2 12 Washington Washington NNP 12 13 , , , 14 16 17 17 CD 17 20 Apr Apr NNP 21 22 ( ( ( 22 28 Xinhua Xinhua NNP 28 29 ) ) ) 30 32 – -- : 33 34 A a DT 35 40 farce farce NN 41 43 of of IN 44 48 coup coup NN 49 55 d’etat d'etat NN 56 59 was be VBD 60 66 staged stag VBN 67 69 in in IN 70 79 Venezuela Venezuela NNP 80 88 recently recently RB 88 89 . . . 90 93 The the DT 94 100 leader leader NN 101 103 of of IN 104 107 the the DT 108 112 coup coup NN 113 116 had have VBD 117 119 no no DT 120 126 sooner sooner NN 127 133 warmed warm VBD 134 137 the the DT 138 145 coveted coveted JJ 146 150 seat seat NN 151 155 than than IN 156 158 he he PRP 159 162 had have VBD 163 165 to to TO 166 170 beat beat VB 171 172 a a DT 173 180 retreat retreat NN 181 186 under under IN 187 195 pressure pressure NN 196 200 upon upon IN 201 209 pressure pressure NN 210 222 domestically domestically RB 223 226 and and CC 227 242 internationally internationally RB 242 243 . . . 244 253 According accord VBG 254 256 to to TO 257 259 US US NNP 260 264 news news NN 265 270 media medium NNS 270 271 , , , 272 276 that that IN 277 281 coup coup NN 282 284 in in IN 285 294 Venezuela Venezuela NNP 295 298 had have VBD 299 308 something something NN 309 311 to to TO 312 314 do do VB 315 319 with with IN 320 323 the the DT 324 330 United United NNP 331 337 States State NNPS 337 338 . . . 339 343 This this DT 344 349 maybe maybe RB 350 351 a a DT 352 360 surprise surprise NN 361 363 to to TO 364 368 many many JJ 369 375 people people NNS 375 376 . . . 383 387 Coup coup NN 388 394 d’etat d'etat NN 395 397 is be VBZ 398 400 an an DT 401 408 unusual unusual JJ 409 414 means mean NNS 415 417 to to TO 418 423 seize seize VB 424 425 a a DT 426 433 country country NN 433 435 ’s 's POS 436 445 political political JJ 446 451 power power NN 451 452 . . . 453 455 It it PRP 456 458 is be VBZ 459 461 an an DT 462 471 unpopular unpopular JJ 472 477 means mean NNS 478 485 because because IN 486 488 it it PRP 489 493 goes go VBZ 494 501 against against IN 502 505 the the DT 506 510 tide tide NN 511 513 of of IN 514 517 the the DT 518 523 world world NN 524 529 today today NN 529 530 . . . 531 533 By by IN 534 537 the the DT 538 542 same same JJ 543 548 token token NN 548 549 , , , 550 553 the the DT 554 558 coup coup NN 559 561 in in IN 562 571 Venezuela Venezuela NNP 572 575 has have VBZ 576 584 incurred incur VBN 585 595 widespread widespread JJ 596 608 condemnation condemnation NN 609 612 and and CC 613 622 objection objection NN 623 627 from from IN 628 631 the the DT 632 645 international international JJ 646 655 community community NN 655 656 , , , 657 666 including include VBG 667 670 the the DT 671 676 Latin latin JJ 677 685 American american JJ 686 692 states state NNS 692 693 , , , 694 700 except except IN 701 704 the the DT 705 711 United United NNP 712 718 States State NNPS 718 719 . . . 720 723 The the DT 724 726 US US NNP 727 737 Government Government NNP 737 739 ’s 's POS 740 745 first first JJ 746 754 reaction reaction NN 755 759 gave give VBD 760 764 much much JJ 765 769 food food NN 770 773 for for IN 774 781 thought thought NN 782 786 when when WRB 787 789 it it PRP 790 794 said say VBD 795 804 Venezuela Venezuela NNP 804 806 ’s 's POS 807 821 constitutional constitutional JJ 822 831 president president NN 832 838 Chavez Chavez NNP 839 840 “ `` `` 840 843 had have VBD 844 851 himself himself PRP 852 854 to to TO 855 860 blame blame VB 860 861 ” '' '' 862 865 for for IN 866 869 the the DT 870 874 coup coup NN 874 875 . . . 