BREAKING: US detains Venezuela [Foreign] minister

[arcos]

US detains Venezuela minister
From correspondents in Caracas
September 24, 2006

VENEZUELA said overnight its foreign minister, Nicolas Maduro, was detained at a New York airport and stripped of his travel documents and airplane ticket.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Maduro was detained for allegedly taking part in a failed coup attempt in Venezuela on February 4, 1992, that Mr Chavez had led against then-president Carlos Andres Perez.

But Mr Chavez said Mr Maduro was not involved in the coup.

"Apparently he is on a list for February 4," Mr Chavez said on Venezuelan television. "But he was not in the rebellion."

Mr Maduro, who attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, said in a telephone interview with Venezuelan television that "the situation got worse" when he identified himself as Venezuela's chief diplomat.

<snip>

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20467771-1702,00.html

[bigworld]

1. from BBC:

Venezuela has accused US officials of stopping its foreign minister and stripping him of his travel documents after he visited the UN.

President Hugo Chavez said that the minister, Nicolas Maduro, had been questioned about his alleged role in a failed Venezuelan coup attempt in 1992.

"That is absolutely false - he didn't even participate," Mr Chavez, who led the abortive coup, added.

No US comment on the Venezuelan reports was immediately available.

[brook]

6. Why is this *'s business?

If Maduro had been involved -that'd be a score for Chavez to settle.

OTH,could be KKKarl was trying to get his money back -(that is, if Maduro was a participant). Just sayin'.

[tritsofme]

7. This is about the failed 1992 coup that Chavez led

Not the one against Chavez a few years ago.

I still don't know how this affects the US.

[elehhhhna]

37. it makes us look like a punk bitch country with a punk bitch president

which is exactly what we have become.

[skids]

9. Wrong coup...

...this was a pro-Chavez coup attempt, not the later coup attempt against Chavez.

People involved in that coup attempt against a democratically elected leader of a sovereign nation are likely free to come and go as they please. I bet the CIA even gives them a free lift from time to time. But the other coup attempt, well we can't ever forget that now can we? :eyes:

[flordehinojos]

21. did you not know that (1) bush rules. (2) if ever a man had no sense of

boundaries, bush is it, as are all the bushes. (3) maduro is none of bush's business but neither was iraq, neither is iran, and what is his business, establishing talks with those who have a different voice and a different opinion bush is not doing, just like he was not paying attention to his business in 2001.

george POM POM w. bush is crap, or the devil as hugo chavez called him.

[Tellurian]

17. Retribution??? A little more info..

from: http://www.rawstory.com

Maduro said that when he explained that he was the Venezuelan foreign minister and showed his diplomatic passport, he said he was threatened, pushed and yelled at by immigration and police officials.

"They were violating diplomatic conventions," he said.

Maduro told Venezuela private TV station Globovision separately that U.S. authorities said a code on his airplane ticket identified him as "almost a terrorist."

"This is an outrageous incident, repudiable from all points of view and unacceptable," Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said, adding Venezuela would protest to the U.S. government.

In 1992, Chavez, then a lieutenant colonel in the army, led a failed uprising aimed at ousting then-President Carlos Andres Perez.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

23. There's an AIRPLANE TICKET CODE for "almost a terrorist"?

:wtf:

[BrotherBuzz]

26. The late great Ann Richards sorta fit that category

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LA1dfHqLTc

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

53. "My crotch set off the wand."

RIP.

[Occulus]

75. I bet it was the no-fly list.

That could be considered being "almost a terrorist", for flight purposes.

[flamingyouth]

2. Link:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060923/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_us

[pitohui]

3. uh oh let me guess

online poker?

:-)

[pooja]

4. oh, was lord pissy pants mad about the devil comment? n/t

[xchrom]

5. of course they did -- bush is nothing if not petulant,

abusive, and capable of the most childish tantrums.

[JerseygirlCT]

8. Hold up -- I'm confused

if he's suspected of participating in a Venezualan coup attempt, what the hell are we stopping him for here? Wouldn't that be a Venezualan matter? Or ours if they asked for extradition?

