CHAVEZ'S FIRST SALVO AT THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001626 SIPDIS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL VE IR SUBJECT: CHAVEZ'S FIRST SALVO AT THE PRESIDENT-ELECT REF: CARACAS 1556 Classified By: Francisco Fernandez, Political Counselor, for Reason 1.4(d) ¶1. (SBU) In a rambling nationally televised November 24 press conference following Venezuelan state and local elections, President Hugo Chavez labeled president-elect Obama's response to a congratulatory letter by Iranian president Mahmud Ahmadinejad "disrespectful and a bad sign." Chavez stated that the Presidnet-elect's statement that "the production of nuclear weapons by Iran is unacceptable," and pledge to lead "an international effort to halt production," to be "a bad clichQ that sounded like Bush." Chavez opined that the Presidnet-elect needed to "clean house" and remove the vestiges of "right wing fascism" from the White House. ¶2. (C) Comment: The U.S. president is too convenient a whipping boy for Chavez and he will continue to seek political cover by taking aim at the USG and the local "oligarchy." This is an abrupt shift in tone from Chavez' initial overture to the President-Elect, and is noteworthy because Chavez is taking umbrage on behalf of Ahmadinejad. CAULFIELD