CARACAS, Venezuela, April 26, 2008
Chavez May Help Hostages In Columbia
Gov. Richardson Says The Venezuelan President Is "Disposed To Help" Americans Held Hostage
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New Mexico Governor, Bill Richardson, left, shakes hands with Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez before a meeting at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Saturday, April 26, 2008. Richardson turned to Chavez for help in pressing for the release of three Americans held hostage by Colombian rebels. Three U.S. defense contractors, Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell, have been held by the FARC rebels since their plane went down in rebel-held jungles in February 2003. (AP PHOTO)
Richardson says he had a "very productive meeting" with Chavez on the issue Saturday night.
The Democratic governor is in Venezuela not as an official envoy but at the request of the hostages' families. The former U.S. presidential candidate and energy secretary has experience as a troubleshooter in other countries.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia captured the three American defense contractors when their plane crashed in the Colombian jungle in February 2003. Richardson also has expressed concern for other hostages including French-Colombian captive Ingrid Betancourt.
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Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
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See all 21 CommentsExcuse the break, I had to go to the toilet to take a 302.
As I was saying, if you were to insult me by calling me the n-word, and if I took physical umbrage, I could, and probably would be charged with assault (possibly with intent to kill, or do great bodily harm).
There is a slight possibility that a judge would mitigate the charges by saying you provoked the incident, but if he held strictly to the law, he would find me guilty, because an insult is no legal justification for such a grievous assault as a reaction.
It is called law, you do know the definition of the word, right?
If I took physical action against every person that used the n-insult to me, the WTC casualties would be fewer in number.
In fact, until you can show where any of Chavez'' complaints against the US are untrue, you are really blowing gas out of the wrong end.
As far as calling me an as*hole, that means nothing to me, as also your insults mean nothing.
As far as threats to kill, this is a bit more serious, as it forces me to adopt a self defense strategy, but when have you heard that from Chavez? To date there is no quotation of Chavez threatening to kill any Americans, and if there are Americans in Colombia meddling where they should not, the consequences are entirely their own fault.
"if you try to deny this, you are in effect saying I and others can go around screaming %u201CNi****ger!%u201D at all black people, right? And it would do no harm and not be construed as a threat, right?"
You absolutely can, it is your right under the constitution, and since you have taken this opportunity to try so, feel free. But when someone objects, and boycotts your workplace, then you have only yourself to blame. Those who object still don''t have the right to commit violence against you, idiotic speech is no justification, but they also don''t have to do business with you.
The n-word itself, from a "white" person, spoken in the usual ignorance, is not a threat, it is only an insult, there is a difference. If you use the n-word, and then also threaten me, the n-word is only your sorry justification for your threat, but your threat is what I would react to.
colombia
columbia
anyway you spell that whole country is too stupid
to fix anything.
The irony.
Colombia is our "friend".
They supply us with all the drugs we can devour.
Venezuela is the enemy.
Chavez is the enemy.
So the enemy comes to rescue some Americans
from our friends.
American hostages in Columbia: 3
American hostages in Venezuela: 0
Wake up, dude. This IS the Columbia in MO. This is Hogo Chavez, younger brother of the Venezuelan president, who is a state representative from the 17th district, a Libertarian. He and Bill Richordson are old friends.
Any other reasonable people could not truthfully blame him for doing so.
Chavez has done nothing to the US, has not attacked, Has sent no "terrorists", and yet the "Pat Robertson 700 Taliban Club" has already issued a fatwa calling for Chavez'' death.
Extraordinary photo opportunity. One fat fu*king lying dumbsh*t loser as*swipe shaking hands with yet another fat f*ucking lying dumbsh*t loser as*swipe.. The odds of this occurring again in our lifetimes: a billion to one.
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