Robertson Controversy Sheds Light on Chavez’ Reign
Robertson’s statement brought the Venezuelan leader to the international limelight, with various media outlets running articles about his animosity toward the U.S. government.
Christian televangelist Pat Robertson on Wednesday apologized for his controversial remarks calling for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, but stood by his original stance that the left-leaning Latin American leader poses a great threat to both national and international security.
“Is it right to call for assassination? No, and I apologize for that statement,” Robertson said Wednesday on his 700 club television program. “I spoke in frustration that we should accommodate the man who thinks the U.S. is out to kill him.”
The controversy began Monday when Robertson said the U.S. should stop Chavez from making Venezuela a “launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism.”
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"If he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it," Robertson said.
After two days of heavy criticism from left and right politicians and religious leaders, Robertson said he respects the disagreements but stood by his initial remarks.
”There are many who disagree with my comments, and I respect their opinions,” he said. “In any event, the incredible publicity surrounding my remarks has focused our government’s attention on a growing problem which has been largely ignored.”
Indeed, Robertson’s statement brought the Venezuelan leader to the international limelight, with various media outlets running articles about his animosity toward the U.S. government.
In a video clip about Hugo Chavez, CNN mentioned the threats Chavez poses to U.S. security. The video shed light on Chavez’s decisions to undermine US efforts to spread democracy by supporting Cuban dictator Fidel Castro and other leftist leaders in Bolivia.
Chavez is also known for courting oil-hungry countries like China and sworn U.S. enemies like Iran. The Latin American leader often blames U.S. “imperialism” for the world’s poverty and publicly admits he is leading his country toward socialism. Meanwhile, top U.S. officials say they are concerned about democracy under the flamboyant Venezuelan leader and have accused his government of financing ‘’anti-democratic groups’’ in Bolivia, Ecuador and other Latin American countries – a charge Chavez denies.
In his retraction, Robertson took note that Chavez has found “common cause with terrorists” by visiting “Iran reportedly to gain access to nuclear technology” and referring to Saddam Hussein and Castro as his comrades.
“Col. Chavez also intends to fund the violent overthrow of democratically elected governments throughout South America, beginning with neighboring Colombia,” Robertson said.
He also quoted German Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was killed by the Nazi army for joining in an attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler.
“If I see a madman driving a car into a group of innocent bystanders, then I can’t, as a Christian, simply wait for the catastrophe and then comfort the wounded and bury the dead. I must try to wrestle the steering wheel out of the hands of the driver,” Robertson said, quoting Bonhoeffer.
According to CNN, assassinations of world leaders have been forbidden since President Ford signed an executive order in 1976. Administration officials have remained sharply critical of Venezuela, the fourth-largest supplier of oil to the United States.
