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[El Universal, Venezuela]

 

 

El Universal, Venezuela

Of Obama and Chavez: 'Unconditional' Meetings and 'Equal' Treatment

 

"During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama announced that he would unconditionally speak with the enemies of the United States. … We see what 'equality' means to Chavez and what 'unconditionally' means to Obama. Equality, to Chavez, means that Obama respects the barbarity of his government; but that would contradict Obama's credo."

 

EDITORIAL

 

Translated By Liz Essary

 

February 2, 2009

 

Venezuela - El Universal - Original Article (Spanish)

Venezuela's El Universal 'celebrates' ten years of rule under President Hugo Chavez.

 

BBC NEWS VIDEO: Two differing perspectives on 10 years of government under President Hugo Chavez, Feb. 1, 00:02:05RealVideo

During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama announced that he would unconditionally speak with the enemies of the United States. His first decision was to close Guantanamo, which is why Fidel Castro said he was a good man, and why he sent a missive to Hugo Chavez asking him to give the new North American leader a chance. We assume that Castro expects Obama to treat Venezuela as an equal. But we see what "equality" means to Chavez and what "unconditionally" means to Obama. Equality, to Chavez, means that Obama respects the barbarity of his government; but that would contradict Obama's credo:

 

1. Proud to be the 44th president and through the peaceful transfer of power, he took an oath to defend the 221-year-old Constitution, the amendments of which incorporate the rights of all citizens: freedom of expression, press, religion, due process, limited terms for the president and Congress, and the abolition of slavery. Chavez was sworn in by qualifying the Constitution as “dying.” He convened a constituent assembly and enacted. "The best constitution in the world," but since it didn't serve his purposes, he proposed a referendum to reform it. The people said NO to 2-D [the number of the referendum]. Now he's ordering a new meeting to amend it with the goal of being reelected indefinitely.

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

2. The Reverend Earl Warren opened Obama's inauguration by entrusting him to God. In his speech, the President invoked the Supreme One several times. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. Chavez is at war with the church, with the Jews, and with young people. Venezuela, together with Bolivia, broke off relations with Israel, attack the Cardinal [Jorge Urosa Savino], and armed groups plant bombs in the Nunciature without the government condemning them .

 

3. Obama spoke of his principles, which were handed down by the founding fathers: They drafted a letter to guarantee the rule of law and human rights.  We are the keepers of this heritage. Guided by them, we can face those threats that demand greater effort, greater cooperation and understanding among nations. In Venezuela, the separation of powers doesn't exist, nor does the rule of law, nor respect for human rights. There are no principles.

 

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez celebrates 10 years in power

by holding a summit with some of his close allies. Chavez, center,

accompanied by, from left, Honduras President Manuel Zelaya,

Ecuador President Correa, Dominican Republic Prime Minister

Roosevelt Skerrit, Cuban Vice President Jose Machado, and from

right, Bolivia's President Evo Morales and Nicaragua's President

Daniel Ortega, at a rally in Caracas, Feb. 2.

BBC NEWS: Ten years of Hugo Chavez, 00:03:11. WATCH  

BBC NEWS: Roundtable discussion of the influence of Hugo

Chavez, 00:04:38. LISTEN   

 

4. Obama added: The time has come to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness. Chavez does whatever he can to restrict our liberties.

 

5. Obama cited the severe economic crisis he's confronting and the need for bold action to renew growth: And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day, because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government. In Venezuela, the squandering of money is out of control. Despite the profound crisis that we are living through, Chavez insults the intelligence of citizens by saying that even if the price of oil drops to zero, it won't affect us. Then he orders the extraction of $12.5 billion of our international reserves, at a time when inflation in Venezuela is the second highest in the world. This measure will finish off the little purchasing power we have left. [$12.5 billion is 28 percent of Venezuela's total foreign reserves ].

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6. Obama sent a clear message: To those leaders in certain parts of the world who seek to blame their society's ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build … Those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

 

7. On January 22, the Assistant Secretary of State for Latin America, James Steinberg, told the Congress: We intend to play an active role in Latin America with a positive focus that avoids giving excessive importance to Chavez and to his grim attempts to dominate the regional agenda. We intend to carry out a clear diplomacy with Venezuela including direct contacts to serve our national interests, like ending Venezuela's links to the FARC and cooperating in the fight against narcotics. Can there be an "unconditional" meeting? Perhaps President Chavez hadn't heard these declarations when he joined in Castro's praises [of Obama].

 

cedice@cedice.org.ve

 

SEE ALSO:

 

Gazeta, Russia: Castro and Chavez Split Over Obama

La Capital, Argentina: The 'Bushification' of President Obama

Latin American Herald Tribune, Venezuela: Hugo Chavez Delays Restoring U.S. Ties

Iran News Daily, Iran: Iranian Leaders Should 'Seize the Chance' for

Better Ties with U.S.

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Iran: President Ahmadinejad Says U.S. Apology Would Represent Real 'Change'

 

CLICK HERE FOR SPANISH VERSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US February 4, 11:59pm]