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Via Reuters
Venezuela’s top diplomat called a senior U.S. official “petulant” and ill-mannered on Wednesday in response to her contention that sanctions were intended to change the government, not topple it.
Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez was responding to State Department Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson’s comments explaining a U.S. declaration that Venezuela is a security threat and its sanctioning of seven officials earlier this week.
“In a rude and petulant manner, Mrs. Jacobson tells us what to do,” Rodriguez told local TV. “I know her very well because I have seen her personally, her way of walking, chewing. You need manners to deal with people and with countries.”
The moves by President Barack Obama’s administration have infuriated President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist government, which has accused Washington of planning military attacks and wider Cuba-style trade sanctions. State TV has been playing old footage of the U.S. invasions of Grenada and Panama.
Maduro has also asked parliament to grant him six-month special decree powers, given the “imperialist” threat, a move foes have condemned as a power-grab and attempt to distract Venezuelans from shortages and recession.[…]
But political analysts believe the U.S. spat may give Maduro a bounce, albeit a temporary one.
Venezuela’s allies are supportive, with Cuba mocking the U.S. moves despite its own recent rapprochement with Washington.
“We will respond to this grotesque, illegal, shameless, unheard of and unjustified meddling by the United States,” added Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, announcing a meeting on the issue next week of foreign ministers of regional bloc UNASUR, which has generally backed Venezuela’s stance.