The United States stopped trying to be polite Friday in an escalating diplomatic shoving match with the populist leaders of Venezuela and Bolivia. Washington slapped new sanctions on three aides close to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and called him weak and desperate. The Venezuelan ambassador got the boot for good measure, a move that was purely for show. Chavez had already brought his man home.
"Those who shout the loudest are not making the real news in the Americas," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said after Chavez used bathroom profanity to accuse the Americans of meddling in Latin America.
The rupture began Wednesday when Bolivian President Evo Morales expelled the U.S. ambassador there, accusing him of inciting violent protests. Chavez followed suit Thursday, accusing the "U.S. empire" of helping plot a coup against him. He later gave the American ambassador 72 hours to quit the country. McCormack adopted a grave tone to read a long defense to reporters Friday. Separately, the United States accused three members of Chavez's inner circle of aiding Colombian rebels known as the FARC by supplying arms and helping drug traffickers. Violent clashes over Bolivia's future have claimed eight lives. U.S. diplomats say Chavez and Morales are punching the United States to distract attention from mismanagement and unpopularity at home. Meanwhile, Honduras has announced that it will hold off on the accreditation of a new U.S. ambassador in solidarity with Venezuela and Bolivia. Honduran President Manuel Zelaya said the Central American nation is not breaking relations with the United States. Zelaya said small nations need to stick together. Zelaya previously planned to receive credentials Friday from U.S. diplomat Hugo Llorens.
Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega, a close ally of Morales, has not announced yet whether he will take any action against the U.S. ambassador in Nicaragua. By the end of the week, it was clear that the Bush administration's second-term strategy to get along with many left-leaning governments in Latin America while saying as little as possible about Chavez had fizzled. Chavez and Morales suggested they had no interest in improving ties with Washington until a new administration takes over in January. Chavez has made a specialty of anti-American broadsides, including an infamous 2006 reference to President Bush as the devil. Morales, on the other hand, was seen by Washington as a potential partner. The former coca growing union boss campaigned with a mild anti-American edge, but shook hands warmly with Rice at a much-watched get-acquainted session in 2006. He gave her a present she couldn't keep: A traditional Bolivian string instrument plastered with coca leaves. A two-week protest against Morales' plans to redo the constitution and redirect gas revenues turned violent this week as demonstrators in the country's energy-rich eastern provinces stormed public offices, blocked roads and seized gas fields.
His surprise move Wednesday to kick out the U.S. ambassador drew a mild response from Washington at first. The State Department said the diplomat had done nothing wrong, and then stalled for time to see if Morales was serious. All hesitation was gone Friday with the U.S. saying that all the accusations are 'false'. The new sanctions target Hugo Carvajal Barrios and Henry Rangel Silva, both chiefs of Venezuelan intelligence agencies. A former government minister, Ramon Rodriguez Chacin, was also named. The officials have served as Chavez's most trusted security chiefs. U.S. officials said the sanctions had been in the works for some time and are unrelated to the diplomatic dispute. [End of report]
When I first heard that Bolivia had expelled its own U.S. ambassador, I was quite surprise because I didnt saw it coming. Yes, relations between the U.S. and Bolivia or any other Latin America countries for that matter hasn't been the best over the last few years or so but unlike with Venezuela, I thought the relations between Bolivia and the U.S. was starting to improve. I also thought that their accusations regarding their U.S. ambassador to the country was more politically motivated rather than about the facts. The Bolivian President Evo Morales expelled the U.S. ambassador there, because he accused him of inciting violent protests and was trying to overthrow the government but he has failed to provide the evidence to support his accusation. Then you have Venezuela. I think everyone knows that their President Hugo Chavez hasnt been a huge fan of President Bush and he would cash in any opportunity to anger the U.S. further. Chavez said he was taking the action in solidarity with Bolivia's President Evo Morales, but he also accused the U.S. of being part of a plot to assassinate him, a scheme allegedly involving retired Venezuelan generals and opposition politicians. I dont know if he is just creating some stories or whether it is true, though I strongly believe it is the former.
The relationship between Venezuela and the U.S. have not been the best. There is a lot of mistrust and anger between the two sides. Just recently, Chavez had welcomed two long-range Russian bombers to Venezuela for training exercises, which will be followed in November by joint naval maneuvers with Russian warships in Venezuelan waters. This move will undoubtedly not go well with the U.S. especially under the current circumstances. The U.S. has not only Venezuela to worry about but the Russians as well now. The more urgent question now I guess is whether U.S.-Venezuelan relations are at a breaking point. It does seem that way though but then again, it might not continue for too long as Chavez has talk about a renew relationship with the new U.S. administration. Some people think that Chavez actions is due to the fact that he is trying to deflect attention away from allegedly incriminating evidence against him and his government emerging in an international corruption trial that began this month or simply because he may be trying to win the support of his base in advance of local and state elections in November. He and his party desperately need a strong showing in order to reverse the unusual downward political slide he's experienced since losing a national referendum last year.
I dont know what is it about Chavez, whether it is his charismatic attitude or what, but he is the kind of guy that you either love to hate or hate to love. I dont know when was the last time I heard a world leader calling the U.S. by the term 'Yankees'. There is no doubt I love the U.S. but I cant help but find that amusing. Nevertheless, whatever his problem is with the U.S. or the Bush administration, it is probably the problems in his own country that he should think first. His loud confrontations with Washington haven't been playing so well at home this year. There is no question that Venezuela remains as an important ally for the U.S. I mean it is the U.S.'s fourth largest foreign supplier of oil but at the same time, Venezuela needs the U.S. as much as the U.S. needed them. I dont know what will happen next between the two countries, my only hope is that the relationship between the two sides will improve soon or there will be bound to be more trouble.
*The report was taken from Associated Press.
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