Chavez Tongue-Lashes Bush, Leaves London's Mayor 'Speechless'

London: Yesterday Hugo Chavez added a new distinction to his colorful political career: that of becoming the first political leader to leave the chatter-box Mayor of London, Ken Livingston, speechless. During a well-attended press conference, the Venezuelan President didn't mince words in his didactic out-pouring, which ranged from his scorn for "the Perpetrator of Genocide" George W. Bush, to the "justice" of the Iranian nuclear program, while also touching on the merits of the architecture of Norman Foster, the traffic jams of Caracas, and the "stupidity" of the questions from some journalists.

Aware that it was impossible to compete with the talkativeness of his famous invited guest, "Red Ken" had a quick remedy, which he delivered with irony. "If somebody wants to come another day and ask me what I think of Bush, he is welcome," he remarked with a certain dose of resignation.

A LESSON IN 'DIPLOMACY'

Surrounded by an enthusiastic band of followers that cheered all of his remarks, Chavez confronted any journalist that dared put him in a tough spot. "What a crazy question!" he responded when a veteran reporter of the North American television channel CNN asked him why he had not taken the opportunity during the trip to meet Tony Blair. "I advise you to read a manual on diplomacy and to understand that this is a private visit," he spat.

Minutes later, he became infuriated when they compared him to Bush for sharply dividing the world between those that he favors and his enemies.

"This is the first time I have been offended this way in public - to be compared to the biggest perpetrator of genocide the world has known," he responded. "To be compared to an assassin, someone who has committed genocide, an immoral man who should be put in jail by an international court. What exactly are these attitudes?

"Have we invaded any country? Have I used the CIA to kill presidents? Have we protected terrorists in Venezuela? That is Bush!"

Among constant digressions, Chavez found time to bring up one of the most urgent issues on the international agenda: the crisis with Iran. On that point, the Venezuelan President underscored that he is "certain" that Tehran's theocratic regime "is not developing an atomic bomb," and he added that "the Iranians want peace and dialogue."

OIL EMBARGO

Additionally, he didn't reject the possibility that Venezuela would cut the supply of oil to America's economy if President Bush declared war on Iran. Even so, he denied that his country is promoting its diplomatic objectives using the "stick" of "petrodollars," and he affirmed that all he wants is to share his nation's wealth with the people, "and not only with the elites."

For that reason, he attributed his international infamy to a "Goebbels-like strategy" created by Washington: "They have distributed talking points throughout the world, so that people repeat that I am an imperialist and a terrorist … how absurd!" he complained.

His appearance was the climax of a "private" visit, during which he met the mayor, British businessmen, dozens of affectionate delegates, representatives of the main labor unions, and famous "leftists" such as Bianca Jagger and play-write Harold Pintor. With this bulging agenda, he couldn’t find even "half an hour" to take tea with Prime Minister Tony Blair in Downing Street.

Today, Hugo Chavez continues his diplomatic tour in Algeria and Libya.

Nonetheless, yesterday he remembered Queen Elizabeth II, whom he met in 2001, and to whom he sent his "best wishes" and "respect" just minutes before concluding his "show" before the press.