[htuttle]

10. For allegedly participating in a coup attempt -- two presidents ago?

In Venezuela? So WE arrest him? Even though he's a diplomat?????

And yet fucking Orlando Bosch still runs free (and Posada soon will be), for blowing up an airliner, killing all aboard?!???

This is the most fucked up thing I've ever heard...today.

[elehhhhna]

39. Then you haven't heard of the talibani who's on scholarship to f-ing YALE

http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110008127&mod=RSS_Opinion_Journal&ojrss=frontpage

[lonestarnot]

63. Wow I had not heard about him.

[Auntie Bush]

115. Have you sent that article to Bill OLielly?

He could have a good hissy fit over that!

[grasswire]

42. thanks for remembering Orlando Bosch

But of course George Herbert Walker Bush PAROLED Bosch, against the strict recommendation of the INS. It was a deal. Bosch was released, and a whole lotta votes were traded for it.

Goddam grifters, they are.

[ShaneGR]

11. Chavez led a coup attempt in 1992?

But... but... I thought Chavez was Mr. Democracy.

[LynnTheDem]

13. The Founding Fathers did WHAT???

[silverweb]

25. Bullseye!

:7

[tabasco]

40. Haha! Good one.

Funny how revolution has become a dirty word.

[Gregorian]

58. Damn.

I want to savor that. Like a bright light in a dank dark time.

Revolution. It sounds so dirty now. Those people sacrificed for US. So WE could have lives.

[leftchick]

87. LOL!

Spot on Lynn! As usual!

:)

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

118. Are you seriously equating...

...the overthrow of a autocratic regime with the overthrow of a democratic (albeit very flawed) one? Please tell me you aren't.

[ButterflyBlood]

126. let's see, overthrew an aristocratic monarchy's rule

Not carry out a coup against a democratically elected government to replace it with a military regime.

[Zhade]

127. You powned his ass.

Wow. Perfect response!

[Judi Lynn]

35. Against a whore who was later impeached for massive corruption,

but who had, by the time of the coup attempt(S), demanded that his state police fire into crowds of demonstrating poor people in Caracas, killing tons of them.

Attempts at wit fail to seem intelligent here.

[1932]

60. He called it off "por ahora" formed a political party and won election

after election. Che and the Marxist-Leninists would not be impressed.

[bitchkitty]

97. Deliberately misleading -

he led a coup attempt against a corrupt government. He has since then been elected six times.

[Tyo]

12. There's a piece on Raw Story about it n/t

[kenny blankenship]

14. Is this an act of war?

[htuttle]

16. You know, I'm thinking it is

Diplomatic immunity as a principle goes back, what, a few thousand years? It was probably instituted just shortly after the concept of a 'white flag for parlay' came about.

I don't see under what possible law they can be holding him.

[Seabiscuit]

93. Aw, you know, *....

will probably claim authority under "inherent powers of commander in chief" or something. Wait... the Supreme Court just said such powers don't exist.

[951-Riverside]

15. I wonder who is behind this, Pelosi or Rangel?

:mad:

"You don't come into my country; you don't come into my congressional district and you don't condemn my president" - Rep. Charles Rangel

"Hugo Chavez fancies himself a modern day Simon Bolivar but all he is an everyday thug," - Nancy Pelos

[scarletwoman]

46. Don't be effing ridiculous. Do Dem congresspersons run the INS?

It was one of the Buhsolini crew -- like, say... John Bolton.

[annabanana]

47. Sure. Those Democrats are just drunk with power....

jeez :eyes:

[951-Riverside]

62. No these two like liberman are just madly in love with pResident Bush

[TankLV]

102. Whoa - now let's be reasonable...I must respectfully disagree with you...

and I can understand how justifiably angry you feel right now, but...

These two are allowed to make an OCCASIONAL mistake, unlike others personified by LIE-berman, who occasionally makes some sense (but for the life of me I can't think of what in the past 6 plus years).

