2001: Hugo Chavez Refused President Bush’s Demand to Retract Criticism of US Bombing in Afghanistan

Following the 9/11/2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, President Bush announced a “War on Terror,” saying: “Either you are with us, or you’re with the terrorists.” On October 7, 2001, the US began bombing suspected terrorist camps in Afghanistan. On a TV broadcast in Venezuela on October 29,2001, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez held up a photo of children killed by the US bombing. He condemned the US bombing in Afghanistan as a “slaughter of innocents,” saying: “This is fighting terrorism with more terrorism.” [1] He said their deaths had “no justification, just as the attacks in New York did not either.” [1] The U.S. State Department reproached Chavez for making the comparison as “totally inappropriate.” [1]

Following Chavez’s TV appearance, Donna Hrinak, US Ambassador to Venezuela, was recalled to Washington for “consultations.” [1]. After returning to Venezuela, Hrinak requested a meeting with Chavez and read a letter from President Bush demanding that Chavez publicly retract his criticism of the US bombing.[2] Chavez refused and told Hrinak to leave his office.[2]

Hugo Chavez visited the World Trade Center 9/11 site on November 10, 2001 and condemned the 9/11 attacks on the United States as acts of terror.



 1.    New York Times, U.S., Irritated by Criticism, Calls Envoy Home from Venezuela, November 3, 2001.

2.    Venezuelanalysis, US Ambassadors to Venezuela: A Chronology of Failure, February 18, 2012.

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