Chávez... Shut Up!

Today, the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez, decided to halt diplomatic relations with Spain unless the Spanish king, Juan Carlos apologises for his behavior early this month when he called on Chávez to "shut up".

The video below is from that incident




I can understand Zapatero's plea for respect, and I tend to agree with him, but I don't think it is appropriate for a king to interfere in such a way - far from protocol and diplomatic attitude!


I can't but to compare this incident to ... this below


The video is of Arab Summit, on Saturday 1 March 2003 (a couple of days before the invasion of Iraq). It contains a heated and public exchange of insults between Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi and Saudi King Abdullah (when he was Crown Prince). This was broadcasted live by most Arab satellite television stations, Gaddafi said that during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, he had spoken with former Saudi King Fahd about Libya’s concern over the presence of US troops in the kingdom. “King Fahd told me that his country was threatened and that he would cooperate with the Devil to protect it,” Gaddafi said. such an attribute or a remark to King Fahd – who holds the revered position of custodian of Islam’s two holiest shrines – would be particularly offensive. Before the live feed was cut off, King Abdullah angrily responded: “Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country and not an agent of colonialism like you and others.” Wagging his finger at Gaddafi, Abdullah said: “You, who brought you to power? Don’t talk about matters that you fail to prove. Your lies precede you, while the grave is ahead of you.” A bewildered Gaddafi replied: “By God, I don’t know how I am going to answer this man.”