YOU'RE NUTS!!!!!! Chavez Hitler? You haven't got a clue what you are talking about. AND if he were a thug as you suggest, it is NOT the business of the fascists in Washington to tell another sovereign country what to do as they self righteously do. The USA is no great shining example of democracy with its phoney rigged elections and is in no position to criticize others. You know what? There is just no pleasing you American lunatics. Example.....you say that Lebanon can't have free elections while being occupied and yet you forget you are occupying Iraq just as Hitler occupied Poland.
JIMMY CARTER ENDORSED THE BY-ELECTION OR DOES THAT NOT MATTER TO YOU REPUBLICAN FASCIST THUGS?
You cannot pick your style of democracy just to suit your own world domination plans. There are thinking people in the world that will resist you country and I am one of them. What is currently going on in your country is dangerous and dispicable and will lead to one thing, the downfall of freedom in your country but that is already happening in a huge way.
If you really want the truth about what is goin on in VZLA then read vheadline.com I know the author of this site personally and can vouch that you are getting the truth on his site not some BS right wing propaganda out of Washington designed to make Chavez look bad. Anyway it is NOT THE BUSINESS OF AMERICANS to tell others how to run their countries. You so NOT rule the world.
In my final respectful parting shot here I will say that I sincerely hope and pray that Chavez will cut off oil supplies to the USA even though he states that he continues to desire to supply it if the USA wants it.
VIVA CHAVEZ, VIVA CHE AND VIVA CASTRO.
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Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the most hypocritical of them all?
VHeadline.com commentarist Vanessa C. Marcano writes: The Venezuelan government, led by President Hugo Chavez Frias, has decided to purchase 100,000 new AK-47s from Russia. The Chavez administration is also considering the purchase of Russian helicopters this year, in an attempt to improve and update weaponry in the Venezuelan Army, given the need to reinforce security along the borders, due to the increased presence of irregular groups in the area.
Those of us who have been living in Venezuela, and those who live in Colombia are aware of the ongoing problems at the Venezuelan-Colombian border, especially in the last few years.
But ... as most have probably already read ... US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, in typical US government fashion, has chosen to ignore the facts and ventured on yet another tirade concerning Venezuela’s weapons purchase, this time during his Latin American tour. Here is what he had to say:
Russian Arms to Venezuela Could Destabilize Hemisphere - Rumsfeld
“U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Wednesday he was worried about a planned purchase of 100,000 Russian assault rifles by Venezuela and said it could destabilize the hemisphere, Reuters reported.[...]
“I can’t imagine what’s going to happen to 100,000 AK-47s, I can’t imagine why Venezuela needs 100,000 AK-47s,” Rumsfeld told reporters in Brazil’s capital Brasilia, where he is on a two-day visit.
“I hope it doesn’t happen and I can’t imagine, if it did happen, it would be good for the hemisphere. Certainly, I’m concerned. [...]”
In addition, Financial Times reported:
US questions Venezuela weapons acquisition
“[...] Earlier this month US officials said they feared the weapons could end up in the hands of leftwing guerrillas such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc). Some Chávez critics even speculated they could end up with leftwing groups in Bolivia and elsewhere in the region.
Increasingly frustrated with Mr, ChAvez' fiery anti-US rhetoric and suspect relations with "destabilising forces" in the region, Washington is turning to Brazil as a moderator.
"We wish Chávez would listen more to Lula," said a top-level aide accompanying Mr, Rumsfeld on a tour of South America.
"Our two countries are looking at ways to work together more closely to confront the anti-social threats from organised crime, gangs, drug-traffickers, hostage-takers and terrorists," Mr, Rumsfeld added. [...]
Previous US concerns, such as Brazil's uranium enrichment programme, appear to have been put on the backburner. Instead Mr Rumsfeld praised Brazil for "leadership in the area of science and technology' ".
We keep hearing all these concerns, all this worry and preoccupation regarding Venezuela’s 100,000 AK-47s, which could “destabilize” not only the region, but, according to Rumsfeld… the HEMISPHERE; yet why don’t we take a look at the other side of the coin?
What did the US do on March 25, right after Rumsfeld’s declarations?
US to sell F-16s to Pakistan in major policy shift
"The United States has dramatically shifted its arms sale policy toward South Asian rivals India and Pakistan by announcing F-16 fighter jet sales for Pakistan on Friday. [...]
India has maintained that the sale of F-16s to Pakistan would pose a threat to the region's security environment.
US government officials, however, argued that the sale will not change the overall balance of power between Pakistan and India.
US State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said on Friday that the F-16s to be sold to Pakistan would be newly built but the number was still "undetermined." A senior US government official said earlier that the initial plan is to sell 24 to Pakistan. [...]
Pakistan has been frustrated for years in its desire to buy new F-16s for its air force, which already has 32 older model F-16s. The US Congress canceled a sale of about two dozen F-16s to Pakistan in 1990 because of Islamabad's pursuit of nuclear weapons. But US relations with Pakistan have warmed steadily because of Islamabad's strong support for the US-led war on terrorism. [...]"
India dismayed as US resumes sales of jet fighters to Pakistan
"[...] Last year, Washington signed a separate $1.3bn (£700m) arms package with Islamabad.