Rangle and Pelosi are good people.

I would hardly consider them "in love with..."

But I wish, I fervently hope and pray, that when the urge comes accross these persons' brains, that they just SHUT THE FUCK UP instead of EVER giving a COMPLIMENT to bunkerboy or ANY repuke.

I believe that Rangle and Pelosi are just too "gentlemanly/ladylike" to be as partisan and forceful as we would want them to be...

[drm604]

18. This is freaking unbelievable!

It doesn't matter what he did, the man is a diplomat and thus has immunity under international agreements. Bush seems to be determined to destroy all standards of international conduct. If we do this, then what's to stop other countries from arresting our diplomats for whatever reasons they choose? I can't believe what these people are doing to our country and our world! :cry:

[Tellurian]

22. So, what would be the penalty for a country detaining a diplomat

in violation of International Law?

This could turn out to be the 'straw that breaks the camels back!'

[Recursion]

45. Our ambassadors lose accreditation

Which sounds extreme but if this story has legs it could happen. Maybe the UN would move to Geneva, too. That seems doubtful though.

[drm604]

50. Not all that doubtful.

If you were a foreign ambassador to the UN, would you want to stay in this country now? Hell, for all you know you could be "renditioned".

We could potentially see a mass exodus from this country of ambassadors to both the UN and the USA.

[Tellurian]

68. Mass Exodus of Ambassadors?

It's a start...Then it might be incumbent on the World Court
to sanction the US?

[lonestarnot]

65. War.

[northzax]

114. well, it all depends on a lot of things

was he here on an official visit? diplomatic passports only convey protection if you register yourself with the Department of State upon arrival (it's a pure formality, every country demands it) I have no idea about this situation, but if you are not on official business, then you don't have diplomatic immunity, no matter who you are.

[Tellurian]

121. Thanx...n/t

[Tyo]

30. Sad to say

It's totally believable and totally in character.

[drm604]

49. Yes of course it's believable, considering who's in charge.

I was speaking rhetorically. But there is still a part of me that finds it unbelievable that they would want to tear down the whole system of international relations in this manner. But then that's what they've been doing all along isn't it? :cry:

And it's so BLATANTLY obvious to any objective observer that they do these things to countries that have OIL! How can anyone not see that at this point? It's not about religion. It's not about ethnicity. It's not even really about socialism versus capitolism (we love the Chinese!) It's about oil. :banghead:

How can Congress put up with this shit! Don't they care at all about the country? :argh:

[Tyo]

54. No man, they don't care about this country

Can you friggin believe that America would have ever come to this dark place?

[drm604]

76. I never believed it would.

But I guess I should have, considering the dark places it's been in the past.

[JohnyCanuck]

33. That's probably exactly what the fuckers want.....

Venezuela to retaliate by arresting a US diplomat.

It's a given the media whores would completely play down or ignore which side was the first to start arresting diplomats, and before you know it, Busholini will be massively cheered on by the media whores, freepers and propagandized dumb-fucks (who pick up what little current events they do get from the bought and paid for whores of the corporate mainstream media) as Venezuelan leaders are painted as completely irrational and impossible to deal with using normal diplomatic channels and procedures therefore leaving the Jesus loving Bushitler no alternative but to bomb them back to the stone age and take over their oil fields.

The really sad part is that I am convinced a large percentage of Americans would swallow it all without a second thought even after the fiasco of Iraq.

[kestrel91316]

56. What they are trying to do, IMHO, is provoke an international

incident and maybe get us into armed conflict so we can invade Venezuela and overthrow Chavez.

Perfectly predictable from Bush.

[Dr.Phool]

19. Chavez embarrassed El Chimpo Diablo

And El Chimpo Diablo proves just what a childish, vindictive embarrassment he is.

[lonestarnot]

66. El Chimpo Rojo Diablo Bushitler.

[Whoa_Nelly]

20. Re: Chevez UN speech--WH: No comnent. The detainment is the real response

Mould seem this is the payback for dissing a chimp.

