In the days before Obama’s inauguration, however, Chavez changed his tune to a more pessimistic one:
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Saturday Barack Obama had the "stench" of his predecessor as U.S. president and was at risk of being killed if he tries to change the American "empire"…In an interview aired on Univision, Obama declared that Chavez had "been a force that has interrupted progress in the region” and warned about alleged links between Chavez and Colombia’s FARC rebels. Meanwhile, U.S. diplomatic officials said that the incoming Obama administration would seek "renewed dialogue" with Venezuela.
"I hope I am wrong, but I believe Obama brings the same stench, to not say another word," Chavez said at a political rally on a historic Venezuelan battlefield.
"If Obama as president of the United States does not obey the orders of the empire, they will kill him, like they killed Kennedy, like they killed Martin Luther King, or Lincoln, who freed the blacks and paid with his life."
Chavez’ comments on Saturday came during a political rally in support of an upcoming referendum. Venezuelans will decide in a national vote on February 15th whether term limits should be removed for president, mayors, and governors.
Image- AP (“In this photo released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, left, speaks with his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva during a visit to a farm near Maracaibo, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Miraflores Press Office)”)
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, The Telegraph, LAHT, Reuters, AP, washingtonpost.com
1 comment:
You should point out that Chavez's comment is a response to the previous criticism (and slander, about the 'terrorist' connections) by Obama. Just to set the record straight. It's not a good way for Obama to start his presidency verbally attacking a South American nation that has signalled they want to make peace with the U.S.
Pepito
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