Venezuela VP Responds to Rumsfeld:US Wants to Destroy Latin American Unity [View All]

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Venezuela VP Responds to Rumsfeld: U.S. Wants to Destroy Latin American Unity

Thursday, Mar 24, 2005

By: Cleto A. Sojo - Venezuelanalysis.com

Caracas, Venezuela. Mar 24, 2004 (Venezuelanalysis.com).- Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel, released a statement yesterday, responding to comments made by U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld about Venezuela, during his recent visit to Brazil.

“The Lord of War, Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense of the United States made statements following the same line of repeating the usual impertinences about Venezuela,” said Rangel who also denounced the existance of a campaign seeking "to create enemies for Venezuela, among our friends."

On Wednesday, Secretary Rumsfeld expressed preoccupation about Venezuela’s announced purchase of 100,000 Russian rifles, saying that it could contribute to further destabilize Latin America."I can't imagine why Venezuela needs 100,000 AK-47's.," Rumsfeld said during a news conference in Brasília. "I just hope that, personally hope, that it doesn't happen… I can't imagine that if it did happen, that it would be good for the hemisphere," he added.

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Vice President Rangel responded by saying that the military equipment Venezuela is currently acquiring is of a defensive nature, and criticized the high U.S. military budget. “In Venezuela we are worried about the elevated military spending by the United States, which stands around 450 billion dollars … what are they fearing in order to justify such high military spending?,” he asked.The Vice President said that the preemptive war doctrine currently being implemented by the U.S. government, and its alleged desire to control the world’s resources, are behind the high U.S. military budget. “The whole world is worried,” he added.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1558