Oil in Cuba

[WMS]

So...it'd be like Venzuela basically?

I agree with Lunar. Venezuela is one of the largest producers of crude oil, 4th in the world if I believe, and has a very hostile president towards the U.S. in office. If we follow the theory that Iraq was all for oil, than Venzuela should be next on the list. Somehow I doubt we will have forces on the ground there anytime soon.

While i tend to believe the worst of Bush, i agree that he won´t invade Venezuela.
but I don´t think even the worst republican/conservative partisan would call Venezuel an dictatorship.
If there was discovered big quentaty of oil in a HOSTILE dictatorship close to USA in an nonmuslim country, do anybody really think that ANY American adminsteration wouldn´t takes step to bring this strategecal resource under american control?

I can't imagine any serious person not calling Venezuela a dictatorship.

The International Freedom of Expression eXchange agrees with John Ford and Lunar.

As does the U.S. Department of State

and so does the Global Coordinating Committee for Press Freedom Organizations (GCCPFO)

and the Inter-American Press Association

and Reporters Without Borders

even those lefties at Human Rights Watch agree

And that's just talking about the repressive press laws Chavez and company recently put into place...

[WMS]

http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2004/countryratings/venezuela.htm

Political Rights: 3
Civil Liberties: 4
Status:   Partly Free


Venezuela is not a nice place, but it´s not a dictatorship

Those ratings have only been this good because of the resistance to Chavez. Now that Chavez stole bought 'won' the referendum, he's busy attacking anything that might possibly stand in his way. Read those links again - "The amendments extend the scope of existing provisions that make it a criminal offense to insult or show disrespect for the president and other government authorities." - from Human Rights Watch. Hello, what do you think Chavez is doing with these laws if not crushing all dissent?

[WMS]

http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2004/countryratings/venezuela.htm

Political Rights: 3
Civil Liberties: 4
Status:   Partly Free


Venezuela is not a nice place, but it´s not a dictatorship

Those ratings have only been this good because of the resistance to Chavez. Now that Chavez stole bought 'won' the referendum, he's busy attacking anything that might possibly stand in his way. Read those links again - "The amendments extend the scope of existing provisions that make it a criminal offense to insult or show disrespect for the president and other government authorities." - from Human Rights Watch. Hello, what do you think Chavez is doing with these laws if not crushing all dissent?

It´s not the Character of the ruler, who tells us, whetever a country is dictatorship, but the character of the people. While they are rare there have been enlighted dictators (or rather monarchs), but this doesn´t make their countries democrazies, bad and authoritarian democratic rulers doesn´t make a country a dictartorship either.

The trendlines are worrying, and not headed in a good direction. You'll see in the months and years to come...

[WMS]

http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2004/countryratings/venezuela.htm

Political Rights: 3
Civil Liberties: 4
Status:   Partly Free


Venezuela is not a nice place, but it´s not a dictatorship

Those ratings have only been this good because of the resistance to Chavez. Now that Chavez stole bought 'won' the referendum, he's busy attacking anything that might possibly stand in his way. Read those links again - "The amendments extend the scope of existing provisions that make it a criminal offense to insult or show disrespect for the president and other government authorities." - from Human Rights Watch. Hello, what do you think Chavez is doing with these laws if not crushing all dissent?

It´s not the Character of the ruler, who tells us, whetever a country is dictatorship, but the character of the people. While they are rare there have been enlighted dictators (or rather monarchs), but this doesn´t make their countries democrazies, bad and authoritarian democratic rulers doesn´t make a country a dictartorship either.

The trendlines are worrying, and not headed in a good direction. You'll see in the months and years to come...

I tend to agree, but you don´t declare a country a dictatorship, while it´s still a democracy, even if it look like it going to be one.

I called Chavez a Proto-Dictator in the other thread, to adjust for the potentiality of dictatorship.

[WMS]

http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2004/countryratings/venezuela.htm

Political Rights: 3
Civil Liberties: 4
Status:   Partly Free


Venezuela is not a nice place, but it´s not a dictatorship

Those ratings have only been this good because of the resistance to Chavez. Now that Chavez stole bought 'won' the referendum, he's busy attacking anything that might possibly stand in his way. Read those links again - "The amendments extend the scope of existing provisions that make it a criminal offense to insult or show disrespect for the president and other government authorities." - from Human Rights Watch. Hello, what do you think Chavez is doing with these laws if not crushing all dissent?

It´s not the Character of the ruler, who tells us, whetever a country is dictatorship, but the character of the people. While they are rare there have been enlighted dictators (or rather monarchs), but this doesn´t make their countries democrazies, bad and authoritarian democratic rulers doesn´t make a country a dictartorship either.

The trendlines are worrying, and not headed in a good direction. You'll see in the months and years to come...

I tend to agree, but you don´t declare a country a dictatorship, while it´s still a democracy, even if it look like it going to be one.

I called Chavez a Proto-Dictator in the other thread, to adjust for the potentiality of dictatorship.

you are right, he is one worst scumbags in South America

Heck, even Paraguay has gotten better, and if they can improve...