Mar 01 2009
Chavez says Obama policy same as Bush’s, while Putin warns US against socialism
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was up in arms on Saturday over a U.S. report on narcotics, declaring Obama’s drug policies are no different than Bush’s.
The report, released by the U.S. Department of State on Friday, said “Geography, corruption, a weak judicial system, incompetent and in some cases complicit security forces, and lack of international counternarcotics cooperation make (Venezuela) vulnerable to illicit drug transshipments.”
On Saturday, an angry Chavez offered his rebuttal in a speech:
Is there a new government in the United States or is it Bush still in power? Obama seems to be a continuation of the Bush era. But it doesn’t matter to me. Regardless of US imperialism, this revolution will continue its course.
The Obama administration has again attacked Venezuela. He said that Venezuela and I, even citing my name, do not cooperate in the fight against drug trafficking. The country that most supports drug trafficking on this planet is the United States.
The United States is the world’s leading consumer of drugs. Why can’t they stop drugs from coming into their country? Obama, you take care of your business and I’ll take care of mine. Don’t mess with me, Mr Obama.
While I certainly don’t have any desire to defend a wannabe dictator such as Chavez, he is right that U.S. drug enforcement efforts in other countries is an imperialistic act. We have no place there and certainly should not be spending any taxpayer money for such an undertaking. Not to mention (as I’ve said here many times) that it is unconstitutional and therefore illegal.
Meanwhile, at a recent World Economic Forum, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned the United States about its slide towards socialism.
He tried to explain to the U.S. that “Excessive intervention in economic activity and blind faith in the state’s omnipotence” is a “mistake.” Putin went on to remind that state control of the Soviet economy made the nation “totally uncompetitive.”
When the leader of the former USSR warns you not to “turn a blind eye to the spirit of free enterprise,” perhaps it is time to reevaluate your economic policy.
Sources: AFP - Chavez says Obama same as Bush on drug war February 28, 2009
Common Sense - Ears Burning February 25, 2009
