Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez suggested creating a joint
military force for the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas
(ALBA) member nations to fend off any possible United States
military aggression.
Speaking during his Sunday show "Alo Presidente" alongside
special guest Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, he said "we are
going to commission a working paper. We need a joint ALBA defense
strategy."
Ortega backed the idea, adding that the United States was
working via Colombia to threaten "not only Venezuela but also the
whole of Latin America."
"If they mess with one of us, then they will be dealing with all
of us," Ortega said. "Touching Venezuela would mean setting the
region alight. Messing with Venezuela is messing with all of Latin
America."
Chavez added that Brazil's President Luiz Inacio da Silva had
recently agreed with the idea of creating a South American defense
council, and that using the same logic not only a defense council
but dedicated armed forces could be created.
Chavez said he believed that Colombia, acting on US instructions
was acting to create obstacles for the proposed South American
Union of Nations or Unasur, citing that nation's decision to
suspend Unasur planning meetings scheduled there without giving any
explanation.
"That was an act of disrespect towards other nations," he said.
"We are sure that Colombia is following Washington's guidelines to
create obstacles for the integration of our peoples. Colombia's
oligarchy is a threat to integration," he added.
ALBA is made up of Bolivia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic,
Nicaragua and Venezuela.
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(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2008)
