2011-12-06 04:51:04
“Because the authorities codified in this section already exist, the Administration does not believe codification is necessary and poses some risk.”
As clear as I can see it, they are saying that giving the rights of a POW to detainees in the US,
WOULD UPSET CURRENT LONG STANDING CRITICAL PRACTICES
by codifying that which is illegal under convention and constitution,
causing unnecessary changes in current practice and dangerous legal questions.
In short, what they have been doing is consciously criminal.
“By requiring military detention of the captured, Congress is undoing
all the manoeuvring that two regimes have accomplished in removing POW
status from detainees.”
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
W AS H I N G T O N , D . C . 2 0 5 0 3
November 17, 2011
(Senate)
STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY
S. 1867 – National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2012
(Sen. Levin, D-MI)
The Administration supports Senate passage of S. 1867, the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012. The Administration appreciates the Senate Armed Services
Committee’s continued support of our national defense, including its support for both the base
budget and for overseas contingency operations and for most of the Administration’s initiatives
to control spiraling health costs of the Department of Defense (DoD).
The Administration appreciates the support of the Committee for authorities that assist the ability
of the warfighter to operate in unconventional and irregular warfare, authorities that are
important to field commanders, such as the Commanders’ Emergency Response Program, Global
Train and Equip Authority, and other programs that provide commanders with the resources and
flexibility to counter unconventional threats or support contingency or stability operations. The
Administration looks forward to reviewing a classified annex and working with the Congress to
address any concerns on classified programs as the legislative process moves forward.
While there are many areas of agreement with the Committee, the Administration would have
serious concerns with provisions that would: (1) constrain the ability of the Armed Forces to
carry out their missions; (2) impede the Secretary of Defense’s ability to make and implement
decisions that eliminate unnecessary overhead or programs to ensure scarce resources are
directed to the highest priorities for the warfighter; or (3) depart from the decisions reflected in
the President’s FY 2012 Budget Request. The Administration looks forward to working with the
Congress to address these and other concerns, a number of which are outlined in more detail
below.
Detainee Matters: The Administration objects to and has serious legal and policy concerns about
many of the detainee provisions in the bill. In their current form, some of these provisions
disrupt the Executive branch’s ability to enforce the law and impose unwise and unwarranted
restrictions on the U.S. Government’s ability to aggressively combat international terrorism;
other provisions inject legal uncertainty and ambiguity that may only complicate the military’s
operations and detention practices.
Section 1031 attempts to expressly codify the detention authority that exists under the
Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40) (the “AUMF”). The authorities
granted by the AUMF, including the detention authority, are essential to our ability to protect the
American people from the threat posed by al-Qa’ida and its associated forces, and have enabled
us to confront the full range of threats this country faces from those organizations and
individuals. Because the authorities codified in this section already exist, the Administration
does not believe codification is necessary and poses some risk. After a decade of settled
jurisprudence on detention authority, Congress must be careful not to open a whole new series of
legal questions that will distract from our efforts to protect the country. While the current
language minimizes many of those risks, future legislative action must ensure that the
codification in statute of express military detention authority does not carry unintended
consequences that could compromise our ability to protect the American people.
The Administration strongly objects to the military custody provision of section 1032, which
would appear to mandate military custody for a certain class of terrorism suspects. This
unnecessary, untested, and legally controversial restriction of the President’s authority to defend
the Nation from terrorist threats would tie the hands of our intelligence and law enforcement
professionals. Moreover, applying this military custody requirement to individuals inside the
United States, as some Members of Congress have suggested is their intention, would raise
serious and unsettled legal questions and would be inconsistent with the fundamental American
principle that our military does not patrol our streets. We have spent ten years since September
11, 2001, breaking down the walls between intelligence, military, and law enforcement
professionals; Congress should not now rebuild those walls and unnecessarily make the job of
preventing terrorist attacks more difficult. Specifically, the provision would limit the flexibility
of our national security professionals to choose, based on the evidence and the facts and
circumstances of each case, which tool for incapacitating dangerous terrorists best serves our
national security interests. The waiver provision fails to address these concerns, particularly in
time-sensitive operations in which law enforcement personnel have traditionally played the
leading role. These problems are all the more acute because the section defines the category of
individuals who would be subject to mandatory military custody by substituting new and
untested legislative criteria for the criteria the Executive and Judicial branches are currently
using for detention under the AUMF in both habeas litigation and military operations. Such
confusion threatens our ability to act swiftly and decisively to capture, detain, and interrogate
terrorism suspects, and could disrupt the collection of vital intelligence about threats to the
American people.
Rather than fix the fundamental defects of section 1032 or remove it entirely, as the
Administration and the chairs of several congressional committees with jurisdiction over these
matters have advocated, the revised text merely directs the President to develop procedures to
ensure the myriad problems that would result from such a requirement do not come to fruition.
Requiring the President to devise such procedures concedes the substantial risks created by
mandating military custody, without providing an adequate solution. As a result, it is likely that
implementing such procedures would inject significant confusion into counterterrorism
operations.
The certification and waiver, required by section 1033 before a detainee may be transferred from
Guantánamo Bay to a foreign country, continue to hinder the Executive branch’s ability to
exercise its military, national security, and foreign relations activities. While these provisions
may be intended to be somewhat less restrictive than the analogous provisions in current law,
they continue to pose unnecessary obstacles, effectively blocking transfers that would advance
our national security interests, and would, in certain circumstances, violate constitutional
separation of powers principles. The Executive branch must have the flexibility to act swiftly in
conducting negotiations with foreign countries regarding the circumstances of detainee transfers.
