Red Venezuela Establishing Beach Head in U.S. Territory?
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (USA) - Venezuelan exile groups in this U.S. territory accuse Hugo Chavez of interfering with the internal affairs of the United States by expanding his "Bolivarian Circles" to U.S. shores.

At the popular local talk show "En La Mirilla" (In The Cross Hairs), Venezuelan exile leaders exposed the attempts of the Chavez "Bolivarian Revolution" to stir revolt in this U.S. Commonwealth. The accusations coincide with the visit of Venezuelan Minister Luis Tascón to the island. Tascón, infamous for publishing lists of opposition members in Venezuela by using electoral lists, is in Puerto Rico to meet with local pro-independence leaders.

The Venezuelan government has made its official policy to support independence for Puerto Rico. The United States annexed Puerto Rico after expelling the Spanish Crown during the Spanish-American War of 1898. Puerto Ricans have been American citizens since 1917. In 1952 Puerto Rico adopted a constitution like that of the 50 states and is self-governing in local matters. Under the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and the Territorial Clause of the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Congress maintains sovereignty over the islands. Voters in Puerto Rico are about evenly split on the issue of becoming a full-fledged U.S. state or maintaining the status quo. Support for the only registered pro-independence political party numbers at less than three percent, according to the last general election in 2004.

The Venezuelan exile leaders are warning that Hugo Chavez is trying to further become a "thorn on the side of the United States" by providing support to fringe causes in the U.S. like the anti-war-on-terror movement and Puerto Rico independence. They further called attention to Chavez' next appointment as Venezuelan Consul to Puerto Rico of a retired military officer, "Chavizta crony", and "intelligence officer" [the name escapes me], as someone who will direct the Chavez regime's "military activities" in this U.S. territory.

Territorial Senator Luis D. Muñiz called in to the show to announce that he will demand a Puerto Rico Senate investigation into Venezuela's meddling in the internal affairs of the United States.