Norw. Conservative paper: The US denies plan to assasinate Chavez

[mogster]

I would have posted this in the LBN, but no official translation exists yet, so here it goes ;-)

The US denies plan to assasinate Chavez

- We have absolutely no plans to assasinate the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez - the idea is absurd, says the US ambassador to OAS, John F. Maisto, to Aftenposten.

By: ARNE HALVORSEN, 05.28.2005

Ambassador John F. Maisto receives Aftenposten in the American Embassy of Oslo, where he is on a five day official visit.
He's not alone, because his delegation contains all American ambassadors to Latin-America. This year, they've chosen Norway as their station meeting.
Ambassador Maisto is en expert on Latin-America and was appointed ambassador in 2003 by George W. Bush, to lead the American delegation to OAS.

"Assasinate Chavez"
Some days ago, the conservative and very influential TV-evangelist Pat Robertson suggested that the US should assasinate Venezuelas president Hugo Chavez, to get rid of a troublesome enemy.
At the same time, Chavez claims that the CIA has plans to assasinate him.

- Is it true that the US plans an assasination of Chavez?

- I know that Chavez claims we are. It is, what to say, an absurd idea. On the contrary, we try to get on friendly terms with Venezuela and Chavez, says John F. Maisto - former ambassador to Venezuela from 1997 to 2000.

Cuba is out
OAS is made up of all American states, but Cuba is denied to the meetings since 1962. There are many that wants Cuba to participate.

- If Castro wants to attend meetings, he has to release all 500 political prisoners on Cuba. Then he must open up for political parties and free, democratic elections. If he does, the US will welcome him in, says ambassador Maisto. He says that Cuba today violates the democratic charter of OAS.

- It says, black on white, that every member country must adher to democracy, human rights and combat poverty.

Castro is a stalinist and falls outside all of that, says Maistro.

http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article1104156.ece
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Note that this conservative paper is nothing like the partisan papers in the US. It has a former communist as editor, and places great importance to accurate and impartial reporting.

[KeepItReal]

1. "We won't assassinate him. That said, all options are on the table."

Sincerely,
Bush & Co.

[wli]

2. newspeak for "assassination is US policy for legit Latin American leaders"

[mogster]

4. It is some revelation, though

That such a question is fired at a US visiting official?

I think it says a lot.

[aquart]

3. No CURRENT plan. Since the last ones failed.

But we'll get back to you.

[mogster]

5. That's true

The CIA was involved in the coup in 2002, as far as I know.
I've seen some documentaries about it.