Section 1034′s ban on the use of funds to construct or modify a detention facility in the United
States is an unwise intrusion on the military’s ability to transfer its detainees as operational needs
dictate. Section 1035 conflicts with the consensus-based interagency approach to detainee
reviews required under Executive Order No. 13567, which establishes procedures to ensure that
periodic review decisions are informed by the most comprehensive information and the
considered views of all relevant agencies. Section 1036, in addition to imposing onerous
requirements, conflicts with procedures for detainee reviews in the field that have been
developed based on many years of experience by military officers and the Department of
Defense. In short, the matters addressed in these provisions are already well regulated by
existing procedures and have traditionally been left to the discretion of the Executive branch.
Broadly speaking, the detention provisions in this bill micromanage the work of our experienced
counterterrorism professionals, including our military commanders, intelligence professionals,
seasoned counterterrorism prosecutors, or other operatives in the field. These professionals have
successfully led a Government-wide effort to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al-Qa’ida and its
affiliates and adherents over two consecutive Administrations. The Administration believes
strongly that it would be a mistake for Congress to overrule or limit the tactical flexibility of our
Nation’s counterterrorism professionals.
Any bill that challenges or constrains the President’s critical authorities to collect intelligence,
incapacitate dangerous terrorists, and protect the Nation would prompt the President’s senior
advisers to recommend a veto.
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft (JSF): The Administration also appreciates the Committee’s
inclusion in the bill of a prohibition on using funds authorized by S. 1867 to be used for the
development of the F136 JSF alternate engine. As the Administration has stated, continued
development of the F136 engine is an unnecessary diversion of scarce resources.
Medium Extended Air Defense Systems (MEADS): The Administration appreciates the
Committee’s support for the Department’s air and missile defense programs; however, it strongly
objects to the lack of authorization of appropriations for continued development of the MEADS
program. This lack of authorization could trigger unilateral withdrawal by the United States
from the MEADS Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Germany and Italy, which could
further lead to a DoD obligation to pay all contract costs – a scenario that would likely exceed
the cost of satisfying DoD’s commitment under the MOU. Further, this lack of authorization
could also call into question DoD’s ability to honor its financial commitments in other binding
cooperative MOUs and have adverse consequences for other international cooperative programs.
Overseas Construction Funding for Guam and Bahrain: The Administration has serious concerns
with the limitation on execution of the United States and Government of Japan funds to
implement the realignment of United States Marine Forces from Okinawa to Guam. The bill
would unnecessarily restrict the ability and flexibility of the President to execute our foreign and
defense policies with our ally, Japan. The Administration also has concerns over the lack of
authorization of appropriations for military construction projects in Guam and Bahrain.
Deferring or eliminating these projects could send the unintended message that the United States
does not stand by its allies or its agreements.
Provisions Authorizing Activities with Partner Nations: The Administration appreciates the
support of the Committee to improve capabilities of other nations to support counterterrorism
efforts and other U.S. interests, and urges the inclusion of DoD’s requested proposals, which
balance U.S. national security and broader foreign policy interests. The Administration would
prefer only an annual extension of the support to foreign nation counter-drug activities authority
in line with its request. While the inclusion of section 1207 (Global Security Contingency Fund)
is welcome, several provisions may affect Executive branch agility in the implementation of this
authority. Section 1204 (relating to Yemen) would require a 60-day notify and wait period not
only for Yemen, but for all other countries as well, which would impose an excessive delay and
seriously impede the Executive branch’s ability to respond to emerging requirements.
Unrequested Authorization Increases: Although not the only examples in S. 1867, the
Administration notes and objects to the addition of $240 million and $200 million, respectively,
in unrequested authorization for unneeded upgrades to M-1 Abrams tanks and Rapid Innovation
Program research and development in this fiscally constrained environment. The Administration
believes the amounts appropriated in FY 2011 and requested in FY 2012 fully fund DoD’s
requirements in these areas.
Advance Appropriations for Acquisition: The Administration objects to section 131, which
would provide only incremental funding – undermining stability and cost discipline – rather than
the advance appropriations that the Administration requested for the procurement of Advanced
Extremely High Frequency satellites and certain classified programs.
Authority to Extend Deadline for Completion of a Limited Number of Base Closure and
Realignment (BRAC) Recommendations: The Administration requests inclusion of its proposed
authority for the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Defense to extend the 2005 BRAC
implementation deadline for up to ten (10) recommendations for a period of no more than one
year in order to ensure no disruption to the full and complete implementation of each of these
recommendations, as well as continuity of operations. Section 2904 of the Defense Base Closure
and Realignment Act imposes on DoD a legal obligation to close and realign all installations so
recommended by the BRAC Commission to the President and to complete all such closures and
realignments no later than September 15, 2011. DoD has a handful of recommendations with
schedules that complete implementation close to the statutory deadline.
TRICARE Providers: The Administration is currently undertaking a review with relevant
agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Justice, to clarify the responsibility
of health care providers under civil and workers’ rights laws. The Administration therefore
objects to section 702, which categorically excludes TRICARE network providers from being
considered subcontractors for purposes of the Federal Acquisition Regulation or any other law.
Troops to Teachers Program: The Administration urges the Senate’s support for the transfer of
the Troops to Teachers Program to DoD in FY 2012, as reflected in the President’s Budget and
DoD’s legislative proposal to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and
Title 10 of the U.S. Code in lieu of section 1048. The move to Defence will help ensure that this
important program supporting members of the military as teachers is retained and provide better
oversight of 6 program outcomes by simplifying and streamlining program management. The
Administration looks forward to keeping the Congress abreast of this transfer, to ensure it runs
smoothly and has no adverse impact on program enrollees.
