Obama on Chavez [View All]

[Bacchus39]

US Democrat presidential pre-candidate Barack Obama Friday claimed that his likely Republican rival John MCCain is trying to continue US President George W. Bush' policy of rapprochement to Latin America -a posture that has damaged the US image in the region and, in his view, has helped shore up Washington foes such as Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

"Instead of engaging the people of the region, we have acted as if we can still dictate terms unilaterally," Obama stated.

According to the US Senator for Illinois, the Bush administration's "clumsy attempts to undermine Chavez have only strengthened his hand," DPA quoted.

Obama accused Chávez of degrading Venezuelan democratic institutions, stressing that if elected US president he would not be lenient to the alleged Venezuelan government's support to the rebel Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC). "We will shine a light on any support for the FARC that comes from neighboring governments. This behavior must be exposed to international condemnation, regional isolation, and -if need be- strong sanctions. It must not stand."


"No wonder, then, that demagogues like Hugo Chavez have stepped into this vacuum. His predictable yet perilous mix of anti-American rhetoric, authoritarian government, and checkbook diplomacy offers the same false promise as the tried and failed ideologies of the past," said the US Senator.

http://english.eluniversal.com/2008/05/23/en_pol_art_obama:-chavez-is-dim_23A1603519.shtml