Cablegate: Western Hemisphere: Venezuela's Unsc Candidacy; Sao Paulo

VZCZCXYZ0008
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSO #1039 2711109
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 281109Z SEP 06
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5823
INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 6881
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 7461
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 2582

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 001039

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD

DEPT PASS USTR

USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: VENEZUELA'S UNSC CANDIDACY; SAO PAULO

"Having Bush As Counterpoint Helps Chvez"
International commentator Newton Carlos opines in leading national
circulation daily liberal Folha de S. Paulo (9/28): "Hugo Chvez
wouldn't have any importance if he didn't have George W. Bush as
counterpoint.... Washington's uncompromising hostility favored the
emergence of an anti-Bush, a condition Chvez has assumed
aggressively to the point of feeling himself free to engage in
excesses, such as in his recent speech at the UN. The isolation of
Chvez's, initiated by Condoleezza Rice, is currently trying to
prevent Venezuela from obtaining a non-permanent seat in the
Security Council.... Chvez also uses the fact that Venezuela is a
victim of measures that are reminiscent of 'dirty wars,' such as its
inclusion among nations that are watched by a special intelligence
unit. Thomas Friedman wrote that Bush is the most unpopular U.S.
president in history. It's the hook Chvez uses."
McMullen

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