Heard in DC last week. Coleman is a life-long Democrat from NY who switched to the GOP in 1996 and lost to Jesse Ventura in 1998 governors race. He chairs the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, which has taken him on travels to numerous Central and South American destinations, including Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Has apparently not been in VE yet.
If Hugo Chavez can take some time off from dismantling what remains of Venezuelan civic institutions, perhaps he could invite Senator Coleman down for a vist, tour the western frontier with Colombia, meet with some paras and hang out.
-------------------------
OPENING STATEMENT
SENATOR NORM COLEMAN (R-MN)
HEARING ON NOMINATIONS
MAY 18, 2004
I would like to begin by welcoming the distinguished nominees to our
hearing this afternoon. Permit me to begin with a brief opening
statement related to both of your postings.
The unfolding situation in Venezuela represents one of the biggest
challenges in this hemisphere today. Venezuela is a highly polarized
society, under leadership which appears to be doing little to ease the
tension.
Let me be perfectly clear - the political situation in Venezuela is an
internal Venezuelan matter. President Chavez may try to somehow pin all
his misfortunes on the United States, but the reality is that this is a
clash between Venezuelans who support his type of rule, and those who do
not. If anything, ever since the crisis of 2002 - which by the way was
not manufactured by the United States either - the United States has
erred on the side of caution.
Does the United States have an interest in stability in Venezuela?
Absolutely. Venezuela is in our neighborhood. The Western Hemisphere
is by and large a community of peace-loving democracies, and we should
not be content to see a country with a great democratic tradition slip
into an authoritarian grip. We cannot afford to see a bigger exodus of
Venezuelans fleeing their nation. There are some troubling allegations
out there, and America will not tolerate any mischief-making in other
countries in the region, nor any collusion with drug-trafficking
guerrillas. And it goes without saying that Venezuela is a major energy
supplier to the United States - another major disruption there will hurt
average Americans at the gas pump.
But it is Venezuelans themselves who must have the opportunity to
determine the future of their nation. What we in the United States can
do is support - even insist upon - a fair process as guaranteed under
the Venezuelan constitution and as agreed upon by the Chavez government
and the opposition. We in the United States can press the government of
Venezuela to respect universal human rights, such as the right of free
assembly and the right to express one's political views without fear of
retribution. I also believe America can and should take exception when
President Chavez makes hateful remarks about our president or our troops
in Iraq. There are times when words do matter, and this kind of
rhetoric does not solve anything.
Relations between the United States and Venezuela are in a difficult
state. Yet I believe we must continue to work with the Venezuelans
where at all possible to pursue shared goals. We must cooperate on
counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism issues. We must find ways to
work together on issues of importance to the region as a whole, from
trade to energy to stability. And, I reiterate, we must get beyond the
hostile rhetoric coming from Caracas.
Clearly, the post of U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela will require an
incredible amount of diplomatic dexterity. That's why I am glad to see
the Administration putting forward an experienced diplomat like
Ambassador William Brownfield, to be our next Ambassador to Caracas.
A career foreign service officer, Ambassador Brownfield is concluding
his service as our Ambassador to Chile, where he represented our country
through the signing and implementation of a bilateral free trade
agreement, and also a time when Chile was very much on the world's stage
as a member of the U.N. Security Council.
Prior to his post in Santiago, Ambassador Brownfield was Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs from
1999-2002. He has also worked as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, as
executive assistant in the Bureau of Inter-American Affairs, on the
Policy Planning staff, as special assistant to the Undersecretary for
Political Affairs, as a staff officer in the executive secretariat, and
as desk officer for El Salvador.
Ambassador Brownfield's other overseas assignments include counselor for
humanitarian affairs at the U.S. mission to the United Nations in Geneva
from 1995-1998, political advisor in Panama during Operation Just Cause,
political officer in Argentina from 1986-1989, political officer in El
Salvador during the difficult period of 1981-1983, and his first posting
as vice consul at the U.S. Consulate in Maracaibo, Venezuela from
1979-1981.
Ambassador Brownfield is a graduate of Cornell University and University
of Texas Law School. His wife is serving our country as Ambassador to
Ecuador.
This is Troll Bait, Señor Whalen
Submitted May 22, 2004 - 8:29 pm by Al GiordanoWho is writing your copy these days?
I expect broad-sweeping, knowingly false, unsourced, unattributed, bullshit statements like that from the State Department and Wall Street.
I expect better from you.
What "civic institutions" existed in Venezuela, in your opinion, prior to 1998 when Chavez was elected?
And which of them has he "dismantled"?
Here on The Narcosphers, we expect better than that. Authentic Journalism involves backing up your claims. You've fired various such unsubstantiated (and untrue) shots at Venezuela's democratically elected government (it's first ever!) here, and I've asked you to source it. You never respond. You duck, cover, hide, and disappear, and when you think everyone has forgotten, you reappear to repeat these knowingly false claims again. ¡Ya Basta!
Don't be a coward, and don't be dishonest. Back up your claims with facts.