Chavez Tells Obama: 'Align Yourself Toward Socialism with Us'
"They are criticizing him (Obama) because they say he
is headed toward socialism. Come on Obama, align yourself toward socialism with
us! … This murderous, genocidal empire (in reference to the United States) must
end."
President Hugo Chavez greets supporters after voting in a referendum that would allow hid to stay in power for as long as he keeps winning elections, Feb. 15. The referendum passed.
Caracas: The president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, paid
tribute to his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and invited his
U.S. counterpart, Barack Obama, to "align with Latin socialism" in
save the country to the north from the economic crisis.
While
hosting an official ceremony attended by representatives of the Brazilian
Embassy in Caracas, Chavez warned that, "if a president has 60 or 70
percent approval," as is the case with his Brazilian counterpart,
"why should he have to go?"
"How
long will the Lula government last? … Until 2011. Now consider this, If a
president after six, seven, or eight years of governing has 60 or 70 percent
approval, I ask, I wonder, Why should he have to go?" Chavez said.
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The
Venezuelan leader assured people that to the contrary, that the system of power
rotation that prevents indefinite presidential reelection is "a model that
was imposed on us by the empire," alluding to the United States.
In
contrast, the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution said that, "in Europe,
this isn't so," as heads of state and government on the Old Continent can
aspire to reelection indefinitely.
At
the same time, Chavez invited Obama to join socialism to save the United States
from the "capitalistic crisis" now affecting the global economy.
"They
are criticizing him (referring to Obama) because they say he is headed toward
socialism. Come on Obama, align yourself toward socialism with us!"
commented the Venezuelan leader in a sarcastic tone.
The
retired military man described the economic situation in the United States as "lamentable,"
where "millions of workers are ending up on the streets" because "thousands
of companies are closing."
He
assured people that, "the capitalistic model has failed," in contrast
with attempts to establish socialism in Venezuela, a country that in his
judgment will become a "power."
Therefore,
he expressed the hope that a "socialist revolution" would succeed in
the United States.
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Chavez
reiterated that "this murderous, genocidal empire (in reference to the United
States) must end," since that nation is "hated by the entire world."
The president indicated that the current economic crisis in the United States
is a sign that, "the empire is going to end," even as he said that he
has respect for the people of that country.
Last
Thursday, the Venezuelan president authorized Lula to mediate between the
government in Washington and his own, even though he acknowledged that he had
little hope of improvements in relations with that northern country.
