Bush sharpens his criticism of Venezuela's Chavez

On Wednesday U.S. President George W. Bush accused Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez of disturbing patterns and squandering his country's oil wealth to foment anti-Americanism.

Just days after Latin American leaders ended a week-long crisis, President Bush spoke about Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Bush said in a speech to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and he said that this is just the latest step in a pattern of provocative behavior in the regime in Caracas. When last week's crisis in the Andean region took place President Bush was quick to single out Chavez as a culprit and warned acts of aggression. Bush is trying to draw links between Chavez's government and the FARC, which is considered a terrorist group according to the U.S., and Bush says senior regime officials have met with FARC officials in Venezuela. The crisis last week reflected a political divide in South America where Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has a strong U.S. backing and is opposed by leftists led by Chavez who strongly reject what they brand U.S. "imperialism." Chavez. in the past, has hurled insults at Bush and has even called him the devil at one time in a speech to the U.N. General Assembly. Bush claims that Chavez is squandering his country's oil wealth to promote a hostile, anti-American vision. According to Bush venezuela's citizens face food shortages while it threatens its neighbors.