Chavez Seeks "Rational" Relations With US

Despite Recent Criticisms, Venezuelan Leader Says He Wants To "Press The Reset Button"

(AP)  President Hugo Chavez said Saturday he hopes to "reset" relations with the United States at an upcoming summit.

Despite recent criticism of President Barack Obama, Chavez said he wants to bring relations between the two governments back to a "rational level."

"I'll be willing to press the reset button," he said in a telephone call to Venezuelan state television from Iran. "I hope that will be the policy of President Obama."

Venezuela's relations with Washington grew increasingly strained under former President George W. Bush - reaching a low point in September, when Chavez expelled the U.S. ambassador and withdrew Venezuela's envoy to Washington. His visit to Iran is part of an effort to build ties with other countries at odds with the U.S.

The socialist leader last month called Obama "ignorant" after the U.S. president accused Chavez of "exporting terrorism" and being an obstacle to progress in Latin America.

But Chavez said Saturday that the April 17-19 Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago could "be the place to reset all types of relations between the United States and Venezuela."

Chavez employed the "reset" metaphor that U.S. officials have been using to describe their efforts for better relations with Russia after years of tension under the Bush administration.

Chavez said he's waiting for signals that Obama is willing to take similar steps with Venezuela. Chavez said that he'll have some questions for the new U.S. leader when they finally meet.

"Somebody needs to ask him what his vision is for the crisis that's weighing terribly on Latin America," he said.

"It would be good to see if something happens with Posada Carriles," he added. "If the blockade against Cuba will persist."

Venezuela has said it plans to reactivate an extradition request for Luis Posada Carriles, a former CIA operative accused of plotting the 1976 bombing of a Cuban passenger plane that killed all 73 people.

During a televised news conference later Saturday, Chavez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad railed against the G-20 meeting held earlier this week in London. Ahmadinejad said the Group of 20 industrial and developing countries wants to continue on the same path that led the world into the economic crisis.

"It's a total failure," the Iranian president said.

Iran's state television reported that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised Chavez for breaking ties with Israel in January to protest its offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Iranian television reported that the two countries signed agreements on economic, energy and consular affairs during Chavez's trip.

[speakinup]

The only rational relationship I want with hugo is the one where he puts a gun to his own head and pulls the trigger.

[toolmangler-2009]

Hugo, Eat oil!!! I remember another 'Hugo' that affected America in 1989, It was a big wind also!!!!

[antoniof123]

"I'll be willing to press the reset button," he said in a telephone call to Venezuelan state television from Iran. "I hope that will be the policy of President Obama."

Translation:

The price of oil fell so much and now all the promises that I made are not going to come throgh so I am in big trouble with the people because I wasted my money on weapons instead of infrastructer thinking the the flow of money would never end.

If I don't get some help soon in a few months things will be bad in my country and they will blame me including the military.

Moral of the story:

Don't shoot your mouth off and don't burn bridges you may need to cross over them in the future.

Good luck Hugo you are going to need it.

LOL>>>>

[bajajohn1]

American, good....go work in the fields.

[bajajohn1]

We are still a military superpower. If some claim we are weak and laughable it is because Fricus Bush and Fracus Cheney destroyed America in eight years of unenlighented misadventures. While Rome burned, Fricus and Fracus played with each other.

[whitemale08]

President Hugo Chavez is the most popular president in Venezuelan history and that's because he rejects the British idea of 'free trade' and 'globalization' which leaves Latin American countries and African looted and destroyed beyond belief.

The crisis is actually an awakening by the rest of the world that the Anglo-American financial power is broken down and was all 'smoke and mirrors' of worthless toxic derivatives and credit-default swaps.

Actually Hugo Chavez is doing President Obama a favor because as this awakening continues, then we will soon be seeking co-operation with these countries that produce that natural resources and labor we consume.

[johndevinejr]

you are either in love with palin or afraid of her
Posted by jwind1 at 9:29 AM : Apr 5, 2009

Personally I LOVE PALIN. If I were religious I would pray every night that the republican party chooses her as their candidate in 2012.

PLEASE, PLEASE pick her, she is so smart and honest and down to earth.

[johndevinejr]

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

We should be talking to all countries, even if we know them to be liars.

[babooph]

Poor Hugo -no longer dealing with a weak idiot-he likely heard the talk of easing off fossil fuels .

