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The life of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez from his rise as a lieutenant colonel after his failed coup attempt in 1992.
Hours before Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died, his second-in-command accused enemies of giving him cancer and announced the expulsion of two U.S. diplomats for an alleged plot to destabilize the government.
"There's no doubt that Commandante Chavez's health came under attack by the enemy," Vice President Nicolas Maduro said in an address to the nation from the presidential palace.
"The old enemies of our fatherland looked for a way to harm his health,'' according to Maduro, drawing a parallel to the illness and 2004 death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, which some supporters blamed on poisoning by Israeli agents.
He said a special commission would investigate how Chavez, 58, ended up with the unspecified cancer that months of chemotherapy and radiation and four surgeries failed to tame.
State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said in a statement it was "absurd" to suggest that the U.S. was somehow involved in Chavez's illness.
The allegation was made against a backdrop of diplomatic tension, with Caracas announcing that two American Air Force attachés had been given 24 hours to leave the country.
AFP - Getty Images
Venezuelan Vice-President Nicolas Maduro (L) speaking at a meeting on Venezuela's political future in Caracas on March 5, 2013, in a picture provided by the government press office.
Maduro accused one of them, David Delmonaco, of spying and meeting with Venezuelan military officials for nefarious purposes. The expulsion of the second, Devlin Kostal, was announced soon after.
Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Todd Breasseale said Delmonaco would be leaving Caracas and that Kostal was already in the U.S. and denied the allegations against them.
"We completely reject the Venezuelan government's claim that the United States is involved in any type of conspiracy to destabilize Venezuela government," he said.
Ventrell also dismissed the accusations.
"Notwithstanding the significant differences between our governments, we continue to believe it important to seek a functional and more productive relationship with Venezuela based on issues of mutual interest," he said.
"This fallacious assertion of inappropriate U.S. action leads us to conclude that, unfortunately, the current Venezuelan government is not interested in an improved relationship."
Venezuela's relations with the U.S. have been strained for years, and Chavez saw conspiracies everywhere.
In 2008, he expelled the American ambassador, claiming the U.S. was orchestrating a military coup. He had repeatedly claimed to be the target of assassination plots from domestic and international opponents.
NBC News' Havana bureau chief Mary Murray, the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report
Previous coverage:
Chavez's breathing problems worsen with severe new infection
Kennedy under fire for praising Chavez
Leave a Comment:
sounds like the VP is snorting to much cocaine, the paranoia is setting in.. HOW did the U.S. give cancer to Hugo Chavez and the sad thing is that the uneducated people of Venezuela believe this tool !
Hugo is dead and they want to distract the public so the VP can remain in charge without an election by claiming to be under attack by the U.S. and give them all cancer !
Chavez and his regime seem to have a healthy respect (aka fear) of the United States.
You'd be very, very surprised what the CIA and DARPA are capable of.
They already have drone like robotic "insects" that are life size that not only can they control with a live camera feed, they can actually "bite" someone with a chemical that induces a heart attack.
I wouldnt put anything past our government. Hell, they had silencers put into briefcases and used to assassinate people simply by walking by them and pulling a trigger on the handle. And that was in the 1950s!
I would not put it past CIA
I'm telling you, read "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" by John Perkins. Mr. Chavez is NOT paranoid...the US sends in Economic Hit Men to other countries to destabilize them by offering huge loans for infrastructure. Then when they default on the loan, the US sends in the military to seize assets (oil). It happens ALL THE TIME. It is how Chavez was ousted years ago, but he came back and has been fighting the same thing for years. The US has to stop invading other countries or we will never be great again.
But guess what...China is doing the same thing to us. And you people are angry at Chavez...for what? Do you know that he donates oil to poor people in New York...he doesn't have to do that, especially in the US - a country that has been after his resources for decades. I'm sure Chavez is no angel, but that isn't our concern. Geez people, read a book or look at the story behind the story for a change.
We now know that Hugo isn't the only whack job in the Venezuelan government.
Given our record of trying to kill Castro this wouldn't surprise me in the least.
For the record, it's not the US govt that is destabilizing other countries, it is "private corporations" so they don't have to follow international law.
"The four-term president has had four surgeries for an unnamed cancer in his pelvic region".
I'm curious, did the US infect him with uterine cancer?
Simple people like you are ignorant of the "slow kill" and "soft kill" programmes of the "MK-ULTRA" operations of the past 60 years !
let's send Rodman down there to wish him well.
ehh all those Probes he got from the ALiens
It is very likely that Chavez is already dead. His VP wants to hang on to power without having to be elected so he is keeping up the fiction that Chavez is still alive. This gives him time to promote his idiotic conspiracy theories, which the ignorant masses in the country will unfortunately believe, and sell himself as the person who is best suited to battle against the evil doers. Then when he thinks he has the people where he wants them it will be announced that Chavez has died and call for new elections. Of course at the same time he will claim to be the savior that can continue on with Chavez's vision for the country and manipulate the people into electing him. It is really unfortunate when the people of a country are so ignorant and gullible that people like this can manipulate them to keep control.
