Untitled Document
CARACAS, July 21 (PL)—Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has warned
the United States that he will send a resounding response if it begins anti-Venezuelan
radio and TV broadcasts, and that he will continue to deepen the Revolution.
In a telephone interview with Venezolana de Televisión, Chávez
affirmed that if the U.S. government continues with an initiative approved by
the House of Representatives, Venezuela will have to respond.
That proposal would allow the U.S. government to transmit radio and television
signals to that South American country with the aim of counteracting Telesur’s
messages.
"The time when we stayed quiet is over; we used to fall back and turn
the other cheek, as Christ said. After the coup d’état in April
of 2002, both of our cheeks turned purple," the Venezuelan leader said.
"Our government must respond (...) If the U.S. government dares to take
any action, whatever it may be – for example, if it issues very powerful
signals – well, then, there will be electronic warfare," he stated.
It remains to be seen how far it is willing to go; it will regret it, because
the response will be more powerful than their action, and will generate more
awareness in Latin America, he affirmed.
The Venezuelan president emphasized that any large-scale aggression of that
type would once again demonstrate that the United States is a giant who steps
on others, does not respect freedom of expression and supports terrorists.
In Chávez’ opinion, the electronic aggression against Venezuela
would remove imperialism’s mask and reveal it "in all its ugliness,
before our entire people."
Both the president of Venezuela and his minister of information, Andrés
Izarra, attributed the new attack to the fact that Telesur – which has
yet to begin broadcasting – is "touching sore spots" and has
the United States and its interests very much concerned.
Izarra, for his part, commented that the threat is not an isolated attack;
rather, it is part of a "renewed wave of political actions against Venezuela."
In that respect, he recalled, among other cases, that U.S. Congresswoman Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen is promoting another resolution in Congress against Venezuela.
He explained that Congresswoman Connie Mack of Florida, who proposed the initiative,
gave political support to Cuban-born terrorist Orlando Bosch, who was pardoned
by President George Bush senior.
Bosch is responsible for countless terrorist attacks against Cuba, including
the sabotage of a civilian passenger plane in 1976 that killed 73 people.
"Mack talks like an imperialist who does not tolerate liberty or democracy.
That is how people talk behind the logic of invading Iraq. We are resolved to
be free," Izarra warned.
Likewise, Telesur’s general director, Aram Aharonian, reiterated that
the channel’s signal will go on the air on July 24, as planned, without
accepting any type of censoring.