Constitutional concerns: A number of the bill’s provisions raise additional constitutional
concerns, such as sections 233 and 1241, which could intrude on the President’s constitutional
authority to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive diplomatic communications. The
Administration looks forward to working with the Congress to address these and other concerns.
*****
the translation comes to me thanks to the Milwaukee Bolivarians, Spanish vers. follows.
links are vids, thanks to youtube.com.
CNN; UN laughing while Chavez calls GWB The Devil.
UK Interview with Hugo Chavez.
Hugo Chavez.
Chavez on Al Jazeera.
Hugo Chavez (Warning to Bush) English Subtitles.
TRANSLATION OF THE ORIGINAL SPANISH TRANSCRIPTION FROM THE
HEADQUARTERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Caracas, September 20, 2006
TPPE-m200906-
Hugo Chávez Frías
President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Message to the UN and the people of the world.
President Chávez: Madame President, Excellencies, Heads of State,
Heads of Governments, and high ranking government representatives from
around the world. A very good day to you all.
First of all, with much respect, I would like to invite all of those,
who have not had a chance, to read this book that we have read: Noam
Chomsky, one of the most prestigious intellectuals of America and the
world. One of Chomsky’s most recent works: Hegemony or Survival?
America’s Quest for Global Dominance. An excellent piece to help us
understand what happened in the world during the 20th century, what is
going on now and the greatest threat looming over our planet: the
hegemonic pretension of US Imperialism that puts at risk the very
survival of the human species. We continue to warn about this danger
and call on the people of the US and the world to halt this threat
that is like the sword of Damocles.
I intended to read a chapter, but for the sake of time, I will leave
it as a recommendation. It’s a fast read. It’s really good Madame
President, surely you are familiar with it. It is published in
English, German, Russian, and Arabic (applause). Look, I think our
brothers and sisters of the United States should be the first citizens
to read this book because the threat is in their own house. The Devil
is in their home. The Devil, the Devil himself is in their home.
The Devil came here yesterday (laughter and applause). Yesterday the
Devil was here, in this very place. This table from where I speak
still smells like sulfur. Yesterday, ladies and gentlemen, in this
same hall the President of the United States, who I call “The Devil,”
came here talking as if he owned the world. It would take a
psychiatrist to analyze the US president’s speech from yesterday.
As the spokesperson for Imperialism he came to give us his recipes for
maintaining the current scheme of domination, exploitation and pillage
of the world’s people. It would make a good Alfred Hitchcock movie. I
could even suggest a title: “The Devil’s Recipe.” That is to say, US
Imperialism, and here Chomsky says it with profound and crystalline
clarity, is making desperate efforts to consolidate its hegemonic
system of domination. We cannot allow this to occur, we cannot permit
them to install a world dictatorship, to consolidate a world
dictatorship.
The speech of the tyrannical president of the world was full of
cynicism, full of hypocrisy. It is this imperial hypocrisy with which
he attempts to control everything. They want to impose upon us the
democratic model they devised, the false democracy of elites. And
moreover, a very original democratic model imposed with explosions,
bombings, invasions, and cannon shot. That’s some democracy! One would
have to review the thesis of Aristotle and of the first Greeks who
spoke of democracy to see what kind of model of democracy is imposed
by marines, invasions, aggressions and bombs.
The US president said the following yesterday in this same hall, I
quote: “everywhere you turn, you hear extremists who tell you that you
can escape your misery and regain your dignity through violence and
terror and martyrdom.” Wherever he looks he sees extremists. I am sure
he sees you, brother, with your skin color, and thinks you are an
extremist. With his color, the dignified President of Bolivia Evo
Morales, who was here yesterday, is an extremist. The imperialists see
extremists all around. No, its not that we are extremists. What is
happening is that the world is waking up and people everywhere are
rising up. I have the impression Mr. Imperialist dictator that you
will live the rest of your days as if in a nightmare, because no
matter where you look we will be rising up against US imperialism.
Yes, they call us extremists, we who demand complete freedom in the
world, equality among peoples and respect for national sovereignty. We
are rising up against the Empire, against the model of domination.
Later, the president said, “Today I’d like to speak directly to the
people across the broader Middle East: My country desires peace.” That
is certain. If we walk the streets of the Bronx, if we walk through
the streets of New York, Washington, San Diego, California, any city,
San Antonio, San Francisco and we ask the people on the street: the
people of the US want peace. The difference is that the government of
this country, of the US, does not want peace; it wants to impose its
model of exploitation and plundering and its hegemony upon us under
threat of war. That is the little difference.
The people want peace and, what is happening in Iraq? And what
happened in Lebanon and Palestine? And what has happened over the last
100 years in Latin America and the world and now the threats against
Venezuela, new threats against Iran? He spoke to the people of
Lebanon, “Many of you have seen your homes and communities caught in
crossfire.” What cynicism! What capacity to blatantly lie before the
world! The bombs in Beirut launched with milimetric precision are
“crossfire”? I think that the president is thinking of those western
movies where they shoot from the hip and someone ends up caught in the
middle.
Imperialist fire! Fascist fire! Murderous fire! Genocidal fire against
the innocent people of Palestine and Lebanon by the Empire and Israel.
That is the truth. Now they say that they are upset to see homes
destroyed.