Cancer came from one of those old "Castro cigars" the CIA had lying around.
Hummmmmmmmmm Fifty years ago ...I wouldn't have believed my country would participate in such a scurrilous, repugnant act ...... Today ... I'm, regrettably, sure they would!
Hummmmm JS in SD we live in perhaps the most manipulated society on the face of the planet and you complain about Venezuela? ... We are the nation that that sucks up manipulated "Non News" lol
Think the V.P is smoking too much Crack!
In other political news from Venezuela..........The Easter Bunny has been deported for spying and trying to convert Venezuelans to stupidity.
Seriously? Someone collapsed my comment?
It is
Bush's Republicans'Obama's fault this happened.He must have transmitted some cancer bugs to Chavez when he shook hands with him.
Maybe the V.P. and Biden could get together to share some of their favorite "comments".
Yep, "Buy a double barreled shotgun and shoot it twice from your front porch to scare off the intruders."
just when i thought the accusations against us couldnt get stranger....
I do believe Hugo Chavez died.
This is the routine Communist Countries/Middle East/N. Africa use so they can get their lineup of Officials to run the Country continuing the torture of their own people. Yes, they believe whatever is said to them, because they are locked up from the real world Media.
Attacked by his Enemies?. The only Enemy was Hugo Chavez himself. He met with the Devil.
He did die.
Just this morning I told my husband the guy wouldn't last the week.
He may have been young, but cancer kills all ages.
Why do Americans hate Chavez so much? He kicked out the illegal bankers, he kicked out the Oil Companies and gave it's resources to the Venezuelan people. I guess we don't like him because he caused your stocks to go down, boo hoo. Not much doubt that the US had a hand in his death. I'll miss him, not for his actions to help his country, but more for giving the US a big middle finger.
And now Breaking News says Hugo Chavez has died.
Good luck in Hell---it might be better than the way you ran your Country of Venezuela.
Wonder if Sean Penn will be at the Funeral for his friend.
The Dick tater is dead
Good, one jerk less in this world! Go to hell Chavez.
lol... I read this, went to go get food, come back to comment and find the update. haha... looks like you called it. He is dead, and the world's number one enemy is to blame. Some how the US gave him cancer. Whatever.
Trust2112 - Your glad Chavez gave us the finger??? If the US is so bad leave!
He kept trying to convince them rabbits could lay eggs and they just wouldn't buy it...
I would if I could, because idiots like you cannot fathom what 60 cent gasoline would do for our country, economically. Do you even know anything about what he has done in his country? From what I've seen, Venezuela is in a lot better shape than my piss poor excuse of leadership. Maybe you need to re-read what freedom is all about, because you're not getting it here in the good ol USA. Go read that article about how the President just outlined legit killings of Americans on American soil, and then blab on to someone who actually believes your lies and propaganda, instead of facts and truth.
Yes mother@!$%#er ...we gave him cancer !!!
Now STFU or we are sending testicular cancer your way next. !!!
Good riddance to bad rubbish !!!!
"'There's no doubt that Commandante Chavez's health came under attack by the enemy,' Vice President Nicolas Maduro said"
Nonsense, folderol, and bushwa!
Everyone knows the CIA gave up the Cancer Dart program after the Hemorrhoid Ray was a failure.
Who but the VP had more to gain in the death of Chavez? It seems to me the first one to point fingers and blame is probably the culprit.
HaHa. So many people on this post seem to be ignorant to the fact that the US will replace leaders that don't agree with us - even while it's happening everyday. Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Panama, Cuba (Oops..still trying). You say "How could we give him cancer?" - it's called chemical warfare, spies have been making people sick for years. We're accusing the Soviets of giving a British agent a rare form of radioactive poisoning a few years ago. I'm not saying we did it .... but it's not out of the realm of possibility.
The poor VP, he hasn't heard of the scientific term DNA...won't be surprised if he blames Obama as the secondary cause for whatever reason he may have in doing so...it may be the Martians...or the American reality shows...
This Maduro is a criminal liar.Or maybe he has a brain tumor that makes him gaga.I think the first possibility is more likely.Typical dicators big lies.This terrorist Chavez has brought so many terrorists to Latin America that the place is crawling with them.Giving Iranians false passports giving shelter and training to FARC.ETA,IRA .And necking with the ayatollahs of Iran who killed so many people in Buenas Aires.Long live a free Venezuela without demon types like Chavez and Maduro!WE can only hope!!
