Venezuela sees Pentagon pushing US State Department aside

by Patrick J. O'Donoghue
Mar 2
Reacting to US Intelligence Tsar, John Negroponte's plans for Venezuela, Venezuelan Executive Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel says it's a sign that the Pentagon is taking over from the US State Department.

In a statement from the Vice Presidency press office, Rangel rejects the Pentagon's verbal attacks as a danger to regional democracy.

It would appear that the role of US spokesperson on Latin America is changing hands from Condoleezza Rice to Rumsfeld and Negroponte.

"Apart from showing an evident displacement, it reflects a victory for the hawks and an hardening of bellicose positions that have repercussions inside the USA ... it's a policy with Fascist markings, gaining ground in the USA and it is opposed by leading US politicians, intellectuals, religious organizations, trade unions and organized groups ... there is a rebirth of McCarthyism using the pretext of fighting terrorism."

Venezuelan political analyst, Alberto Garrido seems to agree with the Vice President's reading of the situation, which has swung from the State Department's Valentine Day soundings to a military threat.

The hawks are beginning to force the pace, arguing that it is time to hit the intercontinental anti-imperialist axis of Iran, Venezuela and Cuba on the head.

"The Iran issue has tipped the balance placing military and geo-political considerations above those of oil supplies."

US Ambassador to Venezuela, William Brownfield denies any divergence or splits in US policy towards Venezuela.