Reuters North American News Service, November 28th, 2007
(Reuters) - Venezuela's anti-U.S. President Hugo
Chavez, who faces a tight referendum vote Sunday to approve
a constitutional overhaul, has often publicly insulted world
leaders, including President Bush.
Venezuela is currently caught up in diplomatic disputes
with Colombia and Spain following verbal confrontations with
those country's leaders.
Here are some of his most inflammatory remarks:
"You are a servile instrument of the North American empire
in Latin America ... that's the truth President Uribe, you are
a trifling pawn of the empire."
November 27, 2007, responding to Colombian President Alvaro
Uribe in a diplomatic flap over Chavez being pushed out of
mediation in talks with Colombia's leftist rebels for a hostage
swap.
- "You all know who Jose Maria Aznar is -- that man is a
fascist ... I think a snake is more human than a fascist."
November 10, 2007 describing the former Spanish prime
minister during a summit meeting in Chile. Spanish King Juan
Carlos responded by telling Chavez to "shut up," opening a
diplomatic spat that risks billions of dollars in investments.
- "The devil came here yesterday. Right here ... it smells
of sulfur still today."
Sept. 20, 2006, referring to Bush during a speech at the
U.N. General Assembly.
- "How sad that the president of a people like the people
of Mexico lets himself become the lapdog of the empire."
November 9, 2005, referring to Mexico's then-President
Vicente Fox and his close ties to Washington. Both nations
withdrew their ambassadors after the statement and did not
restore them for over a year.
- "It seems she dreams of me ... She said she's sad and
depressed over Chavez. Oh boy! She needs to forget about me, I
won't make that sacrifice for the country."
Jan. 19, 2005, giving a chuckling response to criticisms by
Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice of his rule.
- "The lord of war is Donald Rumsfeld, one of the dogs of
the devil. The devil has his dogs and this is one of his
Cerberus dogs."
Oct. 3, 2006, referring to the then-defense secretary as
the three-headed dog in Greek mythology that guarded the
entrance to the underworld.
- "He was an asshole to believe them."
Feb. 29, 2004, accusing Bush of heeding advice from aides
who wanted him to support a 2002 coup against Chavez.
