Venezuela's Hugo Chavez defends 'Carlos the Jackal'

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has defended jailed killer "Carlos the Jackal" and several world leaders he says are wrongly considered "bad guys".

In a speech to international socialist politicians, Mr Chavez said "Carlos", a Venezuelan, was not a terrorist but a key "revolutionary fighter".

He is serving a life sentence in France for murders committed in 1975.

Mr Chavez also hailed Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the late Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

'Great nationalist'

Carlos, whose real name is Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, gained international notoriety in the 1970s as a mastermind of deadly bombings, assassinations and hostage-takings.

He was captured in Sudan in 1994 and handed over to France, where he was jailed for killing two French intelligence officers and an alleged informer in 1975.

In his speech late on Friday in Caracas, Mr Chavez said: "I defend him. It doesn't matter to me what they say tomorrow in Europe."

He said he believed Carlos had been unfairly convicted, and called him "one of the great fighters of the Palestine Liberation Organisation".

The Venezuelan leader has previously called Carlos a friend, and is reported to have exchanged letters with him in the past.

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In his speech, Mr Chavez also described Presidents Mugabe and Ahmadinejad - who like Mr Chavez are strong critics of the US - as brothers.

About former Ugandan President Idi Amin, Mr Chavez said: "We thought he was a cannibal... I don't know, maybe he was a great nationalist, a patriot."

Idi Amin seized power in 1971. About 300,000 people were killed during his eight-year rule.

BBC News - Venezuela's Hugo Chavez defends 'Carlos the Jackal'

kaya'08 said:

In his speech, Mr Chavez also described Presidents Mugabe and Ahmadinejad - who like Mr Chavez are strong critics of the US - as brothers.

About former Ugandan President Idi Amin, Mr Chavez said: "We thought he was a cannibal... I don't know, maybe he was a great nationalist, a patriot."

Idi Amin seized power in 1971. About 300,000 people were killed during his eight-year rule.

BBC News - Venezuela's Hugo Chavez defends 'Carlos the Jackal'

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I don't understand why those guys call themselves socialists when they couldn't be less concerned about the fair treatment of workers or having an egalitarian society.

We should call them what they are: fascists.

Chavez must be looking for attention.

Luis Posada Carriles


We have our own terrorists that we call freedom fighters and defend too.

Neitzluber said:

I don't understand why those guys call themselves socialists when they couldn't be less concerned about the fair treatment of workers or having an egalitarian society.

We should call them what they are: fascists.

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Both socialism and communism are based on the principle that the goods and services produced in an economy should be owned publicly, and controlled and planned by a centralized organization. Socialism asserts that the distribution should take place according to the amount of individuals' production efforts, however, while communism asserts that that goods and services should be distributed among the populace according to individuals' needs.

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http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-socialism-and-communism.htm

It can be difficult to tell the differences between the two but they have one thing in common for sure. Those in positions of power in either Socialist or Communist Nations always live a life of privilege not to unlike the rich capitalists, or Royalty they despise and rail against the most. They may appear in public dressed as a commoner and continually identify themselves with and as any other regular citizen, all the while living a life of luxury. Many also have astonishing records of death and destruction they are in some cases able to hide to the outside world until the number become too large to hide.

We are on the road to socialism and the indicators grow almost daily, and it's up to us to stop it.

We as a Nation have a sad history of not living up to our values and sometimes pretending not to know what it going on. Any time there is a dictator anywhere in the world human rights takes a back seat or a dirt nap. Hugo's embracing bad guys is no surprise. What is a curious thing is how Obama thinks he can influence people like Chavez or Ahmadinejad by talking to them. Not unlike Richard Nixon meeting with Mao Zedong in 1972. The difference is Nixon had no illusion of changing anything, he was all about opening a market. But he met with one of the worst murderers in history.