CHAVEZ CHALLENGES PRESIDENT OBAMA TO PROVE USG

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000888

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2029
TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ CHALLENGES PRESIDENT OBAMA TO PROVE USG
WASN'T INVOLVED IN HONDURAN COUP

REF: CARACAS 00858

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Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ, FOR REASON 1.4(
D)


1. (C) Summary: In an eight-hour "Alo, Presidente" TV and
radio broadcast July 12, President Chavez rained criticisms
on the US Government, challenging President Obama to withdraw
US troops from the joint US-Honduran Palmerola military base
to "prove" the US was not involved in the Honduran coup. He
alleged that other USG elements, including the State
Department and CIA, are directing "imperialist" actions in
the region, but allowed that President Obama might not be
involved. Chavez also blasted Secretary Clinton's July 7
interview with Globovision (reftel) and suggested that
elements within the Honduran military were preparing to act
against Micheletti's interim government in Tegucigalpa --
apparently a hopeful parallel to his own restoration to power
by the Venezuelan military during the 2002 coup. End
Summary.

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CHAVEZ: "PROVE IT, OBAMA"
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2. (SBU) On his weekly "Alo, Presidente" TV and radio
broadcast July 12 from Aragua State, which lasted about eight
hours, Chavez asked President Obama to withdraw US soldiers
from the military base in Palmerola, Honduras. (Note:
Palmerola is commonly known as Soto Cano and is the home of
Joint Taskforce Bravo under US Southern Command. End Note.)
Chavez asserted that "if the government of the United States
truly did not support the coup, they would have removed all
of their military forces from their base in Palmerola. Do
it, Obama, with that you will be demonstrating that you are
not supporting that coup." He added that President Obama is
in "the hour of proof" and asked that he "freeze the accounts
and properties of (the coupists) in the United States...
because they are breathing the empire's oxygen." Chavez
claimed that the US President wants to portray himself as a
"little lamb" and a "pacifist," but pledged that "he won't
fool the world... with a little speech, a smile" and that he
must "confront the hawks (or) he is going to end up worse
than Bush."


3. (SBU) Chavez went on to criticize the Secretary's July 7
interview with the opposition-oriented Globovision television
station. He reminded his audience that President Obama had
promised him during the April 2009 Summit of the Americas in
Port of Spain that the United States would not interfere in
Venezuela and questioned rhetorically "what was that the
Secretary of State did regarding pronouncements over internal
things in Venezuela?" Chavez also defended his July 10 phone
call with WHA A/S Shannon noting that "I am obligated to
alert the yanqui empire," contending that "the changes in
Latin America will not stop, not even if Obama sends the
sixth fleet." He asserted that "the empire" was giving
orders, not Obama, which includes "the CIA, the Department of
State, the Pentagon, the yanqui military, and Ambassadors."

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CALLING HONDURAN MILITARY TO ARMS
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4. (SBU) Chavez labeled the interim Honduran government "a
disguised dictatorship" and criticized the arrests in
Tegucigalpa of journalists from Venezuelan state-owned
channel eight and Telesur TV. He noted that "this dawn, in a
cowardly manner, the government of 'Gorrileti' ordered the
detention of the journalists... and afterwards released them,
but now they are not permitted to leave their hotel." He
suggested a comparison between "the tragedy that Honduras is
currently living in with the liberty that we have here."
Chavez added that the right-wing in Latin America has used
the "ghost of Chavismo" to justify their actions in countries
like Honduras and the United States. He warned that Honduras
is on the verge of a popular "explosion" and that he had
talked with unnamed Honduran military officials who have
allegedly noted their opposition to Micheletti and that a
"current of military patriotism" would soon emerge,
presumably to act against the interim government.

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COMMENT
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5. (C) Chavez again appears to be drawing parallels between

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the Honduras coup and the failed Venezuelan coup in 2002,
even suggesting that elements within the Honduran military
might be willing to overthrow the Micheletti regime. In
Venezuela, it was a counter-coup within the military that
restored Chavez to power after 48 hours. His inflammatory
statements against President Obama appear to indicate
frustration over the Secretary's Globovision interview and
Chavez's personal marginalization regarding the Honduran
crisis, which is currently being negotiated by Costa Rican
President Oscar Arias in San Jose. Chavez's attacks against
Palmerola are aimed at stirring up images and fears from the
past, when many in the region saw the base as a symbol of US
covert activities against leftist, anti-US regimes. End
Comment.
CAULFIELD