Venezuela’s Chavez says he’ll work with next U.S. President
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The relationship between George W. Bush and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez might be charitably described as one of mutual contempt and intense dislike.
But on Saturday Chavez said that he ‘wants to work together with the next U.S. president and that Venezuela and the United States should cooperate to resolve problems, including world hunger, energy shortages and climate change,’ according to this Associated Press story.
While hinting at possible reconciliation, Chavez also took a swipe at Bush, saying that the U.S. leader ‘will be much more dangerous during the last months that he has left’ in the White House. Chavez also repeated his accusations that the White House is trying to assassinate him or foment a coup d’etat, accusations that the U.S. has dismissed. Here’s an L.A. Times editorial that argues that just because Chavez may be a touch paranoid doesn’t mean the U.S. isn’t out to get him.
‘Whoever is the next president of the United States, I’d like start preparing the way to start working together,’ said Venezuela’s socialist leader, according to the AP.
By cooperating, both countries could ‘help save the world from the food crisis, energy crisis and climate crisis,’ he added.
Update, Sunday June 8: Reuters is reporting that Chavez has reversed his previous policy that would’ve encouraged Venezuelans to report on their fellow citizens:
‘Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he would scrap new rules that oblige citizens to spy on each other, backing down after an outcry from the opposition, rights groups and the Roman Catholic Church,’ the news wire service reports.
‘Nobody can oblige me to turn into a snitch - nobody,’ Chavez said on his Sunday TV show. ‘To err is human. We made a mistake and we have to correct the law ... We will never trample on the rights of Venezuelans - no matter what their politics - never.’
An intelligence law decreed last month fueled criticism that Chavez - who calls ex-Cuban President leader Fidel Castro his mentor - wants to imitate the communist island’s political system in Venezuela.
According to the Associated Press, Chavez also is calling for Colombia’s largest rebel group, the FARC, to ‘lay down their weapons, free all their hostages and put an end to a decades-long armed struggle against Colombia’s government.’
‘Chavez says ongoing efforts by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, to overthrow Colombia’s democratically elected government are unjustified.’
-- Reed Johnson in Mexico City