In the end, the US president came to speak to the people, and also to
say, “I brought some documents Madame President.” This morning I was
watching some of the speeches while updating mine. He spoke to the
people of Afghanistan, to the people of Lebanon, to the people of
Iran. One has to wonder, when listening to the US president speak to
those people: what would those people say to him? If those people
could talk to him, what would they say? I think I have an idea because
I know the souls of the majority of those people, the people of the
South, the downtrodden peoples would say: Yankee imperialist go home!
That would be the shout that would echo around the world, if these
people of the world could speak with only one voice to the US Empire.
Therefore, Madame President, colleagues, and friends, last year we
came to this same hall, as we have for the past eight years, and we
said something that today is completely confirmed. I believe that
almost no one in this room would stand up to defend the system of the
United Nations. Lets admit with honesty, the UN system that emerged
after WWII has collapsed, shattered, it doesn’t work. Well, ok. To
come here and give speeches, and visit with one another once a year,
yes, it works for that. And to make long documents and reflect and
listen to good speeches like Evo’s yesterday, and Lula’s, yes, for
that it works. And many speeches, like the one we just heard by the
president of Sri Lanka and of the president of Chile. But we have
converted this Assembly into a mere deliberative organ with no kind of
power to impact in the slightest way the terrible reality the world is
experiencing. Therefore we again propose here today, September 20,
[2006] to re-found the United Nations. Last year Madame President, we
made four modest proposals that we feel are in urgent need of being
adopted by the Heads of State, Heads of Government, ambassadors and
representatives. And we discussed these proposals.
First: expansion. Yesterday Lula said the same, the Security Council,
its permanent as well as its non- permanent seats, must open up to new
members from developed, underdeveloped and Third World countries.
That’s the first priority.
Second: the application of effective methods of addressing and
resolving world conflicts. Transparent methods of debate and of making
decisions.
Third: the immediate suppression of the anti-democratic veto
mechanism, the veto power over Security Council decisions, seems
fundamental to us and is being called for by all. Here is a recent
example, the immoral veto by the US government that freely allowed
Israeli forces to destroy Lebanon, in front of us all, by blocking a
resolution in the UN Security Council.
Fourthly: as we always say, it is necessary to strengthen the role,
the powers of the general secretary of the United Nations. Yesterday
we heard the speech of the general secretary, who is nearing the end
of his term. He recalled that in these ten years the world has become
more complicated and that the serious problems of the world, the
hunger, poverty, violence, and violation of human rights have been
aggravated, this is a terrible consequence of the collapse of the UN
system and of US imperialist pretensions.
Madame President, recognizing our status as members, Venezuela decided
several years ago to wage this battle within the UN with our voice,
our modest reflections. We are an independent voice, representing
dignity and the search for peace, the formulation of an international
system to denounce persecution and hegemonic aggression against people
worldwide. In this way Venezuela has presented its name. The homeland
of Bolívar has presented its name as a candidate for a non-permanent
seat on the Security Council. Of course you all know that the US
government has begun an open attack, an immoral global attack in an
attempt to block Venezuela from being freely elected to occupy the
open seat on the Security Council. They are afraid of the truth. The
empire is afraid of the truth and of independent voices. They accuse
us of being extremists. They are the extremists.
I want to thank all countries that have announced your support for
Venezuela, even when the vote is secret and it is not necessary for
anyone to reveal their vote. But I think that the open aggression of
the US Empire has reinforced the support of many countries, which in
turn morally strengthened Venezuela, our people, our government.
Our brothers and sisters of MERCOSUR, for example, as a block, have
announced their support for Venezuela. We are now a full member of
MERCOSUR along with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay. Many other
countries of Latin America, such as Bolivia and all the CARICOM
nations have pledged their support to Venezuela. The entire Arab
League has announced its support for Venezuela. I thank the Arab
world, our brothers of the Arab world and of the Caribbean. The
African Union, nearly all of the African Union countries have pledged
their support for Venezuela and other countries like Russia, China and
many others across the globe. I thank you all deeply in the name of
Venezuela, in the name of our people and in the name of truth, because
Venezuela, upon occupying a seat on the Security Council will not only
bring to it the voice of Venezuela, but also the voice of the Third
World, the voice of the peoples of the planet. There we will defend
dignity and truth.
Despite all this Madame President, I think there are reasons to be optimistic.
Hopelessly optimistic, as a poet would say, because beyond the
threats, bombs, wars, aggressions, preventative wars, and the
destruction of entire peoples, one can see that a new era is dawning.
Like Silvio Rodríguez sings, “the era is giving birth to a heart.”
Alternative tendencies, alternative thoughts, and youth with distinct
ideas are emerging. In barely a decade it has been demonstrated that
the End of History theory was totally false. The establishment of the
American Empire, the American peace, the establishment of the
capitalist, neoliberal model that generates misery and poverty all
totally false. The thesis is totally false and has been dumped. Now
the future of the world must be defined. There is a new dawning on
this planet that can be seen everywhere: in Latin America, Asia,
Africa, Europe, Oceania. I want to highlight that vision of optimism
to fortify our conscience and our will to fight to save the world and
construct a new world, a better world.
Venezuela has joined this struggle and for this we are threatened. The
US has already planned, financed and launched a coup in Venezuela. And
the US continues to support coup plotters in Venezuela. And they
continue supporting terrorism against Venezuela. President Michel
Bachellet recalled a few days ago pardon, I mean a few minutes ago
the terrible murder of the former Chilean Foreign Minster Orlando
Letelier. I would only add the following: the guilty parties are free.
