Hugo Chavez Refuses To Condemn Muammar Gaddafi, Warns That U.S. Is Preparing Invasion Of Libya

[steve2470]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/28/hugo-chavez-says-us-preparing-invasion-libya_n_829488.html

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Monday that he won't condemn Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and he warned the United States is preparing an invasion of the North African country.

"A campaign of lies is being spun together regarding Libya," Chavez said during a televised speech. "I'm not going to condemn him. I'd be a coward to condemn someone who has been my friend."

The U.S. government is behind the campaign, he said.

Chavez noted that numerous countries have condemned Gaddafi for cracking down on Libyans who have risen up against him.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

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[joshcryer]

2. I'm tired of chastizing Chavez for his behavior, I spent too much time in the past days doing it.

History will show whose side he was on, and he will be held accountable politically for it.

[emilyg]

3. kick

[tcaudilllg]

4. Actually air strikes do appear imminent

Yes, Obama intends to make us pay for another war.

[nevergiveup]

6. not going to happen

[joshcryer]

7. Wrong, airstrikes are an option if requested. The US has not commited anything.

And the US would likely follow the desires of the Libyan Military Council (lest they get 50k+ protesters marching upon them).

[Renew Deal]

8. Ahhh, the diversion route. Interesting

:rofl:

[joshcryer]

12. Gaddafi is a murderous madman and people are expecting the US to invade the rebels defeating him.

:rofl:

[donheld]

23. What do you base this on?

[Boojatta]

5. Hitler and Stalin had a pact, but eventually even Stalin condemned Hitler.

Suppose a plaintiff has no real case, but offers to have sex with a judge in exchange for a favorable verdict. Suppose that the judge accepts the offer. If the judge is a friend of Chavez, then Chavez cannot condemn the judge, but the judge can condemn the defendant.

[Renew Deal]

10. Wheeeee

:rofl:

[Very_Boring_Name]

11. Stick with "the media is lying!!!!!"

At least that's a coherent spin.

[joshcryer]

13. I'll never forget when Gaddafi sent reporters off to "prove" "everything was peaceful."

But when they strayed away from the 'minders' (these are basically controllers that make you obey every little thing) they found that in fact everything was not as it seemed. Gaddafi then called them terrorist supporting journalists. :rofl:

It's all about controlling the media. That's why the internet is so amazing, it cannot be controlled.

[Boojatta]

28. Can you explain what it is about my contribution to this thread

that makes it deserve the label "spin"? Also, could you please explain how you go about evaluating a message on a thread to determine whether or not it is, in your opinion, "coherent"?

[Boswell]

14. cherry-picked lines

with no link to the while speech, and it is from Huffpo and AP 2 strikes right there as far as accuracy goes. would be interesting to see a translation without the heavy fingers of RW messing with it.

[steve2470]

16. leftish site, alternet

http://www.alternet.org/rss/breaking_news/509153/chavez_warns_us__plans_to_invade_libya/

from AFP report:

Chavez warns US plans to invade Libya

President Hugo Chavez, the closest regional ally of embattled Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, has said that he would not condemn a friend whom he does not know to be a killer.

And Chavez repeated his warning that the United States wanted to invade Libya to get its oil.

"Since everybody is going around saying Kadhafi is a murderer, is Chavez going to say it?" the president said in a meeting with students in the capital. "Well, I do not know that to be the case. And from this distance, I am not going to condemn him. That would make me a coward, and he has been a friend for a long time."

The US Defense Department on Monday said it was moving naval and air forces into position near Libya, as Western countries weigh possible military intervention, and officials discussed a possible "no fly" zone to protect civilians.

[MilesColtrane]

24. Chavez just wants dibs on MoMo's outfits after he gets the heave ho.

[Boswell]

27. well, he has a bit of a point

after all America is putting assets in place in the area and it's not as if we have never invaded a country for oil. Add in that America has at least twice tried to depose him and this is a pretty predictable statement.

[steve2470]

18. Reuters report...

Venezuela's Chavez wants mediation in Libya

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/3/1/worldupdates/2011-03-01T092957Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-552273-1&sec=Worldupdates

The Venezuelan said it would be hypocritical of him to join the chorus of international condemnation of Gaddafi now.

"As everyone says today that Gaddafi is a murderer, then Chavez has to say so too? I'm not convinced," he said.

"I am not going to condemn from afar. That would be cowardly with someone who has been my friend and our friend for a long time, without knowing what is happening in Libya ... I am not a coward, I am not fickle."

Chavez opponents say his links with Gaddafi, and refusal to condemn his violence against opponents, demonstrate the similarly autocratic nature of the Venezuelan leader.

[pa28]

15. He's four days behind Obama and counting with his condemnation.

This could be telling. I'm just not sure who it's telling us about.

[rabs]

17. What he really said, and what the AP would have you think he said

Chavez speaking today at a theater in downtown Caracas. Note his clothing.


But the AP decided to use this photo with its story.

You can watch and listen to the speech below, than compare it with the AP version in the OP. AP does not even mention his proposal for an international peace commission.

http://www.telesurtv.net/secciones/noticias/89674-NN/chavez-propone-crear-comision-de-paz-para-solucionar-conflicto-libio/

--------------------------

This is for those who think the AP would not lie to you in its reporting from Venezuela.

[steve2470]

19. Reuters report has the part about the international peace commission nt

[rabs]

20. The opposition newspapers El Universal and El Nacional of Caracas

also lead the story with the peace commission proposal.

Look like the AP is the only one that ignored it. I have come to expect that sort of spinning from the AP in Caracas.

[joshcryer]

25. The international peace commission to mediate with Gaddafi? Are you fucking kidding me?

There will be no mediation. The youths will not have that bullshit. Gaddafi has killed his own citizens. He is done for. Over. Kaput.

[readmoreoften]

21. I disagree with Chavez on this and I hope have a real socialist revolution from within.

But I still prefer Chavez to any imperialists the US has to offer.

[steve2470]

22. Presidente Chávez propone crear comisión de paz para Libia

http://www.chavez.org.ve/temas/noticias/presidente-chavez-propone-crear-comision-paz-para-libia/

El presidente de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, abogó por una salida a la paz en conflicto en Libia y propuso la creación de una comisión que pudiera mediar en la situación que vive este país árabe.

El planteamiento lo realizó este lunes durante el acto de graduación de 3 mil 215 educadores en Desarrollo Cultural en el marco de la Misión Cultura Corazón Adentro, en el que comentó que se desconocen aspectos del conflicto de esta nación y que los indicios que existen es que se desenvuelve una guerra civil.

Asimismo, el mandatario hizo un llamado “para que no se imponga la política de los cañones. Nosotros no nos metemos en la situación interna; abogamos por la paz en el mundo. Ojalá este siglo sea el de la paz, sin cañones. Pero la verdadera paz es donde impere la justicia y de ahí el socialismo; este acto de hoy”.

[joshcryer]

26. "little is known about the conflict" WHAT THE FUCK!