Americas News
US escalates feud; calls Bolivia, Venezuela "desperate" (1st Lead)
Sep 12, 2008, 16:02 GMT
Washington - The decisions by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his Bolivian counterpart, Evo Morales, to expel the US ambassadors were desperate moves to counter growing internal opposition to their leadership, the US State Department said Friday in a sharp escalation of the diplomatic feud.
'This reflects the weakness and desperation of these leaders as they face internal challenges and an inability to communicate effectively internationally in order to build international support,' State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.
McCormack said the United States has responded by ordering the Venezuelan and Bolivian ambassadors in Washington to leave, and rejected the accusations against the US envoys.
'The charges leveled against our fine ambassadors by the leaders of Bolivia and Venezuela are false and the leaders of those countries know it,' McCormack said.
Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department on Friday froze any assets in the United States belonging to two high-ranking Venezuelan intelligence officials and a third former official on suspicion of arming FARC rebels in neighbouring Colombia.
'Today's designation exposes two senior Venezuelan government officials and one former official who armed, abetted, and funded the FARC, even as it terrorized and kidnapped innocents,' said Adam J Szubin, director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
The latest diplomatic turmoil began when Morales on Wednesday expelled ambassador Philip Goldberg. Chavez followed by requesting that the US ambassador in Caracas, Patrick Duddy, leave in what he called a show of solidarity with this leftist ally in the poor Andean nation.
Morales accused Goldberg of supporting groups in the country opposed to his socialist policies.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Americas
- 1. Mexico drug lord Arellano gets 25 years in US prison
- 2. Drug violence not just Mexican problem, North American leaders say
- 3. Mexico drug lord Arellano sentenced to 25 years in US prison
- 4. Pope Cuba Visit Pictures
- 5. Pope thanks Mexico for "unforgettable experiences"
Older Talkback
page: 1
Does this low rent parody of a Bananna Republic dictator have any brains?
He seems to think that the Dems in congress and the War on Terror have hamstrung our Military to the point of being ineffectual.Guess again you crude little Castro wannabe! Can you say NORIEGA?! Can you remember GRANADA?!Only an asshole would continually poke a stick at their neighbors Rottweiler!!! Keep it up Hugo and your gonna have some U.S. Marines show up at the Palacio de Presidente and it won't be for brunch!Oil can still be pumped outta the ground if your buried in it!
I agree with the DOC,but I'm betting the first boots on the ground will be worn by the 82nd Airborne.No nation building,just ass kicking!
of the basement soldiers on this site, shooting bullsh*t bullets. They don't have the brains to realize that the US is at it's usual imperialistic games, again. Somebody farts in your general direction and you want to send in the army.What a bunch of total fricking idiots.
How typical;
Some vicious ,communistic asswipe dictator threatens to cut off 1/4 of our oil and drive prices through the roof and idiot do nothing liberals want to wring hands and sing 'Cumbiya'...THAT'S Typical!!!
Let's send Jimmy Carter down there to talk to them!
you say: 'Some vicious ,communistic asswipe dictator threatens to cut off 1/4 of our oil and drive prices through the roof '
First off, it is your oil companies and market speculators that have druven the cost of oil through the roof. You can thank Bush and Cheney for that one.
Secondly, it isn't your oil and they can do with it whatever they want.
Thirdly, talking about some vicious asswipe dictator, you must be talking about Bush.
Suck it up asswipe, freeze in the dark.
page: 1
LovethatdirtywaterSep 12th, 2008 - 16:36:11
Why use the title 'US Escalates feud'? Are you people nuts? Chavez certainly is and you apparently are happy playing his useful idiot.
Report this comment