Those responsible for that deed, in which a US citizen was also
killed, are North Americans of the CIA. Terrorists of the CIA.
In addition, we here in this room must remember that in a few days it
will be the 30th anniversary of that murder and of the horrible
terrorist attack that blew up a Cubana de Aviación airplane in
mid-flight killing 73 innocent people. And where is the worst
terrorist of this continent, who admitted to being the intellectual
author of the airplane sabotage? He was in prison in Venezuela for
some years, but he escaped with the complicity of CIA officials and
the Venezuelan government of that time. Now he is here living in the
US, protected by the government even though he was convicted and he
confessed. The US government has a double standard and protects
terrorism.
These reflections are to demonstrate that Venezuela is committed to
the fight against terrorism, against violence and works together with
all people who struggle for peace and for a just world.
I spoke of the Cuban airplane. Luis Posada Carriles is the name of
that terrorist. He is protected here just like the corrupt fugitives
who escaped Venezuela. A group of terrorists who planted bombs in
embassies of various countries, murdered innocent people during the
coup and kidnapped this humble servant. They were going to execute me,
but God reached out his hand, along with a group of good soldiers, and
the who people took to the streets. It’s a miracle that I’m here. The
leaders of that coup and those terrorist acts are here, protected by
the US government. I accuse the US government of protecting terrorism
and of giving a completely cynical speech.
Speaking of Cuba, we went happily to Havana. We were there several
days. During the G-15 Summit and the NAM Summit the dawning of a new
era was evident with an historic resolution and final document. Don’t
worry. I am not going to read it all. But here is a collection of
resolutions made in open discussion with transparency. With more than
50 Heads of State, Havana was the capital of the South for a week. We
have re-launched the Non-Aligned Movement. And if there is anything I
could ask of you all, my brothers and sisters, it is to please lend
your support to the strengthening of the NAM, which is so important to
the emergence of a new era, to preventing hegemony and imperialism.
Also, you all know that we have designated Fidel Castro as President
of the NAM for the next three years and we are sure that compañero
President Fidel Castro will fulfill the post with much efficiency.
Those who wanted Fidel to die, well, they remain frustrated because
Fidel is already back in his olive green uniform and is now not only
the President of Cuba but also the President of NAM.
Madam President, dear colleagues, presidents, a very strong movement
of the South emerged there in Havana. We are men and women of the
South. We are bearers of these documents, these ideas, opinions, and
reflections. I have already closed by folder and the book that I
brought with me. Don’t forget it. I really recommend it. With much
humility we try to contribute ideas for the salvation of the planet,
to save it from the threat of imperialism, and god willing soon. Early
in this century, god willing, so that we ourselves can see and
experience with our children and grandchildren a peaceful world, under
the fundamental principles of the UN, renewed and relocated. I believe
that the UN must be located in another country, in a city of the
South. We have proposed this from Venezuela. You all know that my
medical personnel had to stay locked up in the airplane. The Chief of
my security is locked on the plane. They would not let them come to
the UN. Another abuse and outrage Madame President that we request to
be registered personally to the sulfurous Devil. But God is with us.
A warm embrace and may God bless us all.
Good day.
Translation by Dawn Gable
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Discurso de Chavez en Espanol
Señora Presidenta, Excelencias, Jefes de Estado, Jefes de Gobierno, y altos
representantes de los gobiernos del mundo. Muy buenos días a todos y a
todas.
En primer lugar quiero invitarles con mucho respeto, a quienes no hayan
podido leer este libro, a que lo leamos: Noam Chomsky, uno de los más
prestigiosos intelectuales de esta América y del mundo. Chomsky, uno de sus
más recientes trabajos: Hegemonía o Supervivencia. La estrategia
imperialista de Estados Unidos. Excelente trabajo para entender lo que ha
pasado en el mundo el siglo XX, lo que hoy está pasando y la más grande
amenaza que se cierne sobre nuestro planeta, la pretensión hegemónica del
Imperialismo Norteamericano pone en riesgo la supervivencia misma de la
especie humana. Seguimos alertando sobre ese peligro, y haciendo un llamado
al propio pueblo de los Estados Unidos y al mundo, para detener esta amenaza
que es como la propia espada de Damocles.
Yo pensaba leer algún capítulo pero por respetar el tiempo más bien lo dejo
como una recomendación. Se lee rápido. Es muy bueno señora Presidenta,
seguramente usted lo conoce, está publicado en inglés, en alemán, en ruso,
en árabe (aplausos) seguramente. Miren, yo creo que los primeros ciudadanos
que deberían leer este libro son los ciudadanos hermanos y hermanas de los
Estados Unidos, porque la amenaza la tienen en su propia casa, el Diablo
está en casa pues. El Diablo, el propio Diablo está en casa.
Ayer vino el Diablo aquí, (risas y aplausos) ayer estuvo el Diablo aquí, en
este mismo lugar. Huele a azufre todavía esta mesa donde me ha tocado
hablar. Ayer señoras, señores, desde esta misma tribuna el Señor Presidente
de los Estados Unidos, a quien yo llamo “El Diablo”, vino aquí hablando como
dueño del mundo. Un psiquiatra no estaría de más para analizar el discurso
de ayer del Presidente de los Estados Unidos. Como vocero del Imperialismo
vino a dar sus recetas para tratar de mantener el actual esquema de
dominación, de explotación y de saqueo a los pueblos del mundo. Para una
película de Alfred Hitchcok estaría buena, incluso yo propondría un título:
“La receta del Diablo”. Es decir, el Imperialismo norteamericano, y aquí lo
dice Chomsky con una claridad meridiana y profunda, está siendo desesperados
esfuerzos por consolidar su sistema hegemónico de dominación. Nosotros no
podemos permitir que eso ocurra, no podemos permitir que se instale la
dictadura mundial, que se consolide pues, que se consolide la dictadura
mundial.