[Garbo 2004]

24. If the US wants to claim jurisdiction in this matter then it should be

prepared for current and former US gov't officials to be detained by other gov'ts for similar non-jurisdictional reasons. (IF the report is accurate, of course.) That would be interesting. Henry K., for just one example, could be regarded as a state sponsored terrorist by many nations, if they chose to do so.

[Tyo]

27. This might not be a bad thing

NeoCons and knee-jerk over-the-top Conservatives are starting to overreach. They are petty, immature, they don't know much about how the world works, and in a lot of ways they are just plain stupid.

We know that this will probably get very little press here in the US, but outside especially in Latin America it'll be totally newsworthy.

[libhill]

28. So, uh

what happened to Diplomatic Immunity?

[aquart]

29. How predictably petty.

There is no road too low for George to take.

[Karenina]

31. And the story comes through the Aussie press...

the link is prolly OVERWHELMED, I cant get it to load... NOT GOOD.

[kitty1]

32. The beginning of the GOP revenge....

[RethugAssKicker]

34. WHAT ????... Boy are they reaching....

What BS....

Lets see how far this goes !

[Straight Shooter]

36. Well, looks like Chavez just proved his case.

bush is El Diablo Pissypants.

[ShortnFiery]

96. The Metaphor proved quite apt indeed.

But don't hold your breath for the FOX Gestapo Network to realize that Chavez has a VALID Point. :eyes:

Believe it or not, ladies and gentlemen of the USA, the rest of The World considers US, due to Dear Leader and his Ghouls - THE DEVIL - we are considered The MOST Corrupt and Evil nation in the world. And I'm saddened to claim, with good cause. :wow:

May the Good Lord save us from our Evil and Co-Dependent (complicit) Leaders. :cry: :(

I do support Democratic Representatives and I will vote a Democratic Ticket, however, if Our Democratic Senators do not Filibuster this EVIL TORTURE BILL, I will donate what I can to any DEMOCRAT who runs AGAINST THEM in their next Primary. This bill along with that addressing warrantless wiretapping will decide whether we live in a Democratic Republic or a Police State. Our Democratic Senators should know that we are disgusted with their lack of courage and if they follow through to allow this bill to slip through, they will pay a high price for their betrayal of Their Constituents. :grr:

That, my dear fellow Democrats, is the only way to eventually wash out those too frightened and too complicit in The High Crimes and Misdemeanors. Those who place THEIR welfare above those of THEIR Constituents.

We must vote in Democrats who care about The People first and NOT those whose only concern is about their continued tenure in The Congress. Their careers are placed ABOVE our liberties and financial support of OUR Government, i.e., use our tax dollars wisely and NOT on war profiteering. :grr:

[niallmac]

38. I guess we will soon be arresting our CIA officers etc.

If messing with South American governments is the crime we
are currently prosecuting. Talk about glass houses. Put down
the stones boys.

[many a good man]

41. Showed up late without a ticket

U.S. authorities detain Venezuelan foreign minister at airport

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuela's foreign minister was detained by U.S. authorities at a New York City airport for more than hour Saturday as he tried to return to the South American country, President Hugo Chavez announced on TV.

Chavez told government broadcasters U.S. officials held Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro for alleged links to a 1992 failed coup in Venezuela.
But a UN diplomat said Maduro's passage was delayed at John F. Kennedy International Airport because he showed up late without a ticket.

The diplomat, who spoke condition of anonymity, said under U.S. government regulations, anyone who shows up late and buys a ticket in cash has to be put through secondary screening at the airport.

http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/news/shownews.jsp?content=w092377A

Even diplomats???

[TankLV]

103. No, silly, just DEMOCRATS like Kennedy and diplomats from non-poodle

countries that DARE criticize our NAZI family leadership...

[Recursion]

43. *jaw drops to the floor*

Umm... isn't that... well... technically an act of war on our part?

[KingFlorez]

44. This is frightening

This is the kind of thing they do in totalitarian countries, this should not be happening here.

