Leave it to the bombastic "president" of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, to make an outrageous speech soon after his government declared that US airlines would have to cut back on flights to the country. If you didn't already know, "Shithead Yankees, go to hell!" is not the kind of talk you usually hear in diplomatic circles--at least publicly!
Chávez has demanded that US ambassador Patrick Duddy (who is not Patrick Duffy) leave the country in the next 72 hours. (Neighborhood buddy Evo Morales expelled the US ambassador to Bolivia Thursday.) Chávez says he's just acting in solidarity with Morales; the US has already asked its Venezuelan ambassador to leave in retaliation.
We're getting ever-more worried that travel restrictions are gonna be the result of all the fighting, whether that means increased suspicion at customs when returning to the US from South America or new visa requirements. As travelers who like to cross borders freely, ¿por qué no te callas, Chávez?
Related Stories:
· Behind Chavez's Anti-US Rant [TIME]
· US Tells Venezuelan Ambassador to Leave [AFP, via Google]
· Venezuela Fires Back at US over Flights [Jaunted]]]>