Chavez’s socialist world vision includes Iran, China, Russia, Syria and Belarus as “good friends”
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez intends to inject new urgency into his socialist and anti-imperialist revolution, claiming “capitalism is destroying the world”. Sounds like Obama White house top visitor Andy, ‘workers of the world unite’, Stern. Privately owned enterprises are now being expropriated with increasing frequency – sounds just like the US.
By Stephen Sackur at BBC News
In a combative 60-minute interview with the BBC HARDtalk programme in the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, Mr Chavez blamed Venezuela’s deepening recession on the irresponsible economic policies of the United States.
He also expressed disappointment with President Barack Obama’s “very negative signals” towards Latin America.
“In Colombia (the Americans) are building seven military bases; that is one of the very negative signals that Obama sent just after taking office,” Mr Chavez said.
“Bush decided to reactivate the US Fourth Fleet to operate in Latin America. Obama, instead of suspending or getting rid of the Fourth Fleet has seven military bases planned in Colombia. What for? Is it to go to war, to dominate the Latin American continent?”
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Colombia has signed a deal to give the US military access to seven Colombian bases with the aim to combat drug trafficking and rebels.
It caused alarm among some of Colombia’s neighbours, including Venezuela, who object to an increased US military presence.
“I wish Obama would focus on governing the United States and would forget his country’s imperialist pretensions,” Mr Chavez said.
While there was no repeat of the insults he hurled at George W Bush, such as “donkey,” “devil” and “terrorist”, President Chavez indicated that the high-profile handshake he and Obama shared at an Americas summit last year had not resolved fundamental differences.
and this :
‘Axis of unity’
It is not President Chavez’s domestic record that most concerns Western governments, it’s his determination to create an “axis of unity” with countries he sees as fellow strugglers against American and Western imperialism.
He lists the leaders of China, Russia, Syria and Belarus as “good friends”, along with President Ahmedinejad of Iran.
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 I am not Obama’s enemy but it’s difficult not to see imperialism in Washington. Those who don’t see it, don’t want to see it  President Chavez
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In the last three years Tehran and Caracas have strengthened military and intelligence cooperation while deepening their trade ties, and Mr Chavez responded indignantly to the latest round of UN sanctions on Tehran.
“Venezuela is a free country and we will not be blackmailed by anyone,” he said.
“We will not accept being told what to do over Iran, we will not accept being anyone’s colony”.
FULL STORY and video
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