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GUEST: Michael Albert, co-editor of ZNet, and co-editor and co-founder of Z Magazine, author of several books including “Parecon: Life After Capitalism”

7-Eleven Corporation just announced that it is switching suppliers for its retail gasoline network from the Venezuela based Citgo with its own brand. The move comes only days after Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, whom we just heard, addressed the United Nations in a speech that derided US President George W. Bush for being “the devil.” Chavez also recommended Noam Chomsky’s book, “Hegemony or Survival” for Americans to read – which skyrocketed to the top of Amazon.com’s sales ranking as a result and prompted the New York Times to interview Chomsky. In his speech, Chavez challenged the Bush administration’s military based democracy promotion around the world, and suggested new ideas for reforming the United Nations. Predictably the mainstream corporate media heard only the remarks calling Bush the devil. Democrat Charles Rangel took offense, saying “Don’t come to the United States and think, because we have problems with our president, that any foreigner can come to our country and not think that Americans do not feel offended when you offend our chief of state.” House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi who called Chavez “an everyday thug.” Meanwhile Ecuadoran presidential candidate Rafael Correa responded “calling Bush the devil is offending the devil … the devil is evil, but intelligent.” Venezuela is currently up against Guatemala in the race for the rotating UN Security Council seat. US officials have been lobbying against Venezuela.

Read the English transcript of Chavez’s speech here.

Read Michael Albert’s commentary here.

Visit www.zmag.org for more.