American man detained in Venezuela

**Taxmancometh** · August 10th, 2012, 05:06 AM

**Cajunheat** · August 10th, 2012, 09:25 AM

How arrogant are we as a people? Do we really think we can travel to other countries, and have our US citizenship protect us from their laws and wants and whims? If this guy is guilty of what he is being accused of, he deserved to be arrested.

**Epidemic** · August 10th, 2012, 09:46 AM

how premature can your complaint of our arrogants be?

How can you define this as our people's arrogants? Even if true, Is this some sort of universally accepted American ideal like mom, apple pie and football?

I do however agree if the guy was planning insurrection then he is of course subject to the laws of the land he was in. But this story is soooo far from proof of guilt as to be less than a puff piece.

They may have evidence but thus far I have not seen it and Hugo Chavez is not exactly the pure as the driven snow (at least not that I would automatically assume he/his government is telling the truth)

**tony_j15** · August 10th, 2012, 10:16 AM

American tomfoolery in Latin/South America is nothing new. Between the drug trade, oil, and rebel forces, no one should doubt that mercenaries routinely operate in the area. This guy just happened to be caught during election season, so he becomes political fodder for Chavez.

**Cajunheat** · August 10th, 2012, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by Epidemic

how premature can your complaint of our arrogants be?

How can you define this as our people's arrogants? Even if true, Is this some sort of universally accepted American ideal like mom, apple pie and football?

I do however agree if the guy was planning insurrection then he is of course subject to the laws of the land he was in. But this story is soooo far from proof of guilt as to be less than a puff piece.

They may have evidence but thus far I have not seen it and Hugo Chavez is not exactly the pure as the driven snow (at least not that I would automatically assume he/his government is telling the truth)

Premature? American arrogance is a universal complaint all over the globe and it has been for years. Americans have been locally fixated almost from the forming of our country. How many times have we attempted to bring democracy to our fellow men and meddle in their internal affairs just to have it blow up in our face? Like Tony, I do believe this is more of a political ploy meant to make the US look bad but, if this guy and I do mean IF, is down there doing what he is accused of doing, he is right where he deserves to be, US citizen or not. The truth is, any American that travels abroad that thinks their citizenship will protect them, is arrogant and in for a rude awakening.

**Epidemic** · August 10th, 2012, 03:50 PM

premature as it relates to this story.

are we americans a little full of ourselves? Yeah but this story has nothing to do with this fact.

We americans do not as a whole support this type of action of a merc traveling to destabilize a country. It is the smallest of fractions of our population who would take such actions.

**tony_j15** · August 10th, 2012, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by Epidemic

We americans do not as a whole support this type of action of a merc traveling to destabilize a country.

Unless you count the War on Terror!

**Steve R Jones** · August 10th, 2012, 04:30 PM

My gut reaction to the story that doesn't have NO WHERE enough info to even be worth talking about here is-> what if the guy was simply a journalist?

**Chuckiechan** · August 10th, 2012, 06:06 PM

Speaking of arrogance, how many of you believe Hugo Chavez? It sounds like the usual Chavez BS to me.

Ask Shawn Penn, he's a butt buddy of Chavez's.

That is why the state dept tells Americans not to go to certain countries because all they want to do is frame some American can trade him off for something or other that they want.

Probably ransom, Iranian style.

**tony_j15** · August 10th, 2012, 09:49 PM

If that were true, they'd get way more money out of Sean Penn than a random merc, dontcha think?

**Chuckiechan** · August 11th, 2012, 02:41 AM

Shawn Penn wants to be there. He and Chavez are buddies.

Hollywood might raise a few bucks to get him back, but a lot more would pay Chavez to keep him!