Obama says he doesn't agree with Hugo Chavez's economic and foreign policy but just because he shakes Chavez's hand doesn't mean he's endangering the strategic interests of the U.S.
Obama speaks on Obama Doctrine:
Obama speaks at the conference on Roxana Saberi:
Obama brushes asides critics who thought Obama shouldn't be shaking hands with Chavez:
Obama speaks at the conference on Roxana Saberi:
Obama brushes asides critics who thought Obama shouldn't be shaking hands with Chavez:
The president's greeting of Venezuela's Chavez drew quick condemnation from Republicans back home, but Obama brushed that aside.On a new Venezeulan ambassador:
He said Venezuela has a defense budget about one-six hundredth the size of the United States', and owns Citgo, the oil company. "It's hard to believe we are endangering the strategic interests of the United States" when he talks with Chavez, he said.
The trip was Obama's first presidential journey to the region, and he said the meeting of heads of state had the potential to create greater progress on economic progress, climate control and immigration. MSNBC
The Venezuelan leader told reporters he will propose Roy Chaderton, his current ambassador to the Organization of American States, as the country's new representative in a move toward improving strained ties with Washington.
Chavez, an ally of Cuba, a U.S. nemesis, expelled the U.S. ambassador to Venezuela, Patrick Duddy, in September in solidarity with leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales, who ordered out the top U.S. diplomat in his country. MSNBC