[ShortnFiery]

48. For those of you who have been sleeping ...

Welcome to The Machine. :evilgrin:

[appleannie1]

51. He is an

'almost terrorist' so we let him into the country. Let him wander all over NYC and then detain him when he is LEAVING even though he has a diplomatic passport? WTF is that? Maybe Chevez's comments came too close to home for someone.

[Zorra]

52. An unidentified immigration official is rumored to have later said,

"The devil made me do it."

[Gregorian]

59. Here come da judge!

Oh no. I just realized the double meaning in that. Stay tuned...Someone has some explaining to do.

[lumberjack_jeff]

55. Why would the UN set up shop in such a totalitarian country?

Oh, it wasn't always so, was it?

[Ilsa]

57. Tomorrow, I'm going to fill my tank at CITGO before the rednecks

around here bomb it, thinking it is Chavez's company. FUX News had some anti-CITGO stuff on today (the tv's at Sears were tuned to that station while I was there) and they were talking about how to put it to Chavez, not bothering to mention how many US citizens would be put out of work and Chavez would just sell to China.

[NotGivingUp]

92. msnbc did their anti-citgo dance yesterday

[Porcupine]

61. Chavez could just "detain" a few oil tankers.

Because unfourtunately they have had reports that they were being used to smuggle drugs. They could just refuse to let U.S. bound tankers leave for a week while "calibrating equipment."

Now this would only make Bush's cronies richer but if it was done at the right time it could make Chavez's cronies richer also. It would totally ream the rest of us.

We are in no position to play tit for tat.

[Rose Siding]

64. Report: US Apologizes for detaining Maduro

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela's foreign minister was detained at a New York airport on Saturday, prompting an apology from the U.S. government and compounding already tense relations between the two countries.
In New York, State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said the United States regretted the incident involving Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro at John F. Kennedy airport.

"The United States government apologized to Foreign Minister Maduro and the Venezuelan government," said Gallegos.
...
"This is a provocation from Mr. Devil," Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told Venezuelan state television, using a name he called President Bush at the U.N. General Assembly this week.

http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=13579959&src=rss/ElectionCoverage

[lonestarnot]

69. Senor Rojo Diablo Bushitler.

[Tellurian]

71. HUGO Does STANDUP!

Rangel and Pelosi wanted respect...

"Mr.Devil"

:rofl:

[peacebuzzard]

90. Detained for an hour and a half..guessing they held the flight, also

it is hard to decipher the truth from the media but I concluded that the adrenaline-pumped TSA initiated the search and detention. Ooops.....now, diplomatic security had to rush to the scene. I wonder if the Foreign Minister's international documents were returned without incident. Seems so, from this one link because either he could leave on the flight or return to NYC, which is what he did.

It will be my guess that Venezuela may just reciprocate procedures for visiting US citizens. (ala Brazil, who in past procedures fingerprinted and detained U.S. citizens for a length of time to input in a data base)

[confludemocrat]

67. Will idiot Pelosi now call those who illegally detained a diplomat thugs?

meaning the administration, who we all know are thugs

so who are the thugs here (from the ABC News site)

" Maduro told CNN en Espanol that he was confined to a small room and told to remove his clothes. He charged that when he showed his diplomatic passport, he says he was threatened, pushed and yelled at by immigration and police officials."

[lonestarnot]

70. LOL. Her president wouldn't like that.

[TankLV]

104. Naw - she wouldn't want to OFFEND their sensibilities.

Just like her fellow "democrat" LIE-berman - who RUSHES to LOUDLY and PROMINENTLY criticize OTHER DEMS, but has remained conspicuously SILENT and ABSENT from ANY PUBLICTY when the occasion arises (daily, hourly) to justly DARE criticize the LIAR and WAR CRMINAL and his fellow REPUKES who currently CONTROL EVERTHING!

