Chavez dares U.S. to cut ties
Leader stands by rebuff of ambassador nominee
CARACAS, Venezuela – President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday dared the U.S. government to expel his ambassador from Washington in response to Venezuela’s rejection of the White House’s choice for ambassador in Caracas.
Chavez reiterated that he will not allow U.S. diplomat Larry Palmer to be ambassador, and said “if the government is going to expel our ambassador there, let them do it! If they’re going to cut diplomatic relations, let them do it!”
The U.S. State Department has said it stands behind its nomination of Palmer, who is awaiting Senate confirmation. Palmer angered Chavez by suggesting during the confirmation process that morale is low in Venezuela’s military and that he is concerned Colombian rebels are finding refuge in Venezuela.
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said last week that Venezuela’s decision not to accept Palmer – after initially giving its approval – will have consequences on relations with Venezuela, and that the U.S. government will evaluate what to do. The State Department has also been strongly critical of decree powers granted to Chavez by his congressional allies this month, a maneuver Crowley described as one more way for the leftist president to “justify autocratic powers.”
There was no immediate reaction from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, which has been without an ambassador since Patrick Duddy finished his assignment and left in July.
Chavez, whose economy relies heavily on oil sales to the United States, has accused Palmer of dishonoring the Venezuelan government by expressing concerns on several sensitive subjects – including 2008 accusations by the U.S. Treasury Department that three members of Chavez’s inner circle helped Colombian rebels by supplying arms and aiding drug-trafficking operations.
The National Assembly on Dec. 17 granted Chavez broad powers to enact laws by decree for a year and a half. Opponents have condemned that and a package of other laws approved by Chavez’s congressional allies, saying the legislative offensive will give Chavez new abilities to crack down on dissent.