US officials insist that the sale will not upset the balance of power in the region. But those assurances are unlikely to carry much weight in New Delhi, which lobbied against the sale during the visit to the region last week by the US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice."
US F-16 fighter jets bound for Pakistan
"The US has agreed to resume sales of nuclear-capable F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, as an explicit reward for General Pervez Musharraf's support in the war on terror, reversing a decades-old arms embargo [...]"
Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf – now that’s a name you certainly do not hear very often! Who exactly is General Pervez Musharraf?
General Pervez Musharraf became de facto Head of Government (using the title Chief Executive and assuming extensive powers) of Pakistan on October 12, 1999 following a bloodless coup d'état. He assumed the office of President of Pakistan (becoming Head of State) on June 20, 2001.
On May 12, 2000 the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered Musharraf to hold general elections by October 12, 2002. In an attempt to legitimize his presidency and assure its continuance after the approaching restoration of democracy, he held a referendum on April 30, 2002, which extended his presidential term to a period ending five years after the October elections.
However, the referendum was boycotted by the majority of Pakistani political groupings, and voter turnout was 30% or below by most estimates.
BBC News’ biography on Musharraf states:
“Since President Pervez Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, the paradoxes of his rule in Pakistan have become more marked. [...]”
For additional information: Pakistan’s human rights record on the Amnesty International website.
Do you notice how this person was NOT democratically elected, thus he is, in fact, a DICTATOR?
And what does the US give to this South Asian DICTATOR ... nothing other than F-16 deals, despite India's claims stating that the measure taken could cause destabilization.
Yet, the Venezuelan government, a DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED government, decides to buy 100,000 AK-47s, and suddenly it's an attempt to "destabilize the HEMISPHERE."
Oh, like giving weapons to dictators in a country that is currently engaged in a conflict with India ... right … that won't cause any negative effect at all.
This is not an isolated event, however. The US government is friends with many bona fide dictators who are in continuous and consistent violation of basic human rights, but that are never bothered as long as they cater to and consider “United States interests.”
A few examples include:
Turkmen President Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov, proclaimed “President for Life” by his country’s legislation, in 1999.
“Niyazov is an authoritarian leader and is known for his massive cult of personality. […]
He renamed the town of Krasnovodsk, on the Caspian Sea, “Turkmenbashi” after himself, in addition to renaming several schools, airports and even a meteorite after himself and his immediate family.
His face appears on all Manat banknotes and large portraits of the President hang all over the country, especially on major public buildings and avenues, and statues of himself and his mother are scattered all over Turkmenistan […]”
“[…] The education system indoctrinates young Turkmen to love Niyazov, with his works and speeches making up most of their textbooks' content. The primary text is a national epic written by Niyazov, the Ruhnama, which serves as the "spiritual guidance of the nation" and the basis of the nation's arts and literature. […] He has also banned long hair, beards, and gold teeth.”
Nizayov has an atrocious human rights record, including clampdown on dissent, torture, repression, failure to meet international commitments, among other violations.
The United States government, however, does not seem to care about this, given its recent eagerness to conduct gas pipeline deals with Turkmenistan.
Furthermore, Rumsfeld met with Nizayov in 2002 and discussed “the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) Program, by which the U.S. Department of Defense provides foreign militaries with training and basic equipment. Last year, the US Coast Guard donated an unarmed coast guard cutter to help Turkmenistan patrol its waters in the Caspian Sea as part of this program.”
Another example is the United States’ alliance –- along with Bush’s budding friendship -- with Uzbek dictator Islam Karimov.
Islam Karimov took power in 1989, after a widely criticized election on December 29 of that same year; following the election, several opposition leaders were forced into exile, others were jailed, while few have disappeared.
After extending his term until 2000, Karimov conducted yet another faux referendum, which he allegedly won with 91% of the vote. Even the US said that this election "was neither free nor fair and offered Uzbekistan's voters no true choice”, given the fact that the only opposition candidate, Abdulhasiz Dzhalalov admitted he had only entered the race for show.
In 2002, Karimov won yet another referendum extending his term from 5 to 7 years. He is scheduled to hold elections again in 2007.
Craig Murray, former UK Ambassador to Uzbekistan, concerned about the torture and extra-judicial killings taking place under Karimov’s brutal regime, stated in 2002 that "Uzbekistan is not a functioning democracy", while at the same time denouncing of the boiling to death of two men. "All of us know that this is not an isolated incident," Murray said.
According to Amnesty International, President Islam Karimov’s human rights record is unspeakable and terrifying, including punishment of dissenters, torture, mass arbitrary detentions, harassment, disappearances, religious persecution, prison camps and unfair trials.
Nevertheless, the United States continues to work jointly with Uzbekistan’s government. In fact, Uzbekistan has proven to be one of the United States’ key allies, as evidenced by the signing of bilateral agreements and cooperation in joint security consultations.
US looks away as new ally tortures Islamists
Senior US Officials Cozy up to Dictator Who Boils People Alive
Abuses and conflict continue in Asia, as the United States government turns a blind eye on its dictator buddies.
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the most hypocritical of them all?
Vanessa C. Marcano
Vanessa@VHeadline.com |
