President Chavez questions the support given by the US Department of State to groups seeking to oust him. He held copies of declassified documents (obtained through the US Freedom of Information Act) which show monetary support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) to groups such as SUMATE which provided logistical support for the recall drive last November ... criticized at the time by electoral authorities for illegally using portable computers with databases of voters at petition collection centers ... "now we know where they got the money to buy those portable computers."
...Chavez asked how the US government would react if Venezuela financed efforts to oust US President George Bush ... "suppose I create the Abraham Lincoln or the Thomas Jefferson Foundation -- I'm a big admirer of Jefferson -- for Democracy and then I send $1 million dollars to groups seeking to oust President Bush, ah?
Well, Hugo, if you're asking me...I think you'd gain a lot of new admirers.
There is a parallel issue. To satisfy the world that the recall referendum is being held honestly and according to law, Chavez has permitted a group of international representatives to come in as watchdogs. Can you imagine what would happen if anyone suggested that the United States permit an independent international group to oversee our election procedures? It's not like there isn't good reason for such a panel, but we Americans would never stand for it. Yet we insist that Venezuela permit it.
We certainly are a repugnant lot at times.
VHeadline.com article
Monday, February 16, 2004
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