CHAVEZ SHARPLY CRITICIZES NEW U.S. PRESIDENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000077

SIPDIS

USSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2029
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ SHARPLY CRITICIZES NEW U.S. PRESIDENT

REF: 08CARACAS1556

Classified By: Political Counselor Francsico Fernandez,
Reason 1.4 (D)


1. (C) Summary: President Chavez aggressively responded to
remarks made by then President-Elect Obama during a recent
interview with Mexico-based Univision TV in which Obama
reportedly criticized the Venezuelan President. Chavez
accused Obama of having the "same stench" as former President
Bush, of exporting terrorism, and of aiding purported
coup-plotters among the Venezuelan opposition. Chavez's
remarks come less than a month before his controversial
February 15 referendum on removing term limits for elected
officials. His public remarks appear to have been aimed at
his domestic audience and predate the Foreign Minister's
Chief of Staff calling in the Charge January 19 to discuss
improving bilateral relations (Septel). End Summary.


2. (SBU) Chavez responded sharply to a 13-minute, two-part
interview granted by then President-Elect Obama to the
Spanish-language Univision television network that aired
January 13 and 18. Obama criticized the Venezuelan President
as "a force that has interrupted progress in the region" and
said support for the terrorist groups in Colombia is
"unacceptable." Chavez publicly retorted that Obama "has the
same stench" as former President Bush and that "no one should
say that I threw the first stone at Obama. He threw it at
me." Chavez nevertheless added that "there is still time"
for Obama to correct his views.


3. (SBU) In a January 18 speech to supporters in Caracas,
Chavez contended that "(Obama) said I'm an obstacle for
progress in Latin America. Therefore, it must be removed,
this obstacle, right?" He added that if the new American
president "doesn't obey the orders of the empire, they'll
kill him." He asked rhetorically, "Haven't you realized the
terrible damage the United States has done to this continent?
If there is a country that exports terrorist activities in
this continent, it is yours, Obama." Chavez also labeled
Obama an ally of the Venezuelan opposition, claiming he is
"trying to give oxygen to the wannabe Yankees here" who
allegedly seek to topple his government.


3. (C) Comment: President Chavez typically overreacts to
any perceived public criticism, particularly from the United
States. Moreover, he frequently picks fights with foreign
leaders to try to attract international media attention as
well as to distract domestic attention from pressing problems
in Venezuela. His most recent criticism of the new American
President appears principally aimed at rallying his base in
the run-up to his February 15 referendum on eliminating term
limits. Chavez is trying -- again-- to frame the upcoming
domestic election as a contest between the United States
("the empire") and his Bolivarian revolution. Interestingly,
the Foreign Minister's Chief of Staff called in the Charge
January 19, after Chavez's remarks, to pledge privately to
improve bilateral diplomatic relations. End Comment.
CAULFIELD