From the "Who Will Rid Me Of This Meddlesome Priest" Department…
Television evangelist Pat Robertson told viewers the U.S. should kill Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to prevent the Latin American country from becoming a “launching pad” for extremism, the Associated Press said.
From Bloomberg. Ezra Klein has comments in It Was The Christian Thing To Do. Apparently, Venezuela is upset.
Thanks to Nick for distracting me from useful work. [Formerly titled “Today’s Blog Is All About Being Speechless.” Link to Ezra corrected, thanks Allan!]
Ezra’s link: http://ezraklein.typepad.com/blog/2005/08/it_was_the_chri.html
Traditional talmudic (Jewish) interpretation of the biblical laws Ezra mentions set up so many legalistic hurdles that it was virtually impossible to execute anyone under the law.
Of course, this is the same guy who claimed, “I really believe I’m hearing from the Lord it’s going to be like a blowout election in 2004.” and has been on the record defending Liberia’s Charles Taylor. (http://www.danieldrezner.com/archives/000030.html)
Given how many [entirely justified] people are jumping all over this, it will be interesting to see whether an equal and opposite reaction is inspired by political opponents: will anyone actually try to defend Robertson on this one?
Allan: I don’t believe the US is that far. Yet.
Well, I’ll point out that most real-world politicians would never openly *say* such a thing, but quite a few, while in the White House, might order it done quietly. Certainly, there are lots of stories of the US having tried to do away with Saddam for years and years. And plenty of weird meddling in Central and South America involving assassination, military takeovers, torture, and terror. (Go ask the ghost of Salvador Allende if American officials ever do stuff like this.)
–John