Chavez tells Blair to "Go right to hell"

[X-77]

I am liking Chavez more and more everyday!

"Go right to hell, Mr Blair," he told the prime minister during a speech in western Venezuela, using local slang to deliver the line. His exact words, "váyase largo al cipote", have no direct translation into English.
Mr Chávez described Mr Blair as "the main ally of Hitler" - an accusation that he is siding with the US president in its confrontation with Venezuela. Mr Chávez has taken to calling George Bush "Mr Danger" and "Danger Bush Hitler" among other epithets, and added that he would now need similar nicknames for Mr Blair.

"You messed with me, so put up with me," he told the prime minister. Quoting the lyrics of a Venuezuelan folk song that he also recited when he called Mexico's president Vicente Fox a "lapdog" of the United States, he added: "I sting those who rattle me, Mr Blair".

Relations between the Venezuela and US, whose lead Mr Chávez accused Mr Blair of following, are at their lowest point for several years after the two governments expelled each other's diplomats in a spying row last week.

The barney started when Donald Rumsfeld, the US defence secretary, compared Mr Chávez to Adolf Hitler. Speaking at a mass rally on Saturday commemorating the failed 1992 coup that he led as a lieutenant colonel, Mr Chávez then remarked that the Nazi leader "would be like a suckling baby next to George W Bush".

Venezuela, which supplies 15% of the US's foreign oil, has previously attempted to rattle Washington by offering humanitarian aid to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina and cheap heating oil to residents of Massachusetts, and forging relations with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Iran and Fidel Castro's Cuba.

The spark for his attack on Mr Blair was a question from Labour MP Colin Burgon on whether British policy in South America was shaped by a "rightwing US Republican agenda". The prime minister replied that Venezuela needed to take care when it formed a close alliance with a non-democracy such as Cuba.

"If they want to be respected members of the international community, they should abide by the rules of the international community," he told MPs. "I say with the greatest respect to the president of Venezuela that when he forms an alliance with Cuba, I would prefer to see Cuba a proper functioning democracy."

Mr Chávez said the remarks showed Mr Blair was "nothing but a pawn of imperialism trying now to attack us from Europe". He added that Mr Blair lacked the moral standing to make them.

"You, Mr Blair, do not have the morality to call on anyone to respect the rules of the international community," he said. "You are precisely the one who has flouted international law the most [...] siding with Mr Danger to trample the people in Iraq.

"I'm going to be closely watching what you say and what you do. Because the British government has no moral standing - and even less yourself - to get involved in Venezuela's affairs."

A Downing Street spokeswoman said Mr Chávez was "entitled to his views".

Full article here:http://www.guardian.co.uk/venezuela/story/0,,1706206,00.html

Where can I send him a fan letter?

 

[phildwyer]

"Danger Bush Hitler," gotta love it...

 

[JoePolitix]

And Lets not forget that Dennis McShane , on behalf of the British Foriegn Office, actually supported the Pinochet style coup against Chave in 2002:

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/09/297767.html

Blair and his cronies can stick their "democracy" jibes where the sun don't shine.

 

[nino_savatte]

 

[Stigmata]

The spark for his attack on Mr Blair was a question from Labour MP Colin Burgon on whether British policy in South America was shaped by a "rightwing US Republican agenda". The prime minister replied that Venezuela needed to take care when it formed a close alliance with a non-democracy such as Cuba.

 

[rogue yam]

The U.K. is a democracy, Cuba is a dictatorship. Is it wrong for democratically-elected leaders to publicly express their preference for democratic governance? All this "Bush Hitler" stuff is good for some laughs, I suppose, but what does it do for the Cuban people?

 

[kakuma]

The U.K. is a democracy, Cuba is a dictatorship. Is it wrong for democratically-elected leaders to publicly express their preference for democratic governance? All this "Bush Hitler" stuff is good for some laughs, I suppose, but what does it do for the Cuban people?

when was the uk a democracy???

 

[chilango]

The U.K. is a democracy, Cuba is a dictatorship. Is it wrong for democratically-elected leaders to publicly express their preference for democratic governance? All this "Bush Hitler" stuff is good for some laughs, I suppose, but what does it do for the Cuban people?

you seen the latest?

your embargo looks likely to get the sheraton in mexico city shut down.

dumbasses.

 

[perplexis]

That article made me happy.
Chavez has balls of steel and I respect that a lot

 

[rogue yam]

when was the uk a democracy???

PM Blair was not elected?

 

[rogue yam]

your embargo looks likely to get the sheraton in mexico city shut down.

Sheraton can take care of themselves. It's the long-suffering Cubans I worry about.

 

[mk12]

The U.K. is a democracy, Cuba is a dictatorship. Is it wrong for democratically-elected leaders to publicly express their preference for democratic governance? All this "Bush Hitler" stuff is good for some laughs, I suppose, but what does it do for the Cuban people?

