<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, April 14, 2003 By: Elio Cequea

VHeadline.com reader Elio Cequea writes: When the UN inspectors were in Iraq looking for chemical weapons and weapons of mass destruction, they could not find anything. President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell insisted that the US government "had intelligence reports indicating that Saddam Hussein and his regime had them."

Thus, the war started to "disarm Saddam Hussein and to protect the American people from terrorist attacks." During the war, there was not even one attack with chemicals and the only weapons of mass destruction that we saw were used by the coalition forces "against" Iraq.

• The war is over. Iraqi weapons of mass destruction have not been found yet. The motive for the war now has been changed to "liberate the Iraqi people". Same war, just different motive.

I heard on the radio yesterday that President Bush said at a press conference that he "was confident that weapons will be found." Apparently the intelligence reports given to him and Powell were not complete, and they did not mentioned the location of those weapons. That is why, I guess, the information was never given to the UN inspectors ... either that or he just wanted a good reason to "liberate" Iraq.

I hope, in the name of peace, the reports were incomplete and weapons are found.

On the contrary, and if the US President is the man of principles some people say he is, he should not have trouble finding reasons to "liberate" China, North Korea, Vietnam and Cuba.

If he doesn't try to liberate these countries, it will confirm that the war with Iraq happened just to control the second major oil reserve in the world.

Elio Cequea feico57@aol.com

Forums

The War in Iraq, effects and consequences discuss the role of the United Nations towards an equitable solution for the Iraqi people

Venezuelan Foreign Policy discuss the relative merits of Venezuela's foreign policy and its effects

Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable  right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. --  Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher  Editor@VHeadline.com    © 2003 VHeadline.com All Rights Reserved.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, April 14, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Closing the "Solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution" conference, President Hugo Chavez Frias says the event has become a world summit. "In the last four years I have been  to so many world summits and emerged disappointed from almost of all them ... there is a crisis in world summit systems ... there is a world political crisis ... we must return to political leadership." 

• President Chavez Frias also addressed a well-attended political rally of supporters hailing the first anniversary of the return to democracy.

Chavez Frias told his supporters that the Bolivarian Revolution had broken the circle of international isolation and that it would be difficult for opposition domestic media to pull wool over people's eyes. 

Forums

Referendum 2003 discuss the pros and cons of a revocatory referendum

President Hugo Chavez Frias express your opinions on the Presidency of Hugo Chavez Frias and his Bolivarian Revolution

Bolivarian Circles Are Bolivarian Circles a Venezuelan form of Neighborhood Watch Committees or violent hordes of pro-Chavez thugs?

Venezuela's Opposition What is it? Is a force to be reckoned with or in complete disarray?

Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable  right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. --  Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher  Editor@VHeadline.com

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, April 14, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The famous Chacao Palm-Collectors (Palmeros)  have ushered in Caracas Holy Week religious ceremonies delivering palms to Caracas churches. 137 members of the organization spent 48 hours in the Avila hills cutting a total 500 palm trees in compliance with stricter Environment & Renewable Resources (MARNR) regulations. 

The palms were carried in procession and blessed at the San Jose de Chacao Church during the traditional Palm Sunday religious service. 

The palm-collecting tradition started 235 years ago and the Palmeros have become a religious confraternity led by Palmero Mayor Ramon Delgado. 

Mayor Leopoldo Lopez attended the coming down and put on the traditional a musical festival to accompany the Palmeros to church. The procession stopped at the barrio where most members live to render homage to deceased members.

Forums

Lifestyle Venezuela

Out and about in Caracas tells us everything we should know about Venezuela's nightlife and youth culture

Beautiful Venezuela

Tourism in Venezuela discuss everything to do with tourism in Venezuela, give recommendations, roses and brickbats

Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable  right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. --  Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher  Editor@VHeadline.com

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, April 14, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

In his weekly column, Lt. Colonel (ret.) Francisco Arias Cardenas proclaims that it is time for the opposition to think about presidential candidates. 

"If we aren't on the threshold, then we are just a few steps away ... I am the candidate but for what? That is the question."

Comparing the current discussion to a group of drunks fighting for an empty bottle, Arias Cardenas suggests that the opposition must decide on one candidate rather than remaining with the empty bottle. 

"If it is true that the 21st century marks the end of military and civilian warlords of every ilk, then let us start by agreeing on what has to be done."  

Former seminarian Arias Cardenas concludes that the " recall apostolate" is the candidate and leaves readers and opposition colleagues to play the guessing game about what he means exactly ... "once we answer the call, it remains to be seen whether the Venezuelan people will allow us to return to the fiesta." 

Commenting on the piece,  one political analyst suggests that the Lt. Colonel has taken the political initiative and is attempting to force the issue seeing that the days are whizzing by and the opposition is happily complacent, complaining that President Chavez Frias wants to avoid or delay the referendum without seeking concrete solutions.  Arias Cardenas says it's not good enough ... he wants to break the spell and the aggressive title of the piece, "I am the candidate" suggests that he is launching his candidacy.

Forums

Referendum 2003 discuss the pros and cons of a revocatory referendum

President Hugo Chavez Frias express your opinions on the Presidency of Hugo Chavez Frias and his Bolivarian Revolution

Bolivarian Circles Are Bolivarian Circles a Venezuelan form of Neighborhood Watch Committees or violent hordes of pro-Chavez thugs?

Venezuela's Opposition What is it? Is a force to be reckoned with or in complete disarray?

Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable  right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. --  Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher  Editor@VHeadline.com

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, April 14, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Sociologist James Petras says he believes President Hugo Chavez Frias has been far too lenient with opponents attempting to topple him. The US anti-globalization guru claims that the US government had a "semi-clandestine intervention" leading up to and during the April 11 coup attempt. 

US declarations the day after the coup, Petras claims, indicate that the US government had prior knowledge and approved. 

"Ambassador Charles Shapiro has a history of counter-insurgency operations in Central America with the Nicaraguan Contras ... the USA has specialists in weakening and destabilizing governments." 

If President Chavez Frias wants to stay in power, Petras maintains,  he will have to be tougher with conspirators, who receive funds and act in function of foreign countries. 

In a surprise statement Petrash is of the opinion that Chavez Frias is safe from Washington's fury for the following reasons:

• He has won more elections than any other President and therefore, it's impossible to demonize him
• He hasn't killed opponents
• He has relations with everybody, including the USA.

Speaking on press freedoms, Petras says that if there are OTT elements in the street calling to overthrow the government, it isn't the media's role to incite them to destroy the government ... and if the media go ahead, then " they should not expect the government to respond in a democratic fashion."

Discuss, comment and express at Vheadlines Forums:

Referendum 2003 discuss the pros and cons of a revocatory referendum

President Hugo Chavez Frias express your opinions on the Presidency of Hugo Chavez Frias and his Bolivarian Revolution

Bolivarian Circles Are Bolivarian Circles a Venezuelan form of Neighborhood Watch Committees or violent hordes of pro-Chavez thugs?

Venezuela's Opposition What is it? Is a force to be reckoned with or in complete disarray?

Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable  right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. --  Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher  Editor@VHeadline.com