Bush is Mr Danger, says Chavez

2005-05-07 14:41

Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lashed out at US President George W Bush, calling him "Mr. Danger" and saying wars from Iraq to Colombia show the American government is a menace to the world.

Chavez paused during a televised speech on Friday to read aloud Bush's comments to reporters at the White House a day earlier, when he said Venezuela's plans to buy 100 000 assault rifles from Russia raise concerns the guns could fall into the hands of Colombian rebels.

"The rifles are defensive weapons," Chavez said, adding that Kalashnikovs are nothing to the array of weapons wielded by US forces, such as "trans-Atlantic missiles."

"If I were buying one of those devices, with which we press a button to travel, arrive at the White House, then they could worry," he said. "They have thousands of those devices."

Chavez, a close ally of Fidel Castro, has accused the United States of plotting behind-the-scenes to overthrow him. Venezuela is a major supplier of US oil, but Chavez has said he would halt shipments if the Americans try to attack Venezuela.

"We do have reasons to be worried, Mr Danger, about the US arms build-up, about US threats, about the presence of US soldiers in Colombia," Chavez said.

He accused the US government of having "an interest in having war in Colombia" and providing large amounts of weapons.

"That's a reality, as it was in Central America, as it was in the Middle East. Who armed Saddam Hussein? Who gave Saddam Hussein weapons, ammunition, military technology? The US government," said Chavez, a fierce critic of the US war in Iraq.

"Who armed Osama bin Laden, and gave al-Qaida the great power it has? The United States," he said, apparently referring to US support for Afghan forces in their war against Soviet troops in the 1980s.

Chavez said he wouldn't be surprised if the United States were supplying guns to Colombian rebels, their paramilitary enemies and the Colombian army at the same time "to justify their Plan Patriot and at the same time establish military bases in Colombia."

"It's the perfect excuse for them to have a military presence in Colombia, and from there to threaten Venezuela, and threaten any other country that begins changes they don't like," Chavez said. "The Lords of War, you can call them."

US officials have expressed concerns that Chavez, elected in 1999, is growing increasingly authoritarian. In response, he has said Venezuela is moving toward a socialist system that will be more democratic that the capitalist system of the past.

Chavez said he hopes the United States will "leave me in peace so that I can work."

- AP