
2. Chevez dosnt give a damn about the US he's just using it as a boogie man for simple people who don't understand politics and power.
3. US is not about to attack Venezula and never was and Chavez knows this.
Try reading 1984 its like a blue print for Chavez, Ahmanidinijad, little Kim and a host of others. I hazzard to guess that a few years from now there will be no opposition TV or newspapers, he will change the law so that he can remain in power for life, dissedents will begin to dissapear and he will still be posturing about the 'evil capatalists'. To the Venezulans who support this man i would like to say that you don't always get what you want, but you always get what you deserve.
page: 1
EverettJan 8th, 2007 - 23:34:06
I Think this is another example that permeates the South American scene. Chavez makes no bones about his desire to be another ruthless dictator and since there is no one to stop him, he will. The U.S. is too weak and the American people lack the will, so it will be allowed to feaster until he either invades another country or attempts to subvert other countries and creates another flood of illegals to pour into the U.S. Then maybe some American President with the courage to act forcefully, regardless of what the liberals say, will save the day.
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