To live in a country where the word 'democracy' acquires its true sense...

by Carlos M. Pietri
The letter by Mr. Romero seemed to me as one written by someone from among the national opponents of Chavez ... always talking of trivialities without concrete foundation:

Romero asked: If we knew that Chavez led a coup d'etat?

Yes Mr. Romero, it is known by everyone ... and we also know that he was condemned for such action and was in imprisoned for two years.

Now Mr. Romero , do you know which "democratic" government in the world has over the last five years:

* Aided and funded a coup d'etat in Venezuela?
* Aided and funded a coup d'etat in Haiti '?
* Invaded Iraq, destroying and assassinating more than 200,000 Iraqis?
* Aided and funded a coup d'etat in Afghanistan and massacred the inhabitants of that country?

I assume that you know the answer...

Romero said:

Here are some realities on Chavez government:

* "Friendship" with Hamas
* Strategic alignment with the government of Iran
* Relationship Caracas-Havana
* "Ideological similarities of the two regimes Caracas-Pyongyang"
* Chavez' support for Saddam Hussein
* FARC -- Chavez relationship

Yes, Mr. Romero our government respects the sovereignty and the governments of Palestine, Iran, Cuba and Korea ... as also it respects and maintains good relations with all the governments of the world, with the exception of the United States government.

NOT because Chavez doesn't want it ... but because the government of USAmerica has wanted it that way and, further, they have acted consequentially through financing a coup d'etat, oil sabotage, etc, in Venezuela.

About Saddam Hussein: our President has never declared support for Saddam Hussein or his government; Chavez visited him in Baghdad some years back as the President of a founder member country of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as part of a tour of member countries, including Saudi Arabia.

Now if you consider that Chavez' position against the invasion of Iraq means that he was supporting Hussein ... then we must consider that most of the countries of the world are doing the same thing…

Please check the UN resolution on the invasion of Iraq and you'll find this out!

Now ... if you wish to speak of "friendship" with Saddam Hussein, you should get some contemporaneous history books and you will be surprised to know who helped Hussein remain in dictatorial power.

For example, you will be able to find some photographs of Mr. Donald Rumsfeld with his friend Saddam Hussein (1983); and you will be able to find out who trained Saddam Hussein's elite troops; etc.

You are also recommend to see recent declarations by Alberto Federico Ravell and Marcel Granier to the members of the National Assembly (AN) with reference to freedoms and democracy to find evidence of which you were saying. My dear friend, all the hemisphere and the rest of the world, know that these two "gentlemen" are the main representatives of the opposition to Chavez in our country and they are mad with Chavez because they have lost certain privileges and they wish them back…

What else could we expect from them?

If you want to be objective, then you must read what people like the Nobel Prize winners Jose Saramago, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Harold Pinter, Nadine Gordimer; academicians like Noam Chomsky and Salim Lamrani; investigators such as James Petras and others; the presidents of the Caribbean and South America countries, etc. think about what is going on in Venezuela. Also find out what 70% of the Venezuelan population has to say about this process and not just listen to the few people (less than 20%) that you talk to.

Mr. Romero while you have abandoned of your roots and are ashamed because many Latin American countries have accepted the Chavez integrationist policy, we feel proud of being part of a country that, after many years of submission, is finally willing to reach its true and total independence.

And to be part of a people whose children have guaranteed access to all levels of education, being part of a people whose government distributes its wealth as equitably as possible, to be part of a people who share a common heritage, able to assume sacrifices to help those who need it.

It means to live in a country where the word 'democracy' acquires its true sense.