[vietnam_war_vet]

72. Starting in 2009, What goes around, come around for Bush & Co.

My wife and I have discussed this possibility....after Bush
leaves office and despite his permanent Secret Service
assignmnent, he and key members of his criminal administration
will either have to restrict their overseas travels or risk
being detained themselves and sent to The Hague (World Court)
to be tried for war crimes.

Having to be constantly looking over their shoulders and being
paranoid concerning where they travel would be a good start as
far as appropriate karma for the Bush cabal.  

[arcos]

73. I don't think Bush is interested in leaving the US, even for a vacation...

Why bother going to other inferior countries?

:sarcasm:

[ima_sinnic]

85. but what about his massive "palace," the embassy in Iraq?

that is akin to the pyramidical tombs of the pharaohs.
I kind of thought he had visions of retiring in splendor there, with belly dancers, palm-frond wavers, and girls feeding him grapes while he reclined on silken pillows. little s**t-stain better watch his @$$, those grapes could be, er, "tainted," if you catch my drift ;)

[arcos]

119. LOL!

And don't forget the oil fountains... and probably even blood fountains.

[TankLV]

105. How can a person who picked CRAWFORD PIG FARM for his "retreat"

be possibly interested in the beauty the world has to offer?!

[arcos]

120. Exactly nt

[peacebuzzard]

91. I don't think El Diablo has prior extensive international experience

or ever will.

Welcome to DU!!!:hi: :hi:

[LiberalFighter]

123. Has his daddy been out of the country much since he left office?

[Show_Me _The_Truth]

74. No the "act of war" many harp about. His own fault.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The U.S. State Department apologized Saturday for the brief detention of Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro by airport security in New York, but a senior White House official said Maduro brought it on himself.

Maduro was detained and released at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport after a run-in with security personnel, the foreign minister said.

"The State Department regrets this incident. The United States government apologized to Foreign Minister Maduro and the Venezuelan government," said State Department spokesman Gonzo Gallegos.

---snip--

A senior White House official said airport officials did not know who Maduro was. The Venezuelan government never made arrangements through State Department Diplomatic Security, which is customary when a high-ranking foreign official is traveling, the official said.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/09/23/fm.detained/index.html

Blown out of proportion by a demagogue like Chavez. Had nothing to do with any coup attempt.

ANYONE who buys a ticket a half hour before a flight with cash, is going to get the magic SSSSS code on their boarding pass, which means that you get additional screening.

He did not make arrangements as a diplomat prior to arriving at the airport as is customary and necessary to make sure they know he is coming. Instead it was a random family buying international tickets half an hour before the flight with large amounts of cash.

[peacebuzzard]

94. YUP! TSA initiated without properly checking docs on the Foreign Minister

great Homeland Security we have.
Now comes the backlash.

[TankLV]

107. You people amaze me - still trying to spin this to bunkerboy's favor again

simply amazing...

[Show_Me _The_Truth]

111. How are the facts trying to spin it?

1) The Venezuelan embassy DID NOT notify anyone at JFK that the Foreign Minister was travelling through JFK
2) An international ticket was purchased with large amounts of cash half an hour before the flight, which automatically gets the SSSSS code on the boarding pass (or whatever it is now)
3) The person refused a secondary screening as required by the SSSS code.
4) The person grabbed for their belongings when told not to and then began using the cell phone when in a security area (both a no no)

Which of the above says this guy is okay, let him go through the line no problem?

How is a low-level security screener at JFK supposed to know what diplomatic credentials look like? That is why they have escorts for these people as they make their way through the airports, and these are provided upon request through the proper channels at with proper notification.

And how is this trying to spin in Bush's favor? This is merely showing that an arrogant prick tried to go through the security line at JFK and got detained. Then a demagogue uses this to make a big deal spouting off misinformation about them detaining him for being part of a coup attempt. I'm just calling the bullshit where it is.

[Purveyor]

77. U.S. Apologizes for Detaining Venezuela Diplomat

Filed at 11:15 p.m. ET

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela's foreign minister was detained at a New York airport on Saturday, prompting an apology from the U.S. government and compounding already tense relations between the two countries.

