... is NOT cooperating in the fight against illegal drugs.
(White House pours a little more gasoline on the embers, Chavez responds.)
And Larry Palmer can look for a posting in Togo or Uzbekistan or some place like that.
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"We wouldn't allow him to enter Venezuelan territory," Chavez said, adding that if Washington decides not to send an ambassador, that is the U.S. government's prerogative.
"If they decide to throw out our ambassador, let them throw him out. That's their problem. It isn't our problem," Chavez said.
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From the AP today;
President Hugo Chavez insisted on Friday that he won't accept the U.S. government's nominee for ambassador and condemned President Barack Obama's designation of Venezuela as a country failing in counter-drug efforts.
Chavez dismissed the White House's criticism of Venezuela on drugs, calling it a "new attack by the Yankee empire."
Obama, in a memorandum released Thursday, named Venezuela along with Bolivia and Myanmar as "countries that have failed demonstrably during the previous 12 months to adhere to their obligations under international counternarcotics agreements."
In response, Chavez lashed out at the Obama administration, calling it "an irresponsible government, a murderous government, a coup-mongering government." Chavez has long said the U.S. uses the drug issue against him for political reasons, saying Venezuela is making significant efforts to stem the flow of Colombian cocaine.
http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/17/2230995/chavez-insists-venezuela-wont.html#ixzz0zpNF0XbF (Edit to delete repetition)