As U.S. Revokes Visas, Connie Mack Hammers Hugo Chavez

With the U.S. revoking the visa of the Venezuelan envoy, Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack offered stinging words for Hugo Chavez, that nations leader, and called once again for the South American country to be included as a state sponsor of terrorism.

The United States has looked the other way for far too long as Hugo Chavez destroyed democratic institutions and prosperity in his country, said Mack, who will chair the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere when the Republicans take control of Congress in January. Chavez continues to threaten the security of the entire region through his support of drug trafficking and terrorist organizations.

The revocation of visas for Venezuelas envoy sets the stage for diplomatic isolation that must be followed up with the economic sanctions Venezuela has earned because of its support for terrorist groups such as the FARC, ELN, ETA and the IRGC Qods forces, added Mack, who is thinking of taking on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012.Its far past time for the administration to name Venezuela a state sponsor of terrorism once and for all.