Venezuela to be our next Iraq?

[mainer]

From the Maine Sunday Telegram (syndicated to AP). Excellent wrap-up of why Bush wants to overthrow Chavez. Once again, the US, spurred by US oil companies, shows its ugly face...

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"Venezuela has never shown any intention of attacking this country or harming its citizens, yet its democratically elected leader, President Hugo Chavez, has become an object of hatred and scorn for the fringe elements of America's political right, which regularly demand his violent ouster. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fla., calls Chavez an enemy of freedom. Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., likens him to Mussolini. And the Rev. Pat Robertson suggests U.S. Special Forces should "take out" the Venezuelan chief of state, a proposal that has produced consternation even in the trigger-happy Bush White House.

A FAILED COUP ATTEMPT

The president and his advisers also want Chavez gone, but their approach has been far more subtle. In 2002, they verbally (and perhaps otherwise) supported a failed coup attempt against him by internal right-wing forces. At that time, the Bush administration, in contrast to the Organization of American States, was quick to recognize the legitimacy of the initially successful plotters and was subsequently embarrassed when Chavez returned to power within 24 hours.


(snip)

However, the ranting attacks of its surrogates in Congress and in the media indicate that underlying antagonisms have not abated. They've merely been pushed to the back burner, and recent developments are bringing them once more to the fore.

The major development has been the worldwide oil crisis and the drastic rise in gasoline and heating-oil prices in the United States. This, combined with the fact that Venezuela's share of American petroleum imports has grown to 14 percent and made OPEC's charter member in the Western Hemisphere our No. 1 supplier of refined crude (ahead of Canada, Mexico and Saudi Arabia), has again set up the Chavez government as a potential target.


http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/insight/stories/060219oleary.shtml

[DamnYank]

1. Kudos to the Maine Sunday Telegram for telling the truth

I wish I still lived in Maine.

[CatholicEdHead]

2. With what military?

We are overstretched as it is.