Rudy Giuliani Assails Venezuela's Chavez

OZma of Oz · 05-13-2007

Quote:

Rudy Giuliani Assails Venezuela's Chavez

Wednesday, May 02, 2007
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON —
Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, whose law firm represents an American subsidiary of a Hugo Chavez-controlled oil company, said Tuesday that the socialist Venezuelan president is dangerous to U.S. interests.In a speech to Hispanic small business leaders, the Republican brought up Chavez while discussing ways the United States could become free from its reliance on foreign oil.
"Isn't it annoying, upsetting and even in some cases a matter of national security that we have to send money to our enemies?" Giuliani asked. "We need a president who knows how to get things done so we don't have to be sending money to Chavez."
Giuliani called for the United States to develop alternative energy sources and take advantage of oil already in its control. He said that antagonistic leaders of oil-rich nations, like Chavez, would have "little power" if the United States could stop buying oil from them.
"Who would listen to Chavez if he didn't have all this oil money? Nobody would listen to him," Giuliani said.
He said Chavez's social programs and those of Cuban leader Fidel Castro "keep people in poverty" and "keep people dependent."
Giuliani argued that "astounding" unemployment levels show that the Venezuelan president isn't using his oil revenues to help his own countrymen.
The former New York City mayor spoke to The Latino Coalition's small business economic summit the same day that Chavez's government took over the last privately run oil fields in Venezuela, one of the world's top oil exporters.
Petroleos de Venezuela, the country's national oil company that Chavez controls, bought U.S.-based Citgo Petroleum Corp. in 1990. The Houston law firm now known as Bracewell & Giuliani has represented Citgo in matters involving the Texas legislature since 2005.
Giuliani's campaign says he does no lobbying for Citgo and he joined the law firm after it was already involved with the company. He has been defending the relationship for weeks, saying the firm represents a U.S. company that employs thousands of people in the United States.
"I feel perfect freedom to point out that Hugo Chavez is a person who's acting against the interests of the United States. He's someone where we'd be in a much better position if we could cut him off. If we could say we don't want or need Venezuelan oil," Giuliani told reporters after the speech. "I don't think there's anyone that's more outspoken about how dangerous I think he is."
Chavez, who says he wants to steer Venezuela toward socialism, is a strident critic of U.S.-style capitalism and a leader of the leftist movement in Latin America. Chavez has denounced President Bush as "the devil."

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JoshJ · 05-13-2007

"I feel perfect freedom to point out that Hugo Chavez is a person who's acting against the interests of the United States."

Because the guy who runs Venezuela is supposed to act in the best interest of the USA, right?

Say what you want about the way Chavez runs Venezuela, that may possibly be the dumbest thing I've seen all day.

utabintarbo · 05-14-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshJ

"I feel perfect freedom to point out that Hugo Chavez is a person who's acting against the interests of the United States."

Because the guy who runs Venezuela is supposed to act in the best interest of the USA, right?

Say what you want about the way Chavez runs Venezuela, that may possibly be the dumbest thing I've seen all day.

Granted, Chavez is entrusted to act in the best interests of Venezuela. Whether he is doing so is debatable, but "acting against the interests of the United States" is likely not in the best interests of Venezuela, and may be a valid cause of action for the US. Not necessarily a dumb thing at all, if you pay attention.

JoshJ · 05-14-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by utabintarbo

Granted, Chavez is entrusted to act in the best interests of Venezuela. Whether he is doing so is debatable, but "acting against the interests of the United States" is likely not in the best interests of Venezuela, and may be a valid cause of action for the US. Not necessarily a dumb thing at all, if you pay attention.

"acting against the interests of the united states" is perfectly reasonable for the guy who runs Venezuela. The only reason it would be a "bad thing" is if we got a war-mongering president who decided that a nation which put their own welfare over the United States' welfare should be invaded.

Oh, wait.

utabintarbo · 05-15-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshJ

"acting against the interests of the united states" is perfectly reasonable for the guy who runs Venezuela. The only reason it would be a "bad thing" is if we got a war-mongering president who decided that a nation which put their own welfare over the United States' welfare should be invaded.

Oh, wait.

It doesn't necessarily have to be a zero-sum game. Chavez makes it one at his peril.

Extreme Coder · 05-15-2007

One of my friends told me that U.S. used to have control on Venezuela.So maybe it's nice for Chavez to act against U.S interests..

Extreme Coder

utabintarbo · 05-16-2007

You are missing the point that one may act in one's best interests without acting against another's interests.

If leader X acts in his country's best interests, fine, that is his job. If leader X acts against the interests of country Y, it is in country Y's best interests to make that stop. This may not be in country X's long-term best interests. Get it?

05-13-2007	#2 (permalink)
JoshJ ∀dministrator Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 465	Re: Rudy Giuliani Assails Venezuela's Chavez "I feel perfect freedom to point out that Hugo Chavez is a person who's acting against the interests of the United States." Because the guy who runs Venezuela is supposed to act in the best interest of the USA, right? Say what you want about the way Chavez runs Venezuela, that may possibly be the dumbest thing I've seen all day.
JoshJ ∀dministrator Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 465	“There can be but little liberty on earth while men worship a tyrant in heaven.”- Robert Green Ingersoll

05-15-2007	#6 (permalink)
Extreme Coder ^_^; Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cairo,Egypt Posts: 1,203	Re: Rudy Giuliani Assails Venezuela's Chavez One of my friends told me that U.S. used to have control on Venezuela.So maybe it's nice for Chavez to act against U.S interests.. Extreme Coder

05-16-2007	#7 (permalink)
utabintarbo Dog of the Soul Crusher Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sterling Heights, MI Posts: 569	Re: Rudy Giuliani Assails Venezuela's Chavez You are missing the point that one may act in one's best interests without acting against another's interests. If leader X acts in his country's best interests, fine, that is his job. If leader X acts against the interests of country Y, it is in country Y's best interests to make that stop. This may not be in country X's long-term best interests. Get it?
	In case it wasn't apparent, sarcasm is yet another free service I offer. Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay -- and claims a halo for his dishonesty.---- Robert A. Heinlein