US might have been involved in 2002 Chavez coup: Carter

[defendandprotect]

US might have been involved in 2002 Chavez coup: Carter

AFP/Getty Images/File –

BOGOTA (AFP) – The United States knew about an abortive coup against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in 2002, and may even have taken part, former US president Jimmy Carter has told a Colombian newspaper.
"I think there is no doubt that in 2002, the United States had at the very least full knowledge about the coup, and could even have been directly involved," Carter said in an interview with El Tiempo published Sunday.
The former US leader said it is understandable that Chavez continues to blame the United States for the failed overthrow attempt.
The Venezuelan president, considered a bulwark of leftism in Latin America, was overthrown by a civilian-military junta for about 48 hours in April 2002, before returning to power.
Then-president George W. Bush denied any US involvement in the abortive coup and called on Chavez, a fierce US critic, to "learn a lesson" from the attempted overthrow.
Carter told El Tiempo that he believed Chavez was elected in a "fair" vote in 1999, had carried out necessary reforms for Venezuela and ensured that "those who are traditionally excluded are able to get a larger share of the national wealth."
But he also said he was worried by the Venezuelan leader's drift towards "authoritarianism."
He added that he felt Chavez's popularity at home and his influence abroad had been "diminished."
Carter said US President Barack Obama had told him he would eventually like to have normal relations with Venezuela.
"But he (Chavez) has made this almost impossible," Carter said, adding that "international relations would be better if he would stop his attacks and insults against the United States."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090920/pl_afp/colombiausvenezuelapoliticsdiplomacy_20090920210755



OF COURSE . . . US having taken part in a COUP on Chavez -- and Bush's warmongering might just
have something to do with the fact that "Chavez has made this almost impossible (to have normal
relations with US) . . . ?????!!!!!

:eyes:

[Wilms]

1. Hey wait a second. You are cheating!

You're not supposed to read the actual interview. You're supposed to read, believe, and parrot the DLC version in the Associated Press article that'll run in perhaps hundreds of US papers.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4069156&mesg_id=4069156

:sarcasm:

[LakeSamish706]

2. If I were President Chavez I would be damn un trustful of the US as well....

He did get a couple of good licks in at Bush though, and the one that comes to mind is the Devil one at the UN that President Chavez made mention of.... I think he was right on with that comparison.

[pscot]

3. I figured we were involved

when I heard the John Negroponte and Elliot Abrams were mixed up in it somehow.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

4. "Then-president George W. Bush denied any US involvement in the abortive coup"

If Bush denied involvement on the part of his administration in the coup then the very opposite must be true. The Chimp was a veritable lie factory, a pathological liar, who probably masturbated in private to his biggest lies, including the video replays of his speech about the "uranium from Afrikahhhhh".

[malaise]

5. Duh!

Everyone knew that. The US came out backing the army boys before they realized Chavez was still in charge because large sections of the army opposed the coup.

Condi Rice was caught big time.

[JackRiddler]

6. Soon as they endorsed it, they owned it.

And the speed with which they endorsed suggests they were ready for it. And where does the dictator-for-a-day Carmona live today?

[madamesilverspurs]

7. not new news

I remember conversation about US involvement in the Chavez overthrow attempt and Cheney's rage when the populace re-installed Chavez. This is what I could find in a very cursory search:


The Ruthless American Empire

By Timothy V. Gatto

14 March, 2008
Countercurrents.org

I cannot watch the news on television anymore. I am tired of the lies told baldly to my face and the “spin” put on everything that is not in the Empires best interests. That is what we are; an Empire that rules the world in order for the benefit of The United States. . .

(snip)


. . .Why did we finance the overthrow of Hugo Chavez in 2002 only to see his people rise up and re-install him? Why is Hugo Chavez, a man that works for the poorest of his country, so savagely attacked by the Empire? The reason is because like Fidel Castro, he won’t play the Washington game. He won’t sell his nation’s resources to the Empire for pennies on the dollar. Is he a threat to you? Is he a threat to any average American? The answer is obvious, but he is a threat to the multi-national oil cartel. The people controlling this Empire’s government will tell you any number of lies to watch out for their interests.