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snip><br>"We've just discovered a case, one more espionage case," Chavez told the audience of activists who are attending the World Social Forum in Caracas this week.<br><br>"I warn the U.S. government: the next time we detect a soldier or civilian official - but above all American soldiers - trying to obtain information about our armed forces, we're going to put them in prison."<br><br>Chavez has repeatedly accused the U.S. government of spying and plotting to oust him, while U.S. officials have firmly denied the allegations.<br>_______________________________________________________<br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://enews.earthlink.net/article/int?guid=20060127/43d9a8d0_3ca6_1552620060127737109340">enews.earthlink.net/artic...7737109340</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br>Sabre Rattling? Man, i just don't know what to think about Chavez.Is he a champion of social justice?Or is he part of a CIA take over of South America?<br>On one hand here he is standing up to the "evil imperialists". On the other hand he is asking for a fight that can't be good for the Venezeulan people.<br><br>I just don't get it.<br><edit to add link> <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p216.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=bajasur>BajaSur</A> at: 1/28/06 12:04 am<br></i>

<br><!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Is he a champion of social justice? Or is he part of a CIA take over of South America?<br> On one hand here he is standing up to the "evil imperialists". On the other hand he is asking for a fight that can't be good for the Venezeulan people.<br><br><hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br><br><br> What would you have him do? Sit back and get <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1159809,00.html">Aristeded</a><!--EZCODE LINK END-->?<br> You can be sure there are many more people paying attention to Venezuela now, thanks to Chavez' very public actions (free oil to poor Americans) and pronouncements, than was the case in Haiti or in America's <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,688071,00.html"> Venezuelan coup attempt of 2002 </a><!--EZCODE LINK END-->.<br><br><br> Go Hugo!<br><br><br> <p></p><i></i>

I think he's a rather incompetent Castro-wannabe, given to grandiose gestures with little forethought or planning.<br><br>My guess on the "spies" thing is that American intelligence has probably fed him disinformation to get him to conduct a purge of his navy. He'll replace the purged officers with ideologues whose loyalty is beyond doubt. In Chavez' eyes, this will make him safer, but in reality, it drives a wedge of distrust between the Chavez faction and the professional soldiers and administrators who actually make armies and governments work smoothly. <br><br>-Sepka the Space Weasel <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p216.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=sepka>Sepka</A> at: 1/28/06 12:59 am<br></i>

<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>You can be sure there are many more people paying attention to Venezuela now, thanks to Chavez' very public actions<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br><br>Yes it gets media coverage, for me this raises some flags.Anything mainstream media reports on should be scrutinized. <br><br>My paranoid brain tells me the whole thing is scripted. My heart tells me that something good is finally happening in the world.Sadly my heart is not to be trusted.<br><br>Chavez gets media coverage, Aristide didnt. Whats wrong with this picture?<br><br>I am still agnostic on this topic, I would like to give Hugo the benefit of the doubt.<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Chavez gets media coverage, Aristide didnt. Whats wrong with this picture?<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br><br>Hugo --Venezuela-- has the world's fourth-biggest supply of oil.<br><br>Aristide-- Haiti-- has lots of potential low-wage workers. --MaryK <p></p><i></i>

<br><br><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-237/0512103726191058.htm">Iran, Venezuela ink 850-million-dollar contract</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br><br><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/company/cnl54992.htm">Venezuela and China sign oil supply deal</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br><br><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=47770">US diplomat flees Venezuela rather than face charges of CIA espionage</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br><br><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://207.44.245.159/article8015.htm">Hugo Chavez is right ... The US will knock off those who disagree with George one by one. </a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> :<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>" Mr. Bush is playing chicken with both countries, and we can assure you China and Russia will call Mr. Bush’s bluff. "</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><br><br><br><br><br> <p></p><i></i>

I think you have to keep in mind the partisan slant that the media is hoping to plant in the public's mind, which is that of a Chavez who is a creepy, evil, bad-guy commie, with ties-that-bind to el creepo Castro. Also, keep in mind that Chavez is playing more to the Venezuelan audience, which eats this up, than to the secondary world audience. A pity really, since the American media will be successful in painting Chavez as a narcissistic Castro wannabe, instead of someone who is successfully giving Bush heartburn. Can you name one other person, with particular focus on Americans, who is as successful as Chavez in doing that? Ok, ok, Fitzpatrick. But name me one more. <p></p><i></i>

The whole western hemisphere will be joined together by the FTAA, anything else is a storm in a teacup in the long term. India and Pakistan (supposedly) almost went nuclear, now they going to be as close as two EU countries. <br><br>Maybe there will be a spat incentra; America to remind everyone how lucky they are to be trading, not fighting. Money is what it's all about after all/ <p></p><i></i>

<br><br><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20060127/cm_usatoday/citgosgenerosity;_ylt=ArxfzNT5PxK5vMjlcPml.7ms0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3YWFzYnA2BHNlYwM3NDI-">Citgo's Generosity:</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br><br> <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>"We were disappointed that USA TODAY chose the day Citgo generously reached out to low-income families in Maine and Vermont with heating oil assistance - a move that was supported by public officials and local editorial writers of all persuasions - to run an unfair front-page profile of the company ("Has Citgo become a political tool for Hugo Chavez?" Cover story, News, Jan. 12).<br><br> Citgo is a century-old American oil refining and marketing company owned by Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), Venezuela's state oil company. When our President Hugo Chavez saw a need to help the United States deal with the impact of hurricanes and energy shortages, he asked PDVSA and Citgo to help. That is the uncomplicated backdrop to the heating oil program.<br><br> There is nothing outrageous about Americans helping their neighbors. The United States does it every day. Venezuelans are proud that PDVSA, Citgo's parent, believes that corporate profits should be shared with the communities and consumers who make the business possible - both in Venezuela and other countries where PDVSA has a presence. Citgo is among the largest refining companies in the USA, and Venezuela is the country's fifth-largest supplier of petroleum - so such a humanitarian gesture is good business, as well.<br><br> At the high point of oil and gas prices, a dozen U.S. senators of both parties appealed to oil companies' "sense of corporate citizenship" to help less fortunate Americans get through the winter in the face of cuts in federal assistance. Citgo did its part. No other oil company has done so. It makes the criticism in the article seem petty.<br><br>Fadi Kabboul, Minister Counselor for Energy Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Washington"</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><br><br><br> Go Hugo!<br><br> Buy Citgo!<br><br><br> <p></p><i></i>

Fadi Kabboul? <p></p><i></i>

Thats just another red flag for me. <p></p><i></i>