[mrzerato]

Chavez Seeks "Rational" Relations With US
Despite Recent Criticisms, Venezuelan Leader Says He Wants To "Press The Reset Button"

I hope Chavez becomes rational before he starts talking again.

[lucilioness]

IT IS NOT WISE TO HATE ON A MAN THAT MOST OF THE WORLD THINKS OF AS A HERO. NOW THAT'S REALLY IGNORANT!!

[caligula1--2008]

heh rational relations with the coalition of the irrational? What a combination, the President of at least the SECOND most wacko country in the Middle East along with the President of what has to be the South American state with the most significant monetary problems DESPITE being a major petroleum exporter. One about to get his nations "energy program" bombed because he can't keep his mouth shut about destroying Israel and the other calling for UNIVERSAL socialism, because, you know, capitalism is so passe . . .

What a pair of lunatics, and one of them calling for "rational relationships" while the other nods his head like a dashboard bobble head, they do make a LOVELY couple. Now, if either one of them can take their country BACK out of the stone age to which their relative governments (Chavez's in record time) have put them, then they might be worth talking too. Right now neither one is worth looking at. Let Ahmadinejad finish his nuclear program and bring reactors online or even be stupid enough to build a test a nuclear device, like North Korea let the proof be in the pudding. As for Chavez, if he's so enamored of socialism as a Universal System, let him prove it works in HIS country first, without going begging for aid from Russia.

If Ahmadinejad builds his bomb the Israeli's will deal with him, and if Chavez can make socialism work in HIS country first, then perhaps we CAN begin rational discussions, at least if he can do it without massive foreign aide or returning his people to the freaking bronze age.

[nursehopeny]

ranger1948, I agree with your comments, we do need to stop pushing our religions, values, politics and ethics on others. We do get very fired up when others try to do it to us.

[ranger1948]

bagdadshere
If i were to fear someone then i could never respect them. Respect has to be earned, not caused by fear.

[ranger1948]

To those of you who think we should try to dominate Chavez or any country that doesn't live the way we think they should. We have continually proven war doesn't work. Just because some countries live a different way from us doesn't make them wrong. We need to learn to be more openminded and accepting of different cultures. Start trying to sit down and discuss any differences we might have. As long as they do not try to impose their will on our way of life then let them be. The term Ugly American did not come about without reason. We need to work on changing our image in the world.

[ranger1948]

Right about it
The King of Thailand is dearly loved by his people and respected around the world. He leaves the elected government to run the country but does so much to help his people with projects thru out the country he pays for from his own pocket.

[ozilot]

The best thing Obama could do is ignore Chavez and leave Venezuala to its own misery...after Chavez is a legally and democratically elected president. And the tragic fact is that he still enjoys strong support...so let the Venezualans, and their Latin American allies (read lackeys) still in their socialist paradise a bit longer...it will cost the U.S. little to nothing and allow us to focus on our problems!

[airboatboy]

In the end another Republican will have to come up to deal with the bad guys once again.
Posted by BaghdadsHere_ at 4:34 AM : Apr 5, 2009

Are you talkin' about the Republicans newest bright star, Palin? Good luck!

[mrjoshcan]

While mostly farmers, post-mortal illegitimacy, and Venezuela immigrants to US arriving daily, almostly on the social system, no longer grow Tobacco that generations in the past earned solid futures without dependence to stand by. Now many farms just sit idle, because there is no need to grow Tobacco, and who shows the care about anything else that needs vital solutions. But pagan, required and two fit on this social reserve, wants a thanks for bolstering Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela oil. Smokers, while astonished by the rhetoric in, it ain't you or me, not seeing points for the Hoodstrung Federal tax reserves increase, raising the price of cigarettes and chew! So much anti-smoking sentiment going on inside Capital Hill and shored across boundaries now. Chavez should do right if saying; Geriatric care, on the social brink, could begin outnumbered.

[woodjd42]

We just want our Coward-In-Chief to stop being a cowardChicken and put Chavez,Kim Jong II,Ahmadinejad in their place. Those guys dont respect America anymore since this Kenyan Muslim President is in charge.
Posted by BaghdadsHere

You idiot. You think they or anyone had any respect for bush/chaney? Get a clue.
Posted by woodjd42 at 4:55 AM : Apr 5, 2009
***************************************************

Hey stupid, they feared Bush and , you know, fear and respect are synonymous.
Posted by BaghdadsHere

Feared bush? LOL LOL your realy are stupid aren't you. Open your eyes you idiot.