Chavez Calls Bush 'The Devil'

In U.N. Speech Accusing U.S. Of Pillaging The World

(CBS/AP) 
Ambassador John Bolton told The Associated Press that Chavez had the right to express his opinion, adding it was "too bad the people of Venezuela don't have free speech."

"I'm just not going to comment on this because his remarks just don't warrant a response," Bolton said. "Serious people can listen to what he had to say and if they do they will reject it."

One of the most significant things about Wednesday's event was not even a part of the Chavez's speech: Venezuela is the United States' third-largest source of imported oil, and Chavez has long threatened to cut off the United States, reports Pitts.

Chavez's threats prompted Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., to call on the General Accounting Office to come up with a worst case scenario — and the answer wasn't good.

The GAO concluded that if Venezuela stopped its supplies, worldwide oil prices would immediately spike by $4 to $6 a barrel. Prices at the gas pumps would jump 11 cents to 15 cents per gallon, reports CBS News correspondent Trish Regan.

Chavez drew tentative giggles at times from the audience, but also some applause when he called Mr. Bush "the devil." Before leaving the podium, Chavez, again inciting the "devil" reference to Mr. Bush, said, "it smells of sulfur here, but God is with us!"

Venezuela's ambassador to the United States tried to diffuse Chavez's rhetoric, telling Regan his government depends on its oil sales to the United States for revenue. He added that Chavez wants to get along with the U.S.

Chavez spoke on the second day of the annual ministerial meetings, which were overshadowed by an ambitious agenda of sideline talks.

The Mideast peace process also was in the spotlight, with ministers from the Quartet that drafted the stalled road map — the U.S., the U.N., the European Union and Russia — planning to meet. The Security Council also was scheduled to hold a ministerial meeting Thursday that Arab leaders hope will help revive the Mideast peace process.

On Wednesday, Mr. Bush met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and described him as "a man of peace" who can help move forward the stalled peace process.

The meeting followed up on his speech a day earlier before the General Assembly in which Mr. Bush tried to advance his campaign for democracy in the Middle East during his address to the General Assembly. Mr. Bush said extremists were trying to justify their violence by falsely claiming the U.S. is waging war on Islam. He singled out Iran and Syria as sponsors of terrorism.

Mr. Bush also pointed to Tehran's rejection of a Security Council demand to stop enriching uranium by Aug. 31 or face the possibility of sanctions. But he addressed his remarks to the Iranian people in a clear insult to the government.

"The greatest obstacle to this future is that your rulers have chosen to deny you liberty and to use your nation's resources to fund terrorism and fuel extremism and pursue nuclear weapons," the U.S. leader said.

"Iran must abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions," he said. "Despite what the regime tells you, we have no objection to Iran's pursuit of a truly peaceful nuclear power program."

He said he hoped to see "the day when you can live in freedom, and America and Iran can be good friends and close partners in the cause of peace."

Ahmadinejad took the podium hours later, denouncing U.S. policies in Iraq and Lebanon and accusing Washington of abusing its power in the Security Council to punish others while protecting its own interests and allies.

The hard-line leader insisted that his nation's nuclear activities are "transparent, peaceful and under the watchful eye" of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog. He also reiterated his nation's commitment to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Earlier this month, Ahmadinejad proposed a debate with Mr. Bush at the General Assembly's ministerial meeting after the White House dismissed a previous TV debate proposal as a "diversion" from serious concerns over Iran's nuclear program.

[mh4cbs1]

Thank you Chavez for having the courage to speak the truth!
Bush LIED us into a needless War of agression -- and in doing so he has killed tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi civillians, and has killed more Americans than Osama on 9-11. This is not the Devil? Wake up sheeple. Bush wants you to live in FEAR, he wants you to HATE the "enemy", he LIES you into compliance, then embarks on his endless WAR. This FEAR, HATE, LIES, WAR is his plan to extend his power and secure profit for the super wealthy that he represents. He could care less about you, the troops, and any other pawns in his game.
Chavez was right in standing up to our Devil of a president. If you love America you should want to Impeach and Jail Bush and Cheney.

[sylmar777lxm]

Gee, Hugo Chavez called Bush the Devil and most of the countries of the world agreed. Let's see, the 8th Amendment to the Constitution says that the American Government will never torture anyone, period. And Bush wipes his behind on the Constitution and tortures people, some of them to death. Anyone who approves of torture is listening to the Devil. All you Republicans go on and on about how Holy you are. Well, to quote you religious phonies, "What Would Jesus Do?" According to you sickos, Jesus would torture people. Bush is demonic, and anyone not listening to the manure from Fox News or AM Radio realizes it. Hugo is 100% right. Bush is the Devil. We didn't need torture to win World War Two. Except then, we had a great man, a Democrat for President. All Bush cares about is making his oil buddy friends rich. That's why Brazil is 100% oil independent and our stupid country won't even make car manufacturers increase their fuel mileage. When our country is totally destroyed, then all the idiots who voted for Bush will finally realize their stupidity. The rest of world already knows what a total loser Bush is.

[alarico2001]

I don't want to abuse the system here, but I feel I must respond to this: "Chavez is more about freedom than the United States Government and thats why the US is afraid of him." My goodness! Obviously you don't live here!!! Chavez's only real ally is Fidel Castro, whom he praises. Castro has been in power for 47 years, with firing squads included! You know nothing about human rights abuses here against the Venezuelan opposition, including myself, and now Chavez says that he might rule us until he dies! Very democratic! Just like the leaders of Belarus, Iran, Syria, and North Korea (his other pals)!

