09-19-2005, 11:06 AM | #1 (permalink) |
Junkie
Location: At my daughter's beck and call.
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
Is Hugo Chavez a threat to US National Security, or is he the democratically elected (3 times) head of a sovereign nation with the right to do as he sees fit with his country's resources and international relationships?
Please don't just say yea or nay, at least give a sentence or 2 of your opinion.
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Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state. -Noam Chomsky Love is a verb, not a noun. -My Mom The function of genius is to furnish cretins with ideas twenty years later. -Louis Aragon, "La Porte-plume," Traite du style, 1928 |
09-19-2005, 11:53 AM | #2 (permalink) |
Crazy
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Yes he's a threat to US National Security in the same way every country that does not follow a US line on their economy and government potentially is. Because the US as with any Imperialist regime cannot abide governments who do not obey their rule and offer any possible alternative.
I'd say the same about any Imperialist rule.
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09-19-2005, 07:32 PM | #3 (permalink) |
Baltimoron
Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD
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He can be a threat based on two factors:
1) He controls a large part of the US oil supply. 2) He's been known to cavort around with some other threats to the US.
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"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun |
09-19-2005, 07:57 PM | #4 (permalink) |
Winner
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I don't think it's an "either...or" question.
He is certainly a democratically elected head of a sovereign nation and he has the right to do what is in the best interests of Venezuela. It can be argued that every country poses a threat to US National Security. The questions are really "how much of a threat?" and "what should we do about it?" There are many different levels of threats and different levels of responses that we may undertake to counter that threat. In the case of Chavez, I think his anti-Bush rhetoric is just a way of scoring political points at home. His cavorting with other threats is more of the same. It's just a stunt, just like the way he's offered to send aid and medical care to Katrina victims. Beneath it all, he is a minor threat compared to others. Once Bush leaves office, Chavez will probably become less significant. |
09-20-2005, 05:39 AM | #5 (permalink) |
Getting it.
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
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He isn't a threat to the US. He is a threat to Ameican oil companies that have holdings in Venezuela.
Of course, this sort of threat on American corporate interests has tended to lead to US intervention... either as full on war or clandestine subterfuge. For evidence of this please read up on the Contras in Central America and the US supported ousting of Iran's democratically elected prime minister Mohammed Mossadegh in 1953, among other examples.
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09-20-2005, 07:11 AM | #6 (permalink) |
Pissing in the cornflakes
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He is a far bigger threat to Venezuela than the US.
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09-20-2005, 07:33 AM | #7 (permalink) | |
Getting it.
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
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Quote:
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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke |
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09-20-2005, 09:59 AM | #10 (permalink) | |
Junkie
Location: In the land of ice and snow.
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09-20-2005, 10:03 AM | #11 (permalink) | |
Getting it.
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
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Quote:
__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke |
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09-20-2005, 10:19 AM | #12 (permalink) | |
All important elusive independent swing voter...
Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia
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09-20-2005, 10:35 AM | #13 (permalink) |
You had me at hello
Location: DC/Coastal VA
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I think Pat Robertson is a bigger threat to the health and well-being of the US than Hugo Chavez. I saw the episode where Robertson prayed for, "something to happen" on the supreme court to allow Bush to further move it to the right. It was transparent that nutty Pat was praying for a justice to die, but he probably meant Ginsburg.
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I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet |
09-20-2005, 11:21 AM | #14 (permalink) | |
Crazy
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People who love people |
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09-20-2005, 11:38 AM | #15 (permalink) | |
Getting it.
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
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Quote:
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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke |
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09-20-2005, 12:40 PM | #16 (permalink) | |
Rail Baron
Location: Tallyfla
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But chavez isn't a bad man, he can get you a real nice deal on a barrel of oil if you ask him nicely...
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09-20-2005, 12:41 PM | #17 (permalink) | |
Born Against
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09-20-2005, 12:45 PM | #18 (permalink) |
Getting it.
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
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The CIA has a long history of spreading these sorts of rumours... I'm not surprised in the least.
__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke |
09-20-2005, 01:23 PM | #20 (permalink) | |
Crazy
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Because by not following what the US imperialists want he risks being assassinated, economic interference and the weight of US propaganda and influence against his government. Follow us, obey us or we destabilise you.
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Human beings : who could ever claim to like them all? |
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09-20-2005, 02:10 PM | #21 (permalink) | |
Junkie
Location: In the land of ice and snow.
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09-20-2005, 04:30 PM | #22 (permalink) | |
Baltimoron
Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD
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__________________
"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun |
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09-21-2005, 03:58 AM | #23 (permalink) | |
You had me at hello
Location: DC/Coastal VA
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Carlos Lanz is a Chavez crony who has been appointed head of Alcasa, the aluminum provider for Venezeula. His main background was in guerilla tactics, kidnapping and the like. There are other appointments similar to that. Chavez is an avowed socialist and sees conservative capitalists as the enemy, so, yeah, the current administration is not going to be his fan club by any means.
__________________
I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet |
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09-21-2005, 04:08 AM | #24 (permalink) | |
Junkie
Location: Ontario, Canada
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Si vis pacem parabellum. |
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09-27-2005, 12:28 PM | #25 (permalink) |
Junkie
Location: At my daughter's beck and call.
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This is what I love about TF'ers, you ask a question, and learn new stuff.......
That's a great deal, oil for doctors. To any US doctors who may be reading this, I'll trade real beer (Canadian) for services rendered!
__________________
Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state. -Noam Chomsky Love is a verb, not a noun. -My Mom The function of genius is to furnish cretins with ideas twenty years later. -Louis Aragon, "La Porte-plume," Traite du style, 1928 |
Tags |
chavez, hugo, president, venezuelan |
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