In New York, State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said the United States regretted the incident involving Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro at John F. Kennedy airport.

``The United States government apologized to Foreign Minister Maduro and the Venezuelan government,'' said Gallegos.

Venezuelan television said Maduro was stopped for an hour and a half and stripped of his travel documents.

``We denounce the U.S. government for violating international law,'' Maduro told Venezuelan television from New York, asking U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to condemn his seizure.

http://tinyurl.com/z4klo

[wtmusic]

78. It's amazing they got an apology nt

[gratuitous]

79. There is no direct evidence, but . . .

Would it really surprise anyone if this happened on direct orders from Little Lord Pissypants?

[Kagemusha]

80. They claim he paid for a ticket in cash so had to be screened again

and screened hard and invasively.

[samsingh]

81. more crap

[Jack Rabbit]

82. Did Bush promote the person who detained the foreign minister?

Just wondering.

[BrotherBuzz]

83. Nominated for a Medal of Freedom, I suspect

You know what I mean, Vern?

[Jack Rabbit]

116. I guess he did a heckuva job

Translated from Bushese*, "did a heckuva job" means he really fucked up.

*As English is a branch of the Indo-European language family, so Bushese is a branch of the Orwellian language family. Learn to speak it. It is the official language of the US government.

[Laughing Mirror]

84. UN headquarters need to be moved to a stable democratic country

one where international law regarding diplomats will not be violated.

[ima_sinnic]

86. it is horrible to admit I cheer this idea--such a sad day when US

citizens can no longer promote their own country--on the contrary, when they have to apologize for it and feel deeply ashamed of it. We are well on our way to "fall of the Roman Empire" status.

[NotGivingUp]

88. This doesn't sound good at all.

[Veronica.Franco]

89. He was detained less the 90 minutes then went on his way ...

He showed up LATE with NO ticket ... it happens to every other traveler every single day ... it just doesn't make the news ... in post 9-11 travel you have to have your ticket purchased beforehand AND be at the airport a couple hours early or you become suspect ....

I support Chavez ... but this airport situation was a normal security issue that people get caught up in every day ...

The Australian story acts like he was stuck there ... and is still there ... he's not ... check out yahoo below ...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060924/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_us

NEW YORK - Venezuela's foreign minister said he was illegally detained for 90 minutes by officials at a New York airport and accused them of treating him abusively by trying to frisk and handcuff him.

U.S. officials called Saturday's incident regrettable and said they had apologized to Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro. Maduro called that insufficient and said Venezuela would seek a legal challenge through the U.N. to what he called a "flagrant violation of international law" and his diplomatic immunity.

"We were detained for an hour and a half, threatened by police with being beaten," Maduro told reporters at Venezuela's mission to the U.N. "We hold the U.S. government responsible."

A U.N. diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said Maduro's trip was delayed because he had showed up late without a ticket, prompting extra screening.

[1932]

98. dup

licate

[1932]

100. The thing that is offensive to me

is the formula for alleging this guy is a threat which would make people like Nelson Mandella terrorists who could be detained by the US government, which appears to be the 'extra screening' they discussed -- ie, what triggered the extra cscreeing isn't the story here. What they said to him during the extra screening is the story.

[Veronica.Franco]

101. As a frequent flyer ...

I can share here that if ANYONE draws attention to themself by being LATE or paying CASH for a ticket just before they fly they are automatically flagged for extra screening ... when he got defensive, pompous, and condescending, "don't YOU know who I am", and developed an attitude with the screeners he brought the rest of it on himself ... these people take their positions VERY seriously and, granted, some of them do have a "radio shack manager" mentality ... if this gentleman plans on flying through a NY airport again, anytime soon, he'd better wise up ... simple as that ...

[fedsron2us]

106. He was on a Diplomatic mission not travelling as a private individual

This conduct breaches all the conventions established for the treatment of such envoys over hundreds of years.