El discurso del Presidente “tirano” mundial, lleno de cinismos, lleno de
hipocresía, es la hipocresía imperial, el intento de controlar todo, ellos
quieren imponernos el modelo democrático como lo conciben, la falsa
democracia de las elites, y además un modelo democrático muy original,
impuesto a bombazos, a bombardeos y a punta de invasiones y de cañonazos.
¡Vaya qué democracia! Habría que revisar las tesis de Aristóteles y de los
primeros que hablaron por allá en Grecia de la democracia a ver qué modelo
de democracia es ese, el que se impone a punta de marines, de invasiones, de
agresiones, y de bombas.
Dice el presidente de los Estados Unidos ayer, en esta misma sala lo
siguiente, cito: “Hacia dónde quiera que usted mira, oye a extremistas que
le dicen que puede escapar de la miseria y recuperar su dignidad a través de
la violencia, el terror y el martirio”. Adondequiera que él mira ve
extremistas. Yo estoy seguro que te ve a ti, hermano, con ese color, y cree
que eres un extremista. Con este color. Evo Morales, que vino ayer, el digno
Presidente de la Bolivia es un extremista. Por todos lados ven extremistas
los imperialistas. No, no es que somos extremistas, lo que pasa es que el
mundo está despertando y por todos lados insurgimos los pueblos. Yo tengo la
impresión señor dictador imperialista que usted va a vivir el resto de sus
días con una pesadilla, porque por dondequiera que vea vamos a surgir
nosotros, los que insurgimos contra el imperialismo norteamericano. Los que
clamamos por la libertad plena del mundo, por la igualdad de los pueblos,
por el respeto a la soberanía de las naciones, sí, nos llaman extremistas,
insurgimos contra el Imperio, insurgimos contra el modelo de dominación.
Luego, el señor presidente vino a hablarle, así lo dijo, “hoy quiero
hablarles directamente a las poblaciones del Oriente Medio. Mi país desea la
paz” esto es cierto, si nosotros nos vamos por las calles del Bronx, si
nosotros nos vamos por las calles de Nueva York, de Washington, de San
Diego, de California, de cualquier ciudad, de San Antonio, de San Francisco
y le preguntamos a la gente en las calles, a los ciudadanos estadounidenses,
este país quiere la paz. La diferencia está en que el gobierno de este país,
de Estados Unidos, no quiere la paz, quiere imponernos su modelo de
explotación y de saqueo y su hegemonía a punta de guerras, esa es la pequeña
diferencia. Quiere la paz y ¿qué está pasando en Irak? ¿Y qué ha pasado en
el Libano y en Palestina? ¿Y qué ha pasado en cien años pues en América
Latina y en el mundo y ahora las amenzas contra Venezuela, nuevas amenazas
contra Irán? Le habló al pueblo del Líbano, “muchos de ustedes dijo- han
visto como sus hogares y sus comunidades quedaron atrapadas en el fuego
cruzado” ¡Vaya qué cinismo! ¡Vaya qué capacidad para mentir descaradamente
ante el mundo! Las bombas en Beirut y lanzadas con precisión milimétrica
¿son fuego cruzado? Creo que el Presidente está pensando en las películas
del oeste cuando se disparaba desde la cintura y alguien quedaba atravesado
en el fuego cruzado.
¡Fuego imperialista! ¡Fuego fascista! ¡Fuego asesino! Y fuego genocida el
del Imperio y el de Israel contra el pueblo inocente de Palestina y el
pueblo del Líbano. Esa es la verdad. Ahora dicen que sufren, que estamos
sufriendo porque vemos sus hogares destruidos.
En fin, el Presidente de los Estados Unidos vino a hablarle a los pueblos,
vino a decir además, yo traje señora Presidenta unos documentos, porque
estuve esta madrugada viendo algunos discursos y actualizando mis palabras.
Le habló al pueblo de Afganistán, al pueblo del Líbano, al pueblo de Irán le
digo, al pueblo del Líbano le digo, al pueblo de Afaganistán le digo. Uno se
pregunta, así como el Presidente de los Estados Unidos le dice: le digo a
esos pueblos ¿qué le dirían esos pueblos a él? Si esos pueblos pudieran
hablar ¿qué le dirían? Yo se los voy a recoger porque conozco la mayor parte
del alma de esos pueblos, los pueblos del Sur, los pueblos atropellados
dirían: ¡Imperio Yankee go home! Ese sería el grito que brotaría por todas
partes, si los pueblos del mundo pudieran hablarle a una sola voz al Imperio
de los Estados Unidos.
Por eso, señora Presidenta, colegas, amigas y amigos, nosotros el año pasado
vinimos aquí a este mismo salón como todos los años y los últimos ocho, y
decíamos algo que hoy está confirmado plenamente y yo creo que aquí casi
nadie en esta sala pudiera pararse a defenderlo, a defender el sistema de
Naciones Unidas, aceptémoslo con honestidad, el Sistema de Naciones Unidas
nacido después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial colapsó, se desplomó, no sirve.
