Chavez says Obama “lost in space” on Latin America

CARACAS, (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama is  “lost in the Andromeda” galaxy on Latin American policy, his  chief critic in the region, Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, said  yesterday, while demanding the closure of U.S. military bases.

Last week Obama said critics of U.S. involvement in Latin  America who are now asking Washington to do more to restore the  ousted president of Honduras “can’t have it both ways.”

“We are not asking you to intervene in Honduras, Obama. On  the contrary, we are asking that “the empire” get its hands off  Honduras and get its claws out of Latin America,” Chavez said  in a rambling weekly television and radio show.

“President Obama is lost in the Andromeda Nebula, he has  lost his bearings, he doesn’t get it,” he said.
Chavez repeated an accusation that the United States had  prior knowledge of the coup that deposed Honduran President  Manuel Zelaya on June 28 and the military plane that flew  Zelaya out of the country had used a U.S. base in Honduras.

Despite Chavez’s frequent tirades against U.S. imperialism,  the United States remains the main client for Venezuelan oil,  though the OPEC country is gradually increasing sales to other  countries, especially China.

Chavez, who expelled the U.S. ambassador to Venezuela at  the end of the Bush administration but allowed him back when  Obama took office, said he still believes Obama has good  intentions.

Obama has promised to improve U.S. relations with Latin  America. U.S. officials say his administration will put more  effort into ties with the region to counter Chavez’s growing  influence.

The leftist Venezuelan leader is furious, however, at a  U.S. security agreement with Colombia that will give the  Pentagon access to seven Colombian military bases. Chavez has  cut trade with his neighbor as a reprisal.

The United States and Colombia say the deal is an expansion  of an existing accord and will help fight drug traffickers and  guerrillas involved in the Colombian cocaine trade. Chavez says  a larger U.S. troop presence risks sparking war in the region.

Venezuela is planning to beef up its army by buying tanks  and other weapons from Russia, Chavez said, adding that his  country needs to be prepared for an attack.