[Show_Me _The_Truth]

113. Bullshit

The embassy did not notify anyone he was travelling that day. When they do, they have escorts through the airport to get them around such security lines.

This is a fact according not to a US official, but to a UN official. See post 41 and post 89.

[fedsron2us]

124. Glad to see you are only moved by facts

and not any prejudice against Venezuela.

[Veronica.Franco]

125. I support Venezula and buy all of my gas from Citgo ...

But, the fact remains, that this man paid cash for his ticket less then an hour before his flight and caused himself to be selected for extra screening ... there are plenty of REAL issues out there ... this simply isn't one of them ...

[Show_Me _The_Truth]

112. Allegedly said

More propaganda trumped up by a demagogue trying to make aplace for himself in the world.

This guy knows that if he wants to stay anywhere with Chavez he has to tote his party line of propaganda and demagoguery. Adding the little tidbit about being threatend with "torture" during the debate in this country right now about the same subject just adds that little extra spice to the mix.

These guys are good at getting attention for themselves, like a 4 yr old is good at getting attention in the middle of a grocery store when you don't buy them the right breakfast cereal.

[INDIA]

95. Wow! Bush must be psychic!

He knew exactly where the guy was going to be even though he only showed up thirty minutes before his flight and paid with cash! And he didn't even identify himself as a foreign official! Those ticket agents must have been on the lookout for this guy nobody has ever heard of! Maybe the CIA was following him! And then Bush called Joe Blow security guard on his bat phone to have him detained! Because everyone knows that minimum wage earning airport security guards are all part of the NSA/CIA conspiracy to embarrass foreign officials.

Oh man!:bounce: What country do I live in?????

[ShortnFiery]

99. The Rest of The World considers him even more dangerous than

a mere Psychotic (out of touch with reality), but a TRUE PSYCHOPATH (someone who revels in the suffering of others - who gleans pleasure at their pain and sorrow).

Yes, I could not be more ashamed of The Leadership of my Country.

All I can do is write Our Representatives and pray that before it's too late, Our Democratic Representatives find their spine, choose OUR welfare above THEIR own, and say, "NO MORE! ENOUGH! This is a Filibuster!"

Hope springs eternal, but I fear we are in for a long winter and may never recover our Democratic Republic.

THESE are not the PRINCIPLES that my beloved late father served in Combat for during WWII. I'm now grateful that he died a few months ago and never saw that all his suffering and the deaths of his buddies may have ALL been in vain. :cry:

If the Warrantless Wiretapping and Torture Bills clear the Senate this week, IMO we are well on the way toward Oligarchy, and perhaps, Totalitarian Rule. :grr: :(

If there's a snowball's chance in hell we must convince our Democratic Senators to find their spine and not simply behave like "Good Germans."

[TankLV]

109. Riiiight - bush* would NEVER stoop so low, right?

After all, he is "man who can be trusted" and he never lies, right?

And he would never, ever, consider being a PETTY VINDICTIVE asshole, would he?!

You bet bush* called the CIA/Negroponte/etc. to harass and detaine this specific person - OF THAT WE HAVE NO DOUBT.

Get a clue...

[INDIA]

110. No NO! I agree with you!!!

By detaining this official for 90 minutes, he totally told Chavez FU! Take THAT! Hey Chavez! One of your unknown officials had to miss his flight! TAKE THAT! YOU GOT SERVED!

I agree! Bush definitely was on the phone after that speech saying, "Hey! Put out a report to every airport on the east coast to look out for this guy we've never heard of, and INCONVENIENCE HIM! YEAH!

[theHandpuppet]

108. So why didn't we also detain Pakistan's Pervaiz Musharraf?

Or has our government forgotten he led the military coup aginst Pakistan's democratic government in 1999?

What hypocrites we are.

[donco6]

117. My question exactly.

His coup succeeded! Maybe that's why. We only hold unsuccessful people.

[Sgent]

122. Diplomatic retaliation?

Didn't Venezuala search a US diplomats belongings w/o following protocol a few weeks ago?