What does a 40+ year embargo do for them?

 

[rogue yam]

What does a 40+ year embargo do for them?

It withholds from the dictator some tools of oppression.

 

[chilango]

It withholds from the dictator some tools of oppression.

Absolute nonsense.

But I´m not going to debate the embargo with you...I have some fine Montecristos to smoke and you don´t!

 

[mk12]

...despite the United Nations constantly passing resolutions for the US to end this embargo? Oh well, it's only the UN I suppose.

Amnesty details the effect on Cuban society caused by the embargo. Take a look: http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR250172003?open&of=ENG-CUB

 

[spring-peeper]

That article made me happy.
Chavez has balls of steel and I respect that a lot

Really got to love the guy

 

[rogue yam]

...despite the United Nations constantly passing resolutions for the US to end this embargo? Oh well, it's only the UN I suppose.

Amnesty details the effect on Cuban society caused by the embargo. Take a look: http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR250172003?open&of=ENG-CUB

You must be talking about the U.N. General Assembly, which of course is a complete and utter disgrace to humankind. And I'll skip the AI propaganda, thanks.

The power to end the embargo, and improve the lot of Cuba's long-suffering people lies entirely in the hands of the dictator. President Bush has charted out a clear, wise, and compassionate policy on Cuba here. Those who praise the dictatorship in Cuba need to answer one simple question: if things are so great there, then why does the impoverished Cuban government devote scarce resources to preventing their own people from leaving?

I once passed through the Berlin Wall at Checkpoint Charley for a day's stroll around East Berlin. Some years later U.S. President Ronald Reagan stood in the shadow of that same wall and called out to the Soviet dictator to let his people go. What you leftists say about Cuba now, you all said about the USSR then.

Castro will die soon, and Cuba will be free soon thereafter. The Cuban people will know who stood with them and who gloated over their "fine Montecristos". On that happy day, I won't mind having been on the side of right. Perhaps one day I might smoke my first (and only, I'm sure) cigar in a free and democratic Cuba. For that, I can wait.

 

[nino_savatte]

You must be talking about the U.N. General Assembly, which of course is a complete and utter disgrace to humankind. And I'll skip the AI propaganda, thanks.

The power to end the embargo, and improve the lot of Cuba's long-suffering people lies entirely in the hands of the dictator. President Bush has charted out a clear, wise, and compassionate policy on Cuba here. Those who praise the dictatorship in Cuba need to answer one simple question: if things are so great there, then why does the impoverished Cuban government devote scarce resources to preventing their own people from leaving?

I once passed through the Berlin Wall at Checkpoint Charley for a day's stroll around East Berlin. Some years later U.S. President Ronald Reagan stood in the shadow of that same wall and called out to the Soviet dictator to let his people go. What you leftists say about Cuba now, you all said about the USSR then.

Castro will die soon, and Cuba will be free soon thereafter. The Cuban people will know who stood with them and who gloated over their "fine Montecristos". On that happy day, I won't mind having been on the side of right. Perhaps one day I might smoke my first (and only, I'm sure) cigar in a free and democratic Cuba. For that, I can wait.

Nice source you have there, yammie
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/05/20020520-1.html
If I didn't know any better, I would say you had a script to work from.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Chavez - The Mouse that Roared.

 

[nino_savatte]

Been plundering the Ealing Comedy back catalogue for replies again, Johnny?

Thing is, Ealing Comedy is a bit lost on you.

 

[fela fan]

"You, Mr Blair, do not have the morality to call on anyone to respect the rules of the international community," he said. "You are precisely the one who has flouted international law the most [...] siding with Mr Danger to trample the people in Iraq.

"I'm going to be closely watching what you say and what you do. Because the British government has no moral standing - and even less yourself - to get involved in Venezuela's affairs."

Absolutely spot on. It's very very warming to read leaders from anywhere on the planet coming out with such truthful comments as these. The worst two criminals in the entire world are bush and blair. They fuck with so many people's lives and have the audacity to talk about other countries' need to follow 'international law'.

They mean US and lapdog UK law. And that is said with a lisp, coz they really mean war, not law.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

"You, Mr. Blair, have no morality; however, I will invite Ahmadinejad, the man who is bathed in a holy light, to drink tequila, no, make that tea, with me on the beach at Caracas."

 

[nino_savatte]

Source please?

 

[Fez909]

President Bush has charted out a clear, wise, and compassionate policy on Cuba http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/05/20020520-1.html

Right, after having a look at this link, maybe you can give me some answers:

Mr. Castro has imported nuclear-armed ballistic missiles, and he has exported his military forces to encourage civil war abroad.

So he exports his military forces to encourage civil war? A bit like the US with respect to the Contras in Nicaragua? What makes it OK for America and not for Cuba?

