BRV RENEWS ATTACKS ON UNITED STATES

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000389 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER, WHA/PD PSAMPSON SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2028 TAGS: PGOV PREL CO VE SUBJECT: BRV RENEWS ATTACKS ON UNITED STATES REF: CARACAS 367 Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY ACTING DCM ROBERT RICHARD DOWNES FOR REASON 1.4(d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Minister for Communications, Andres Izarra in a Sunday, March 16 television interview asserted President Bush was frustrated by Venezuela's recent international political successes. As a result the United States was probably planning both a military invasion of Venezuela and the assassination of Chavez, he said. He added that Venezuela needed to develop a direct strategic communications plan for the United States to build public support for Venezuela and to counter President Bush's alleged plans. After briefly focusing on Colombia, the government of Venezuela has returned again to attacking the United States and President Bush. Chavez is trying to portray himself as the peacemaker who helped avert a U.S. plan to cause a war among the brother nations of South America. Recent polling, however, suggests that the Venezuelans are increasingly inclined to see Chavez as responsible for the country's difficulties and those polls indicate his popularity is declining. (REFTEL) (END SUMMARY). ¶2. (U) Calling this one of the most dangerous times in Venezuela since April 2002, Andres Izarra called for a directed strategic communications plan targeted at the United States. The proposal, he stated on former Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel's television show, is needed to counter the plans that President Bush's "Chavez envy" has prompted. According to Izarra, the "envy" was allegedly incited by Chavez' successful efforts as a peacemaker during the Rio Summit when Chavez (according to the Venezuelan government) helped diffuse a potential war among his country, Colombia and Ecuador. Chavez' international success forced the U.S. to consider military intervention and the assassination of Chavez, Izarra said. ¶3. (SBU) Izarra said the new "communications battle in North America" should build upon and expand what Venezuela has already done to win over public sentiment in the United States - provide assistance to poor people (Note: such as the reduced heating oil program in Massachusetts and monetary donations in New York City),promote peace, and sponsor concerts of the Youth Orchestra, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. (Note: Last week the Embassy issued performance visas to more than 200 orchestra students so they could perform in a concert in Puerto Rico.) ¶4. (U) In his weekly television show Alo Presidente, Chavez also commented on the United States, calling President Bush a terrorist responsible for genocide. He added the United States was in an economic crisis, which was the fault of President Bush. ¶5. (U) Newspaper ads in the government paper VEA reinforced this message by showing a picture from Iraq with the headline "This is terrorism." A photo underneath that showed Chavez and former FARC hostage Clara Rojas holding babies. The caption read "And this is peace." ¶6. (C) In addition, VEA is promoting an "anti-imperialism" concert sponsored by the government. The ad carried a quote from Chavez stating that "Never again will we be a colony of anyone." The concert will be a part of "Caracas Week" April 13 - 19 (dates that overlap with the Embassy-sponsored U.S. Culture Week). ¶7. (C) COMMENT: After briefly focusing on Colombia, the government of Venezuela has returned again to attacking the United States and President Bush. Chavez is trying to portray himself as the peacemaker who helped avert a U.S. plan to cause a war among the brother nations of South America. Government officials blame the United States for most of Venezuela's problems, from food shortages to bad press, and seek to promote Chavez as a peace-loving barrier to U.S. "imperialism." Recent polling, however, suggests that the Venezuelans are increasingly inclined to see Chavez as responsible for the country's difficulties and his popularity ratings have dropped dramatically in those polls. (REFTEL) DUDDY DUDDY