Talk about the mother of all retarded conspiracy theories. May we see 'proof' of these killer bug bots or is this something you are going to keep secret? Working on is a far cry from already having them in production. And if you quote Infowars, the Alex Jones Show, or Abovetopsecret, I'm going to laugh my ass off at you.
It was Sean Penn! He delivered the cancer to Chavez! He should have known he couldn't trust Jeff Spicoli!
Yes, it was definitely Penn. He gave him big ass cancer!
Well if you think logically, Chavez did have prostate cancer which is pretty much located in your ass. And for years he's been whining about the US being a pain in his ass....so the assumption could be that we really did give him cancer.
Chavez has been "room temperature" for several weeks now........
Was it the sarcastic cartoons, the "ignore that wacko," or keep-your-oil-&-Chaveit?
Sean can send them a box of straws....I think they are down to their last one
Wally,Good comments.I had my laugh for the day.
America gave him cancer? Not too hard to believe. Mexico gave me VD. ;P
Macdeezy.......too good! I'm still laughing on the floor. And to think the good ol' Americans were the ones who did all of his oil exploration, drilling and system set-up in the name of helping the Venezuelan People to move up from the tank.That must be why he loves the socialist repertoire and hates American greed. Hummmm, whats worse socialist extremism or capitalism. Glad I won't have to see this sleazy bast%&d on the other side. No light at the end of his tunnel....which must be pretty big for the pobre cerdo podrida gordo!
Too Funny...Best post I've seen all year.
Sounds like the VP is chomping at the bit to take over.
More like chewing on the straight jacket restraints.
Next
Even Chavez's own body wants him dead.
You can't give cancer to somebody, if that was the case, I guess it would be contagious and we would catch it from someone, kind of like AIDS. We all have cancer cells in our bodies, every person does and healthy bodies reject it and I really don't believe you could take a cancer cell from who??? and give it to someone, and if that possiblity did exist, well maybe it is time for Chavez to go bye-bye, communist piece of trash. I am surprised he did not want Shawn Penn to be his successor. Communist leaders who sick-in-the-head believe that they are God and invincible, they believe thet are above all other men, well I guess he is finding out that is not the case, he is just a man like everyone else and will die just like everyone else. Funny how it is always the US to blame, yet the US supports them all!
I STILL wonder what killed jack ruby... THEY said it was cancer.....
uh oh... a black unmarked helicopter is hovering over my house now......................................
IndustrialStrength.Good one.The bodies wish just came true.
Bye, bye, Steve.
The VP's claims are too stupid to comment on.
I agree Bob. It's also good to see someone here using "too" instead of "to".
Yes, it was those pesky cancer bugs they put in his shoes while he slept.
Uh huh.
Well since the CIA plotted to assasinate Fidel Castro in the 1950's, gave Guatemalans and black men in Tuskegee, AL syphillis 1960's and 1970's, I don't think I'd put it past criminal elements of the US government to give diseases to leaders who don't play ball.
If that conspiracy theory actually worked, why would we spend billions trying to oust people like Saddam or dictators in Iran and North Korea? If it was that easy to rid the world of people we didn't like, there would be a long list of dead dictators, PM's, Presidents, Shahs, etc.
Think Wise - So true!
Sir Kit..... like the great Louisiana General said during Hugo "Your stuck on Stupid" and Im sure you belive 911 was a conspiracy too don't you you left wing nut job.
Fact my Father-in-Law still has property there in Velencia and they were down there last month to check on it, and it took them 2 days to find tolet paper, and 3 days to find meat that could be eaten. yea we really did this let me tell you Communisim is soooo great isnt it, every one gets what everyone has.
Thank you for reminding us
I wish it was that easy to rid the world of these crazy idiots.
"Poisoning"? Sure.
"Infecting with diseases"? Okay, now we're getting a little far-fetched.
"Inflicting cancer"? Now you're not even trying. You might as well blame the CIA for everything, at this point. Did Saddam REALLY die from being hung?! How do we know the CIA didn't poison him first?!?! And I'm sure it was American agents driving those tanks in Tianneman Square.
ThinkWise - Because those billions we spend "removing dictators" in other countries goes to the companies that build infrastructure there. It's not about killing off leaders (sometimes it is as an afterthought) but about making money. Follow the money!
The only thing worse then the stupid VP making up that ridiculous claim, is that there are people here in the US that believe it.
Ohhh now we have to powers to inject cancer into the pelvic region telepathically! Go figure, Oil rich nation filled with poor citizens while there inept government makes bogus claims! VP knows that rhetoric served Chavez well so I guess this is his effort to get elected! And on that note suck hard painful breaths and remember who your master is!
You're just plain wrong, Mike.
No Mike40MD thet dont inject cancer, the subject is exposed to a virus witch causes the cancer. Many bacteria and virus spices can cause cancer. This has been known for some time.
