Sunday, December 21, 2003

Another attempt to derail petition: What else is new? Pro-Chavez forces are once again trying to throw a stumbling block in the path of the referendum, this time by asking that the CNE digitize and check all of the fingerprints gathered with the petition in late December. Of course, if this was required, the process would not be completed before August as the CNE does not have either the equipment nor the know how required to do this. This has never been required in any Venzuelan election or in the two referenda held in 2000 to change and approve the new Constitution. To those that keep questioning whether the opposition has or not the required votes, I ask: If that were so, why not just have the referendum, beat the opposition and get it over with? The answer, to me, is quite obvious. 7:59:46 PM    comment []

US Treasury department follows Al-Qaeda link in Venezuela Local newspaper El Universal reports that the US Government is following a trail of money that financed the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks from Venezuela. According to the article, since the 1993 attacks on the World Trade Center funds from Venezuela have helped finance Al-Qaeda. Reportedly, local banks are helping follow the money trail with agents from the Department of the Treasury. The money leads to three states: Zulia, Nueva Esparta (where Margarita island is located) and Tachira. 7:46:44 PM    comment []

It's the holiday season, relax It's the holiday season, relax and enjoy these pictures of orchids I just posted. 7:38:58 PM    comment []