Ah bueno para venir acá a dar discursos, a vernos una vez al año, sí, para
eso sí sirve, y para hacer documentos muy largos y hacer buenas reflexiones
y oír buenos discursos como el de Evo ayer, como el de Lula, sí, para eso
sirve y muchos discursos, el que estábamos oyendo ahora mismo del Presidente
de Srilanka y de la Presidenta de Chile, pero nos han convertido a esta
Asamblea en un órgano meramente deliberativo, meramente deliberativo sin
ningún tipo de poder para impactar de la más mínima manera la realidad
terrible que vive el mundo. Por eso nosotros volvemos a proponer, Venezuela
vuelve a proponer aquí hoy, este día 20 de septiembre que refundemos las
Naciones Unidas y nosotros hicimos el año pasado señora Presidente, cuatro
modestas propuestas que consideramos de necesidad impostergable para que las
asumamos, bueno, los Jefes de Estado, los Jefes de Gobierno, nuestros
embajadores, nuestros representantes y las discutamos.
Primero: la expansión. Ayer lo decía Lula aquí mismo, del Consejo de
Seguridad tanto en sus categorías permanentes como en las No Permanentes,
dando entrada a nuevos países desarrollados y a países subdesarrollados, el
Tercer Mundo, como nuevos miembros permanentes. Eso en primer lugar.
En segundo lugar, bueno, la aplicación de métodos eficaces de atención y
resolución de los conflictos mundiales. Métodos transparentes, de debate, de
decisiones, tercero, nos parece fundamental la supresión inmediata, y eso es
un clamor de todos, de ese mecanismo antidemocrático del veto. El veto en
las decisiones del Consejo de Seguridad. Vaya un ejemplo reciente, el veto
inmoral del gobierno de los Estados Unidos, permitió libremente a las
fuerzas israelíes destrozar el Líbano en el rostro, delante de todos
nosotros, evitando una resolución en el Consejo de Seguridad de Naciones
Unidas.
Y en cuarto lugar necesario es fortalecer, decimos siempre, el papel, las
atribuciones del Secretario General de Naciones Unidas. Ayer nos daba un
discurso el Secretario General prácticamente de despedida, y reconocía que
en estos diez años el mundo lo que ha hecho es complicarse y que los graves
problemas del mundo, el hambre, la miseria, la violencia, la violación a los
derechos humanos lo que ha hecho es agravarse, esto es consecuencia terrible
del colapso sobre el sistema de Naciones Unidas y de la pretensión
imperialista norteamericana.
Por otra parte, Señora Presidenta, Venezuela decidió hace varios años dar
esta batalla por dentro de Naciones Unidas, reconociendo Naciones Unidas
como miembro que somos, con nuestra voz, con nuestras modestas reflexiones.
Una voz independiente somos, para representar la dignidad y la búsqueda de
la paz, la reformulación del sistema internacional, para denunciar la
persecución y las agresiones del hegemonismo contra los pueblos del Planeta.
Venezuela, de esa manera ha presentado su nombre. Esta patria de Bolívar ha
presentado su nombre y se ha postulado para un puesto como Miembro No
Permanente del Consejo de Seguridad. Vaya usted a saber, el gobierno de los
Estados Unidos ha iniciado una agresión abierta, una agresión inmoral en el
mundo entero para tratar de impedir que Venezuela sea elegida libremente
para ocupar una silla en el Consejo de Seguridad. Le tienen miedo a la
verdad. El Imperio tiene miedo a la verdad, a las voces independientes,
acusándonos de extremistas. Ellos son los extremistas.
Yo quiero agradecer aquí a todos aquellos países que han anunciado su apoyo
a Venezuela, aun cuando la votación es secreta y no es necesario que nadie
lo anuncie, pero yo creo que dada la agresión abierta del Imperio
Norteamericano, pues eso aceleró el apoyo de muchos países, lo cual
fortalece mucho moralmente a Venezuela, a nuestro pueblo, a nuestro
gobierno, el MERCOSUR, por ejemplo, en bloque, ha anunciado su apoyo a
Venezuela, nuestros hermanos del MERCOSUR. Venezuela ahora es miembro pleno
del MERCOSUR con Brasil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, y muchos otros países
de América Latina como Bolivia. El CARICOM en pleno anunció su apoyo a
Venezuela. La Liga Arabe en pleno anunció su apoyo a Venezuela, agradezco
muchísimo al mundo árabe, a nuestros hermanos de Arabia, esa Arabia
profunda, a nuestros hermanos del Caribe. La Unión Africana, casi toda
Africa anunció su apoyo a Venezuela y países bueno como Rusia, como China y
muchos otros países del Planeta. Muchísimas gracias a nombre de Venezuela, a
nombre de nuestro pueblo y a nombre de la verdad, porque Venezuela al ocupar
un puesto en el Consejo de Seguridad va a traer la voz no sólo de Venezuela,
la voz del Tercer Mundo, la voz de los pueblos del Planeta, ahí estaremos
defendiendo la dignidad y la verdad.
Más allá de todo esto señora Presidenta, creo que hay razones para que
seamos optimistas. Irrenunciablemente optimistas, diría un poeta, porque más
allá de las amenazas, de las bombas, de las guerras, de las agresiones, de
la guerra preventiva, de la destrucción de pueblos enteros uno puede
apreciar que se está levantando una nueva era, como canta Silvio Rodríguez,
“la era está pariendo un corazón”. Se levantan corrientes alternativas,
pensamientos alternativos, juventudes con pensamiento distinto. Se demostró
ya en apenas una década que era totalmente falsa la tesis del Fin de la
Historia, totalmente falsa la instauración del Imperio Americano, de la paz
americana, la instauración del modelo capitalista, neoliberal que lo que
genera es miseria y pobreza. Es totalmente falsa la tesis, se vino abajo,
ahora hay que definir el futuro del mundo. Hay un amanecer en el Planeta y
se ve por toda partes, por América Latina, por Asia, por Africa, por Europa,
por Oceanía, quiero resaltar esa visión de optimismo para que fortalezcamos
nuestra conciencia y nuestra voluntad de batalla por salvar al mundo y
construir un mundo nuevo, un mundo mejor.