No
Mike40MD they don’t inject cancer, the subject is exposed to a virus which
causes the cancer. Many bacteria and virus spices can cause cancer. This has
been known for some time.
You've got it all wrong. It was the secret cancer ray beam aimed from our secret CIA satellite that uses the Romulan cloaking device to remain hidden. And you thought Star Trek was made up. Ha! This was the first use.
I especially like how, out of all the awful people and dictators causing the United States trouble, apparently we decided to use this amazing, state-of-the-art assassination technique on Hugo Chavez, an annoying but fairly harmless democratically elected president with a tendency to be diplomatically uncooperative who doesn't matter to the US one bit. Because we REALLY need him out of the way. As opposed to, say, Iran's supreme leader, Syria's Assad, North Korea's ruling family, etc...
@Docker69: Exposed to a VIRUS which causes CANCER!? Are you seriously that stupid?? Do you know what cancer even is? Do you know what a virus is?? My god, I was laughing that the VP could be so beast head to make up something like that and to think people would believe it, now I'm horrified by the fact that people are really that stupid to believe him, even in the U.S!
You need to remember who your master is too. Having worked there, the people are poor, but that was due to the crappy contracts our oil companies gave them. I'm glad he kicked them out; he definately cares more about his country than we do. Cuba also for that matter.
Why didn't we use Ear Wicks?
Jatty - Night Gallery - one of my favorite episodes! :)
Maybe he got cancer when he shook Obammy's hand...
If he did, it would be a coup for Obama.
No, if that was the case, he would have been cured. Check the DOW Jones instead of bashing our President. This article is about Chavez not Obama.
I thought they were buds?
Close, Chavez referred to him as, "my brother" not buds.
it is hard to tell their policies apart
Oh god! This is precious! I just love these characters. They're so amusing.
Good job cancer-izing el Generalisimo Chavez, Obama. Next stop: Ahmadinajad. Better not eat those nachos, Mahmud - they're loaded with American cancer germs.
Well, I'm off to search Ebay for a box of those cancer germs. Maybe I'll pick up some gay germs with it, too. Gonna wreak havoc on Kim Jong Un's GI tract.
From both ends?
Ahminjababalalabingbang has already moved into his "bubble."
It seems many countries in the world are led by a bunch of loonies, including the U.S.
Well, if you're living in the U.S. and don't like it, don't let the door hit you on the way out. If you can do better, get on the next ballot instead of whining.
Take it easy Think Wise, you may get some of those cancer bugs from kissing Obama's A$$
Who care's! Guy can't get to hell soon enough.
Crap, they figured it out.
Our cancer laser weapon is now out in the open.
Dammit Area 51!
let's not forget about our "earthquake machine" either. The US really did a number on Haiti with that weapon or at least so said the fearless Commandante.
These guys are a real piece of work, I can't figure if they're being serious or just not.
It's amazing what Saturday morning cartoons do to a man. Every opponent seems to turn into a Captain Planet villain.
The sun isn't real. Its just a big light bulb the U.S put up to give the world skin cancer. Evil Americans.
Oh Wow,
This is greatest "my enemies made sick" fantasies since Richard Nixon blamed his plebitis problems and Mrs. Nixon's failing health on the Left. Never mind that he was a booze hound and she (like Jackie-O) was an anorectic who smoked like a factory outside of camera range.
Just kick the bucket already and take castro with you to HELL!!!!
Cancer sucks.
Ask John Boehner what he was doing on the night in question, he's responsible for everything negative that happens. Maybe Obama can waste a few million flying down there to heal him with a touch of his hand. If the USA is in luck they'll keep him.
I thought everything was GW Bush's fault?! 8^Þ
Rot in hell, Chavez.
Ah yes, the messiah that the libs claim him to be should be able to perform a miracle and heal him. Burn in hell Chavez and take O with you!
Oblamo won't go...all the TV stations are nationalized, he can't get the press coverage he craves....also, they don't have any sports stars for him to golf or play baskeball with....maybe baseball though...
OMG. And these people are actually running a country. Are the leaders that stupid, or do they think the citizens are that stupid? Or both?
Were you referring to Venezuela or the U.S. ?
Mark, are you talking about Venezuela or the U.S.A.?
I think it was more caused by megalomaniac paranoia.
Do they have processed or fast food there? That's the answer.
Cuban cigars did him in.
I don't care if his cancer came from his "enemies" or Divine intervention. I'm just glad it came.
And...hope he's suffering!
Why? What did he ever do to you?
Brighteyes, why don't you ask all the cubans that fled to the US that question. Chavez is going to hell where he belongs!
He has gone to hell!!
Kanic:
What does Chavez have to do with Cubans fleeing to the US? Chavez is Venezuelan.