Visiting Venezuela

[Look for The Truth]

Bananee wrote:

<quoted text>
You sound like Chavez..he'd love for the US to kiss off -- a self fulfilling prophecy in his own right, he wants the US to hate him back....we were always friends until he decided we were enemies. Best of luck to you...I'd rather live in the land of the free and the brave than the land of the "do what I do or kiss off!"

I think we were friends until Bush and will be again when he is gone.

[Number1NYyankeef an]

goodday everybody,Im currently in the US military,and me and my buddies also in the military are intrested in visiting venezuela,can anyone tell me about the tourist sites and the nightlife(bars and clubs)there..

[Looscious]

Can't we all just get along?

[DownSouth]

It's been about 12 years since I worked in Maracaibo. Even then we were warned (many times) about leaving the hotel without local escorts. Fear of kidnapping and muggings were common. There were doormen at the hotel so you could get in the car without people coming up to you for money. People living in cardboard boxes right outside the hotel. Everyone I rode in a car with used a club to lock their steering wheel everytime they got out of their car. I will say I met some great people there that I have lost contact with. My wife and I did slip away to shop and had a great time, many people and storeowners looked after us when they found out we were alone, driving us around and showing us their town. Don't let their political leaders cloud your views of the people (some of the best I have met), I would love to go there again in better times.

[B I G Mike 6ft4 255]

Number1NYyankeefan wrote:

goodday everybody,Im currently in the US military,and me and my buddies also in the military are intrested in visiting venezuela,can anyone tell me about the tourist sites and the nightlife(bars and clubs)there..

Fairly safe places to go:
Merida, Canaima, Colonia Tovar, Los Roques, Choroni

Less Safe places to go:
Chichriviche, Tucacas, Margarita

Most big cities can be very deceiving. Because of the disparity between rich and poor, crime is prevalent, and what may look like a more accommodating area, may well be the most dangerous. Use caution in Caracas, Barquisimeto, Valencia, Maracay, Puerto Cabello. Do not go to Barinas or San Cristobal, unless just passing through. The area near the Maiquetia and La Guira are especially dangerous. DO NOT take taxis in this area. Use O N L Y the "Black Explorer" taxi service. VERY important!

[Sanity]

Bananee wrote:

<quoted text>
Chavez is so full of himself and has convinced himself that the US is trying to overthrow him. The US has supported many Venezuelans who wanted a new regime. However, now that the votes are in the US is not doing anything to Chavez. His rhetoric looks ridiculous to those of us in the US who have no interest in fighting with the Venezuelans. Calling our president Hitler, a donkey, an alcoholic just makes Chavez look foolish to those outside of your country. He just wants to look mightier than he is by offending the big boys..he's just a big bully. Read something other than the Chavez controlled media so you can see what the rest of the world sees.
The US has many untapped resources of our own within this country. We will survive without Venezuelan oil. There are other countries that have as much if not more oil than Venezuela, and the US has the technology for alternative fuels. With gas prices high there is more incentive for getting the country away from oil.
As far as Iraq..we have lost thousands of our brave young men over there. We have given the ultimate sacrifice..our loved ones. We have gotten rid of a horrible man, Saddam Hussein, who gassed and mutilated his own people. We have put into place an opportunity for an Iraqi Run Government and we are planning to get out of there ASAP! The US has no intentions of staying in Iraq for any reason after the Iraqis are capable of securing their own nation.
You can choose to believe Chavez's rhetoric if it makes you happy...but believe me no one is planning on attacking Venezuela...especially not the US. The US would have no issues with a socially run Venezuela if it helped the people and if the leader wasn't a dictator who uses insults and fabrications to make a point. Chavez has continued to attack the leadership, morals and viability of a very powerful neighbor. If our goal was to overtake him it would have been completed by now.
The US has no interest in attacking, controlling or invading Venezuela..hopefully Chavez will never provoke something that was never intended by the US.

Chavez is losing the support of ALL his assumed South American allies..Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, etc.
Now he is trying to scare countries to his side by making up a ficticious plot by Colombia and the US.

There is no plot. The US is only interested in stopping the drugs.

This ficticious plot message along with threats of war will drive any possible "friends" even further away from him. It is his last gasp and when it fails he will be alone. His support from within Venezuela is already crumbling

[B I G Mike 6ft4 255]

If he provokes a war, the #1 target will not be troops, bases, or infrastructure.
It will be Chavez! Aggression = SUICIDE for him.

[Sanity]

B I G Mike 6ft4 255 wrote:

If he provokes a war, the #1 target will not be troops, bases, or infrastructure.
It will be Chavez! Aggression = SUICIDE for him.

Amen