For Some, Dummy Rummy isn't enough

Venezuela's Chavez applauds Rumsfeld's resignation, says Bush should quit too

CARACAS, Venezuela: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez applauded the resignation of U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and suggested President George W. Bush should quit as well.

Chavez pointed to the strong gains by Democrats in U.S. congressional elections and called it a "reprisal vote" against Bush's policies and the Iraq war. The leftist leader beamed as he read aloud a news report of Rumsfeld's resignation.

"Heads are beginning to roll," Chavez said during a news conference Wednesday. "It was about time he resigned. The president should resign now."

Following Tuesday's elections, Democrats ascended to power in the House after 12 years in the minority, and were on the brink of taking control in the Senate.
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"The Bush administration has fallen democratically. The fall has begun," Chavez said.

"Of course, the citizens of the United States are humans with a conscience. It's a reprisal vote against the war in Iraq, against the corruption" within the Bush administration, said Chavez, whose fierce opposition to Bush is a staple in his fiery speeches.

Rumsfeld — whom Bush plans to replace with former CIA director Robert Gates — has likened Chavez to Hitler, while the Venezuelan leader called Rumsfeld the "Lord of War."

"It looks like the president of the United States took a beating," Chavez said, calling it a vote reflecting public disapproval of some anti-terrorism measures and plans to expand fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.

He said if Bush doesn't quit, it might be proper for him to face a referendum to see if Americans want him to step down early.

Chavez also said the U.S. should finally lift its trade embargo against the government of his close ally Cuban President Fidel Castro.

"The vote is against Bush. I hope the Democratic Party and its leaders interpret this well," he said. "I hope they make a greater effort to interpret Latin America for the love of God," he said.

Chavez fondly recalled former Democratic President Bill Clinton, with whom he said he could at least talk.

Chavez, who is up for re-election on Dec. 3, accuses the Bush administration of backing a short-lived coup against him in 2002. U.S. officials deny plotting against Chavez but question his commitment to democracy and accuse him of being a divisive influence.

Chavez warned that U.S. officials, along with Venezuelan opposition groups, could try to discredit results in the vote by claiming fraud, even though polls show Chavez with a solid lead.

Venezuela has intelligence reports that some government opponents are coup-plotting and trying to build contacts with the military, Chavez said.

"They're already calling for violence. They're already calling for a coup," Chavez said, without giving details. "We're going to prepare a counterattack plan."

He urged the opposition's leading presidential candidate, Manuel Rosales, to respect the results, saying he could be arrested if he tries to stir up trouble through violent demonstrations in the streets.

Original article posted here.