Foreign Policy

Hugo gets Nick's goat. McClatchy (03.23.07):

"In a rare public rebuke, a top U.S. official has complained about Buenos Aires' decision to let Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez use a stadium to attack President Bush as the U.S. president visited nearby Uruguay.

Speaking at the Council of the Americas, a Washington group that promotes trade and dialog with Latin America, ["the State Department's under secretary for political affairs", Nicholas] Burns noted the administration's achievements in the region and scolded Buenos Aires in his opening remarks while looking at Argentine Ambassador Jose Octavio Bordon, who was seated in the front row."

State Department official blasts Argentina over Chavez speech

During the stadium speech, old Hugo said that George "'has the smell of a political corpse, who will soon disappear into cosmic dust.'"

He also said that "'(o)utside the United States, Bush’s popularity rating is probably negative'" The crowd of 40,000 reportedly laughed and cheered at that one.

Obviously you can't expect a loyal Bushie to stand for that kind of mocking.

Anyway, after Nick's little tantrum, Jose had a chance to respond. "He pointed out that the Venezuelan traveled to Buenos Aires to sign economic agreements and then attended the stadium rally, which was organized by a private group. Chavez 'exercised the freedom that we live in Argentina,' Bordon said."

Which in diplomatic-speak is the equivalent of "Nick. Fuck off."