A Recall Referendum Worthy of Our Attention

[bobbcat]

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Venezuela is a major source of oil imports for the US. The shenanegans of their corrupt, despotic leader could have a negative impact on our economy. Not much of a chance that Chavez will go, but hopefully, he will.

[CagedTroll]

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[CagedTroll]

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Chávez has understood the potential power of women as primary carers. Four months of continuous lobbying got women the constitution they wanted. Among its anti-sexist, anti-racist provisions, it recognises women's unwaged caring work as economically productive, entitling housewives to social security. No surprise then that in 2002 women of African and indigenous descent led the millions who descended from the hills to reverse the coup (by a mainly white elite and the CIA), thereby saving their constitution, their president, their democracy, their revolution.

I did "fair and balanced" with the Newsday article. So I figured it was okay to jump to an extreme with this one. Enjoy!

[CagedTroll]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] Actually I just saw something that said they were keeping the polls open till midnight, but I'm not sure what timezone that was in.

[Jwelch111]

It appears that Chavez has prevailed. A victory for the people, and a defeat for The Bush Administration. Make no mistake: Bush's fingers were all over the coup attempt in 2002.

[bobbcat]

It is also a victory for Al Qaeda, as Chavez has a pattern of doing business with terrorist groups.

[CagedTroll]

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Another issue that Robinson raises is the claim that Venezuela’s Arab communities are “becoming centers for terrorist sympathizers.” To bolster this claim, Robinson cites an unnamed “Venezuelan analyst,” who says that the Venezuelan-Arab friendship association on Venezuela’s Margarita Island is a “fortress” with armed guards.* Aside from the fact that most important buildings in Venezuela have armed guards, such an observation is completely meaningless. According to such a standard, the U.S. embassy would have to be the center of terrorism, since it is by far the most fortified and fortress-like building in all of Venezuela.

Robinson’s claims are also undermined by a recent in-depth investigation by Michele Salcedo, of Florida’s Sun-Sentinel (9/5/03). Unlike Robinson, Salcedo visited Margarita Island and spoke to the people there. Her investigation casts serious doubt that there are any terrorist “cells” on the island, as Robinson and Gen. James Hill, head of the U.S. Southern Command claim.

[bobbcat]

Sounds like a "he said, she said" sort of thing. It is apparent that more information from other reliable sources is needed.

[CagedTroll]

Originally Posted by bobbcat

Sounds like a "he said, she said" sort of thing. It is apparent that more information from other reliable sources is needed.

I was tempted to say exactly the same thing, right after the post that started this thread.

I'm glad you brought this up though. I've been following it for a few months, but I didn't want to start a "flame war" anywhere with it. At least not till I'd gotten a few more facts. As of now, for lack of more information, I'm still in favor of Chavez. I wish the US, instead of spending millions of dollars trying to get him ousted, had spent the same amount updating equipment in Venezuela's oil fields. Would have given him less incentive to get involved with Castro.

[bobbcat]

Seems like a valid point, Troll. I wish I knew more. Fact of the matter is though, all gov'ts are corrupt, including ours. Does seem to me that our gov't officials should tend to the interests of those whose services (oil sales in this case) we depend upon.

[bobbcat]

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It would appear that despite the bad taste Chavez leaves in the mouth of the Bush administration, he has done some good things for the Venezuelan people, and he allegedly strives to stabilize oil prices.

Perhaps it is time for Bush and Co. to normalize relations with this leader.