Questions for Ambassador Larry Palmer
Senator Dick Lugar, the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, submitted twelve questions to Ambassador Larry Palmer following his confirmation hearing to be U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela.
Read Senator Lugar's Questions for the Record for Ambassador Palmer
In his questions, Senator Lugar covers:
- human rights and intimidation of citizens in Venezuela based on their political beliefs,
- current and future governability after the elections,
- a recent Government Accountability Office report stating that the National Guard is deeply involved in the narcotics business,
- President Chávez breaking off ties with Colombia,
- Venezuelan-Cuban military-to-military interaction,
- President Chávez's meddling in the affairs of Colombia,
- President Chávez's threat to cut oil supplies to the United States in case of a military attack from Colombia,
- Venezuela’s economy and its Central Bank, and
- whether the U.S. representation should be downgraded to a level commensurate with the attention and respect granted.