Venezuela se suma a esa lucha y por eso somos amenazados. Ya Estados Unidos
planificó, financió e impulsó un golpe de estado en Venezuela. Y Estados
Unidos sigue apoyando movimientos golpistas en Venezuela y contra Venezuela,
sigue apoyando al terrorismo. Ya la Presidenta Michel Bachellet recordaba
hace unos días, perdón hace unos minutos, el terrible asesinato del ex
Canciller chileno Orlando Letelier. Yo sólo agregaría lo siguiente, los
culpables están libres. Y los culpables, de aquel hecho donde murió también
una ciudadana estadounidense, son norteamericanos, de la CIA. Terroristas de
la CIA.
Pero además, hay que recordar en esta sala que dentro de pocos días también
se cumplirán 30 años, igualmente, de aquel hecho terrorista horripilante de
la voladura del avión cubano, donde murieron 73 inocentes, un avión de
Cubana de Aviación y ¿dónde está el más grande terrorista de este Continente
y quien asumió él la voladura del avión cubano como autor intelectual?
Estuvo preso en Venezuela unos años, se fugó allá por complicidad de
funcionarios de la CIA y del gobierno venezolano de entonces, está aquí
viviendo en Estados Unidos, protegido por este gobierno, y fue convicto y
confeso. El gobierno de los Estados Unidos tiene un doble rasero y protege
el terrorismo.
Estas reflexiones, para decir que Venezuela está comprometida en la lucha
contra el terrorismo, contra la violencia y se une a todos los pueblos que
luchamos por la paz y por un mundo de iguales.
He hablado del avión cubano, Luis Posada Carriles se llama el terrorista,
está protegido aquí, como protegidos están aquí grandes corruptos que se
fugaron de Venezuela, un grupo de terroristas que allá pusieron bombas
contra embajadas de varios países que allá asesinaron gente durante el golpe
de estado, secuestraron a este humilde servidor, y lo iban a fusilar, sólo
que Dios metió su mano y un grupo de buenos soldados y un pueblo que se fue
a las calles y de milagro pues estoy aquí, están aquí protegidos por el
gobierno de Estados Unidos los líderes de aquel golpe de estado y de
aquellos actos terroristas. Yo acuso al gobierno de Estados Unidos de
proteger al terrorismo y de tener un discurso totalmente cínico.
Hablamos de Cuba, venimos de La Habana, venimos felices de La Habana,
estuvimos allá varios días y allí se puede ver el nacimiento de una nueva
era la Cumbre del Grupo de los 15, la Cumbre del Movimiento de los No
Alineados, con una resolución histórica, documento final, no se asunten no
lo voy a leer todo, pero aquí hay un conjunto de resoluciones tomadas en
discusión abierta y con transparencia, más de 50 Jefes de Estado, La Habana
fue capital del Sur durante una semana. Hemos relanzado el Grupo de Los No
Alineados, el Movimiento de los No Alineados, y si algo puedo pedir yo aquí
a todos ustedes compañeros y hermanos y hermanas es que le pongamos mucha
voluntad para fortalecer el Grupo de Los No Alineados, importantísmo para el
nacimiento de la nueva era, para evitar la hegemonía y el Imperialismo y
además, ustedes saben que hemos designado a Fidel Castro, Presidente del
Grupo de los No Alineados para los próximos tres años y estamos seguros que
el compañero Presidente Fidel Castro va a llevar la batuta con mucha
eficiencia. Para los que querían que Fidel se muriera pues frustrados
quedaron y frustrados quedarán porque Fidel ya está uniformado nuevamente de
verde oliva y ahora no sólo es el Presidente de Cuba si no el Presidente de
Los No Alineados.
Señora Presidenta, queridos colegas, presidentes, ahí nació un novimeinto
muy fuerte, el del Sur. Nosotros somos hombres y mujeres del Sur, nosotros
somos portadores, con estos documentos, con estas ideas, con estas críticas,
con estas reflexiones que ya cierro mi carpeta y el libro me lo llevo, no
olviden que se los recomiendo mucho, con mucha humildad, tratamos de aportar
ideas para la salvación de este Planeta, para salvarlo de la amenaza
imperialista y para que ojala pronto, en este siglo, no muy tarde, ojalá
podamos verlo nosotros y vivirlo mejor nuestros hijos y nuestros nietos, un
mundo de paz bajo los principios fundamentales de la Organización de
Naciones Unidas, relanzada y reubicada. Creo que a Naciones Unidas tenemos
que ubicarla en otro país, en alguna ciudad del Sur, hemos propuesto desde
Venezuela, ustedes saben que mi médico personal se tuvo que quedar encerrado
en el avión, el Jefe de mi seguridad se tuvo que quedar encerrado en el
avión, no les permitieron venir a Naciones Unidas. Otro abuso y atropello
Señora Presidenta que pedimos de Venezuela quede registrado como atropello
hasta personal del Diablo, huele a azufre, pero Dios está con nosotros, un
buen abrazo y que Dios nos bendiga a todos. Muy buenos días.
