There is more democracy in Venezuela than in the United States, and if we put ourselves on a balance and compare each other, there's 10 times more democracy in Venezuela if you want to put a number on it.
VENPRES: You just mentioned the United States. Is their interference in Venezuelan affairs continuing? Because recently, the Washington Post published statements by Mr. Roger Noriega, in which he indicates that if we don�t have a referendum, the US will intervene.
Chavez: It�s like a broken record, and forms a part of what I said at my speech on Avenida Bolivar. In the struggle for Venezuelan sovereignty, imperialism took off its mask, the old, horrible, horrifying imperialism that rolled over this continent. It�s been rolling over it for many years. Simon Bolivar saw it coming long before Pancho Villa. Pancho Villa clashed with the North American empire in 1914, 1915, almost 90 years ago. In those days, Pancho Villa galloped, and Emiliano Zapata carried the Mexican flag of independence, sovereignty, and dignity on high. But, that was in 1914. 90 years earlier, Bolivar clashed with the North American empire. Bolivar�s prophetic vision is amazing when he states in one of his letters, �The United States seems destined by Providence to plague America with misery in the name of liberty.�
Chavez: The ridiculous statements of those men don�t seem strange to us at all. It�s in line with their imperialist, militarist, utilitarian vision. President Bush himself said that he doesn�t need friends in the world to do what he wants. There�s never been a more horrific imperial statement in 2000 years of history. Even the Roman Empire needed friends, sought friends in the world. However, that could be the turning point for the empire, when they feel all-powerful and try to do whatever they want. What happens to them is what is happening to the North American empire. The people are turning their backs on them, and in their own country, in the heart of their very people, dignified voices are being raised.
Philip Stinard/VHeadline.com Venezuela May.27.04
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