Chavez to Obama: "Focus on governing your country, which you've turned into a disaster" [View all]
Hugo Chávez says Obama is 'a clown and an embarrassment'
Venezuelan president makes comments after US leader criticises his links with Iran and Cuba in a newspaper interview
Tom Phillips
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 20 December 2011 15.44 GMT
Article history
Hugo Chávez with Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: the Venezuelan president has been criticised for his links to Iran. Photograph: Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images
On the eve of his first official overseas trip since being diagnosed with cancer, Hugo Chávez has launched a blistering attack on Barack Obama, describing the US president as a "clown" and an "embarrassment".
...
Chávez's comments followed a rare and strongly worded interview with Obama published by the Caracas-based El Universal newspaper. The American president criticised Venezuela's business and political links with Iran and Cuba, and raised concerns at what he called threats to the country's democracy.
...
Referring to Iran, Obama added: "Sooner or later, Venezuela's people will have to decide what possible advantage there is in having relations with a country that violates fundamental human rights and is isolated from most of the world."
Chávez, who travelled to Uruguay to push for full Venezuelan membership of the Mercosur, issued a rebuttal, claiming the interview was motivated by next year's US presidential elections. "Mr Obama decided to attack us," he said. "Now you want to win votes by attacking Venezuela. Don't be irresponsible. You are a clown, a clown. Leave us in peace … Go after your votes by fulfilling that which you promised your people."
...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/20/hugo-chavez-barack-obama-clown?CMP=twt_gu
/////////////////////
My 2 cents. I'm glad Chavez repatriated Venezuela's gold out of US & European banks. I know the European gold arrived, but no word on the US gold except for bizarre complaints like this one
= new reply since forum marked as read