[alarico2001]

By the way, as a Venezuelan, I want to apologize to the American people and the world for what our president said. Such disgraceful behavior. Millions of us Venezuelans feel deeply ashamed by Chavez. But sadly, Chavez has brainwashed the ignorant masses who are so easy to manipulate. Half of the population actually thinks that Chavez was great at the UN. Very depressing. Anyway, this man also thought that Clinton was going to invade us in Dec. 1999 during the Vargas disaster, so it's not Bush that he's against; he can't stand America. Period.

[alarico2001]

Hugo Chavez is free? Then why doesn't he shut down the American embassy here in Venezuela? Or at least he should kick out the American ambassador whom he's criticized time after time; after all, the Mexican and Peruvian ambassadors are gone. Pure hypocrisy! Chavez claims to be brave giving anti-American speeches but he knows that all his populist programs are funded by the US through oil exportations. If the US stopped buying our oil, this country would become another Somalia.

[eirann77]

GET INFORMED..There are more things You should know..
http://alternativenewspoints.blogspot.com/
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/22/nyregion/22chomsky.html?_r=2&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

[thgdriver]

Wake up and smell the coffee? Now you can ask me if I give a DAM- what some think! Although I don't agree with you.

Send me a post after 4 planes flown buy some cowards kill thousands of your fellow, innocent, brothers and sisters. I need to know what you think then. I can't speak for others, but, although I don't live there, I am a New Yorker now. I feel their pain. [Not forgetting the Pentagon or Schwanksville Pa.]

Afganistan still don't know what hit them.

Don't mess with the US. God Bless President Bush.

[grazinggoat]

It's lovely to see the Power of Good fighting the Power of Evil. Or the opposite. Now Who is Good and Who is Evil. Is it Bush? is it Chavez? is somebody else? Maybe Both are.

This is the danger the President Of the Most powerful Nation of the world ran by naming or qualifying others of the Axis of Evil.

Now who is telling the truth? is it Chavez or is it Bush. Maybe Both.

For sure one can say that the balloon of GeorgeWalkingLiar Bush started to deflate. His Terra'ist campaign started to falter, in the world and aaround him after they discovered he's been lying to the world and his team.

Was he under influence of Brain-Javeling by his counsellors who are influenced by an after all not so friendly to USA? Only history will tell. It will tell soon.

[aaglu]

You know you read all these stories about the US helping so many other countries. What happen to looking in your back yard first?

[aaglu]

Well I do not keep up with politics, but there is one thing that I can say. Chavez is doing one thing that our country (Pres. Bush) is not. He is helping the poor people in Alaska where they are paying up to 7.00/gal for gas in the rural communities. Read the story on KTUU http://www.ktuu.com/cms/anmviewer.asp?a=6452&z=1
Families most of which are below 80% Low to Moderate income are forced to choose between heat and food. Fuel oil could run up to 4.50/gal and when you have tempatures that could run around 50 below wind chill, people tend to buy fuel oil.

[laurieleemoo]

hugo chavez is showing his ignorance--AS USUAL.
i bet his education only goes to 1st grade--if that. i bet his IQ is 10. He is a thug ----not a statesman. i would love to have a debate with both he and the Iranian President----I would run circles around them---which of course---is not saying much.

[gtorlando]

It is time Americans, Dem or Pub to stop buying gas a Citgo, show your support of America and let Chavez know he can't be the world's cry baby and get away with it. I am a Democrat, but it is time to stand firm for America.

[maridelva70]

Sadly, this is the impression that a great number of countries, not only Venezuela, have of the Bush administration. You are peceived as warmongers, whose only God is the dollar sign. Americans, wake up and smell the coffee!!

[thgdriver]

Too bad I was not at the U N when Chavez was ranting on and on. I guess it would show "my" rudeness and lack of manners, but I would have liked to have knocked over a few tables as I got up and walked out. but then, I am not President of any country either. Just pushing the off button on my TV did not do it for me.

[yankreb2]

I believe the Lord brought all the people that started this country to America.. Saying that Pres. Bush is the devil is the same as saying the American people are the devil.. Watch this guy like a hawk.. Usually those who accuse others of something are that something themselves.. You don't put down our President.. He may make mistakes, but so do we all... Are you God?? We will all face the judgment, let God do His work...

[cditr]

TWO DAYS OF LISTENING TO TWO OF THE WORLDS WORST DESPOTS AND THE MEDIA HASN'T ONCE COME FORWARD AND HOLD THESE TWO THUGS TO THE CARPET .IT IS CLEAR THAT THEY (THE MEDIA)HAS AN AGENDA AND A BIAS FOR THE LEFT.I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE DEMOCRATIC FRONT RUNNER COME TO THE DEFENSE OF THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT A TRUE SHOWING OF THIER COLORS.....

[thgdriver]

Could it be that Castro is dead? It sure looks like Castro has been reincarnated already in this lunatic Chavez. I watched and listened to his rantings on the C-span Network. The man clearly has no upbringing or manners, just goes to show how LOW the United Nations has sunk, we should pull our money and our membership. We gave this creep a stage for the world to be brainwashed, and then we paid for it.

[mjv2944]

I believe drugs are fueling the terrorists, I wonder what the Prophet would have to say about the taliban being financed with drug money, no body in the media better mnention that, it will cause violent protests. The truth really hurts.

[luvny-2009]

suzyqzy66..didn't say I hated him I said I think he nuts, my opinion no need for me to have to justify....I believe history will.

[suzyqzy66]

And what is Chavez doing with all that oil money. Is he feeding his people. I doubt it.