After all, just a month ago the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, in a resolution proposed by the nations of Latin America, called upon Cuba's government to finally -- to finally -- begin respecting the human rights of its people.

Why is the UN to be trusted in respect to Cuba? You claimed it is "a complete and utter disgrace to humankind." Surely it's not just because they agree with your viewpoint this time? What is the definition of hypocrisy, again?

And just in case you try to pull the "oh but I said the General Assembly is a disgrace, not the Commission of Human Rights", I have the following question:

Since the UNCHR's principle mechanism is to uphold the Human Rights as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and America is supposed to abide by it, how do you explain the constant violation of ,for example, Article 5, in respect to Abu Abu Ghraib and the various torture camps around the world; or Article 9, in respct to Guantanamo Bay?

Cuba's scheduled to hold elections to its National Assembly in 2003. Let me read Article 71 of the Cuban Constitution. It says, "The National Assembly is composed of deputies elected by free, direct, and secret vote." That's what the constitution says. Yet, since 1959, no election in Cuba has come close to meeting these standards. In most elections, there has been one candidate, Castro's candidate.

This seems to be his most important reason for not being very happy with his neighbouring dictator. So why doesn't it bother him that Saudi Arabia (who refused to vote for the UNDHR, by the way) has not even a whiff of democracy about it? "Cuba is a dictatorship, therefore we will not trade with them. Saudi Arabia, however, is a dictatorship we're happy to do business with." (Saudi's largest trading partner for both imports and exports is the United States).

Would you agree with cutting all trade with Saudi?

Opposition parties should have the freedom to organize, assemble, and speak, with equal access to all airwaves. All political prisoners must be released and allowed to participate in the election process. Human rights organizations should be free to visit Cuba to ensure that the conditions for free elections are being created. And the 2003 elections should be monitored by objective outside observers. These are the minimum steps necessary to make sure that next year's elections are the true expression of the will of the Cuban people.

"Opposition parties should have the freedom to organize, assemble, and speak, with equal access to all airwaves. All political prisoners and women must be allowed to participate in the election process. Human rights organizations should be free to visit Saudi Arabia to ensure that the conditions for free elections are being created. And the elections should be monitored by objective outside observers. These are the minimum steps necessary to make sure that any election is the true expression of the will of the Saudi people."

Would you agree if he said such a thing?

I also challenge Cuba's government to ease its stranglehold, to change its stranglehold on private economic activity.

It sounds a bit like the American govt's stranglehold on American businesses trading with Cuban businesses, doesn't it? Some 'free' market!

etc., etc., etc.

 

[fela fan]

It withholds from the dictator some tools of oppression.

Pah, you've plumbed the depths of your ignorance with that one. He's been in power 40 years you fucking idiot. How has your inhumane embargo stopped him then? Forty fucking years and you reckon your embargo is a tool against his oppression?

Goods and money freely flowing are a tool of oppression?? Your whole world is upside down, you couldn't be more wrong than you are. You should join the ranks of your thick-as-fuck politicians, you'd do well in that little club.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Pah, you've plumbed the depths of your ignorance with that one. He's been in power 40 years you fucking idiot. How has your inhumane embargo stopped him then? Forty fucking years and you reckon your embargo is a tool against his oppression?

Goods and money freely flowing are a tool of oppression?? Your whole world is upside down, you couldn't be more wrong than you are. You should join the ranks of your thick-as-fuck politicians, you'd do well in that little club.

But is there really a problem, if Cuban medicine is number one in the world as you say it is?

 

[fela fan]

But is there really a problem, if Cuban medicine is number one in the world as you say it is?

Johnny, fucking read properly. I've not even mentioned medicine, nor have i proffered an opinion on castro and his rule.

I don't know about number one, but cuba under castro is noted for its health care and its education, and its music. Can't be all that bad a place, especially considering their problems in importing stuff due to the inhumane arrogant US' embargo.

And the funny thing is hearing americans barking on about castro not letting cubans leave the country (i assume this is true, but i don't know), coz americans who are free to leave their country WON'T GO. Only a tiny proportion of them go abroad, probably coz they have no time to take holidays, so busy working or killing they are.

 

[rogue yam]

Would you agree with cutting all trade with Saudi?

What is the deal with lefties who complain about every single action ever taken by the U.S. while simultaneously demanding more action?

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

My point is, you go on about the embargo, but otoh, Cuba is supposed to be this great place: home of good medicine, the arts, etc.

That being the case, how much of a negative impact has the embargo really had?

 

[phildwyer]

My point is, you go on about the embargo, but otoh, Cuba is supposed to be this great place: home of good medicine, the arts, etc.

Don't know if you've been to Cuba JC, but I have, and I can honestly say that the vast majority of the people there support Castro. Its true that there are quite a few who don't as well, but they tend to be the jineteros. The decent people support him.