March 2, 2004
ARISTIDE NEEDS A ROOMMATE:
White House Urges Focus on Democracy in Venezuela (Jeff Gannon, March 2, 2004, Talon News)
Chavez sent ripples through the oil markets when he threatened to cut off oil shipments to the United States in retaliation for what he believes to be American support for his ouster. In a speech Sunday, he said that President Bush and his "henchmen" are promoting and financing the crisis in Venezuela.The White House dismissed the Venezuelan leader's remarks.
Press Secretary Scott McClellan told Talon News, "There is a democratic constitutional process underway in Venezuela. And that's where the focus should be. The focus should remain on the efforts by the Venezuelan people to exercise their constitutional and democratic rights, and on the efforts to try to resolve the political polarization through a transparent and internationally monitored presidential recall referendum." [...]
McClellan rejected a comparison between the events that precipitated the resignation of Haiti's President Jean Bertrand Aristede and the civil disobedience taking place in Venezuela.
Posted by Orrin Judd at March 2, 2004 5:14 PM
Absurd.
An oil embargo on the US would only serve to strengthen Bush's call to open up ANWAR, while hurting the Venezuelan economy and the Venezuelan people.
Not that Chavez cares for his people all that much....
Posted by: Karl at March 3, 2004 12:44 AMI hope we are gaslighting Chavez all the way home.
Posted by: jim hamlen at March 3, 2004 9:34 AM