Venezuela: US May Attack Our Country

Caracas, Nov 19 (Prensa Latina) Venezuela concludes on Saturday a week marked by firm actions regarding foreign policy, mainly a strong response to reiterated, open US attacks.

The latest US darts hit Venezuela as there is an underlying crisis with Mexico in the wake of criticism by President Vicente Fox of Venezuela"s rejection of the Washington-sponsored Free Trade Area of the Americas.

The diplomatic crisis with Mexico started during the Summit of the Americas recently held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, and it led to withdrawal of their respective ambassadors after Venezuela rejected a Mexican ultimatum.

This bilateral crisis remains stagnant. Mexico is demanding an apology Venezuela sees as unjustified, while thousands of people are marching of Saturday in Caracas in support of President Hugo Chavez" stand in the controversy.

To cap it all, as if part of a well-written script, the row with Fox was immediately followed by an attack on Venezuela by US Undersecretary of State for the Western Hemisphere Thomas Shannon.

Speaking before the House of Representatives, Shannon reiterated the same anti-Venezuela arguments of his predecessor Roger Noriega while admitting that the White House is working to support internal opposition in the South American country.

After he heard about Shannon's remarks, President Chavez warned on a new US offensive against his country.

He added that this new offensive stems from the US failure in the Summit of the Americas.

In Chavez" opinion, the northern power represents the most serious threat facing the planet. However, he said Venezuela is ready "to resist whatever may come" and will continue struggling for democratic, peaceful revolution.

The Venezuelan president's reaction was echoed by his Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez, who stressed that Washington "will not find us unarmed if it does the crazy thing of attacking Venezuela."