Republicans regard Venezuela as threat for US security

Venezuela has become a "narco-terrorist" State, a haven for Middle Eastern terrorists, a regional head office for the Hezbollah Lebanese militia and "an increasing threat to U.S. security," as stated by campaign aides of the newly nominated US Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney.

This week at the 40th Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, Venezuela was widely mentioned as one of the countries the US should look out for, as 65-year-old Rommey was formally announced as the Republican presidential candidate on Thursday, AFP reported.

The Republican Party platform openly discloses the party's opinion on President Chávez's government in its section "Strengthening Ties in the Americas". "Venezuela represents an increasing threat to US security, a threat which has grown much worse on the current president's watch. The current regime issues Venezuelan passports or visas to thousands of Middle Eastern terrorists offering safe haven to Hezbollah," the document states.

"Alternatively, we will stand with the true democracies of the region against both Marxist subversion and the drug lords, helping them to become prosperous alternatives to the collapsing model of Venezuela and Cuba", the documents adds.

Translated by Andreína Trujillo