876 880 This this DT 881 883 is be VBZ 884 887 far far RB 888 891 out out IN 892 894 of of IN 895 899 tune tune NN 900 904 with with IN 905 908 the the DT 909 917 attitude attitude NN 918 921 the the DT 922 928 United United NNP 929 935 States State NNPS 936 940 used use VBD 941 943 to to TO 944 948 take take VB 949 953 when when WRB 954 955 a a DT 956 960 coup coup NN 961 969 occurred occur VBD 970 972 in in IN 973 978 other other JJ 979 988 countries country NNS 988 989 . . . 996 998 As as IN 999 1002 the the DT 1003 1009 saying saying NN 1010 1014 goes go VBZ 1014 1015 , , , 1016 1020 when when WRB 1021 1024 you you PRP 1025 1029 pull pull VBP 1030 1032 up up RP 1033 1036 the the DT 1037 1043 turnip turnip NN 1043 1044 , , , 1045 1048 mud mud NN 1049 1054 comes come VBZ 1055 1059 with with IN 1060 1062 it it PRP 1062 1063 . . . 1064 1068 Just just RB 1069 1071 as as IN 1072 1081 Venezuela Venezuela NNP 1082 1090 restored restore VBD 1091 1094 its its PRP$ 1095 1109 constitutional constitutional JJ 1110 1114 rule rule NN 1115 1118 and and CC 1119 1125 Chavez Chavez NNP 1126 1129 was be VBD 1130 1138 returned return VBN 1139 1141 to to TO 1142 1147 power power NN 1147 1148 , , , 1149 1152 the the DT 1153 1156 New New NNP 1157 1161 York York NNP 1162 1167 Times Times NNP 1168 1172 came come VBD 1173 1175 up up RP 1176 1180 with with IN 1181 1182 a a DT 1183 1191 shocking shocking JJ 1192 1197 story story NN 1197 1198 : : : 1199 1202 the the DT 1203 1205 US US NNP 1206 1216 Government Government NNP 1217 1220 and and CC 1221 1227 senior senior JJ 1228 1236 military military JJ 1237 1246 officials official NNS 1247 1251 were be VBD 1252 1254 in in IN 1255 1262 contact contact NN 1263 1267 with with IN 1268 1271 the the DT 1272 1282 Venezuelan venezuelan JJ 1283 1287 coup coup NN 1288 1298 organizers organizer NNS 1298 1299 . . . 1300 1302 In in IN 1303 1309 recent recent JJ 1310 1316 months month NNS 1316 1317 , , , 1318 1322 they they PRP 1323 1326 met meet VBD 1327 1331 with with IN 1332 1335 the the DT 1336 1340 coup coup NN 1341 1351 organizers organizer NNS 1352 1355 for for IN 1356 1363 several several JJ 1364 1369 times time NNS 1370 1373 and and CC 1374 1378 gave give VBD 1379 1386 consent consent NN 1387 1389 to to TO 1390 1393 the the DT 1394 1403 overthrow overthrow NN 1404 1406 of of IN 1407 1413 Chavez Chavez NNP 1413 1414 . . . 1415 1420 Faced face VBN 1421 1425 with with IN 1426 1429 the the DT 1430 1435 media medium NNS 1435 1437 ’s 's POS 1438 1445 reports report NNS 1445 1446 , , , 1447 1450 the the DT 1451 1456 White White NNP 1457 1462 House House NNP 1463 1466 and and CC 1467 1470 the the DT 1471 1479 Pentagon Pentagon NNP 1480 1484 have have VBP 1485 1488 had have VBN 1489 1491 to to TO 1492 1496 make make VB 1497 1507 statements statement NNS 1508 1516 publicly publicly RB 1516 1517 . . . 1518 1522 They they PRP 1523 1535 acknowledged acknowledge VBD 1536 1541 their their PRP$ 1542 1550 contacts contact NNS 1551 1555 with with IN 1556 1563 leaders leader NNS 1564 1566 of of IN 1567 1570 the the DT 1571 1580 coalition coalition NN 1581 1583 of of IN 1584 1594 opposition opposition NN 1595 1603 factions faction NNS 1604 1607 who who WP 1608 1612 took take VBD 1613 1617 part part NN 1618 1620 in in IN 1621 1624 the the DT 1625 1629 coup coup NN 1629 1630 , , , 1631 1634 but but CC 1635 1641 denied deny VBD 1642 1648 having have VBG 1649 1658 supported support VBN 1659 1663 them them PRP 1663 1664 . . . 1665 1668 The the DT 1669 1677 Pentagon Pentagon NNP 1678 1690 spokesperson spokesperson NNP 1691 1697 Clarke Clarke NNP 1698 1702 went go VBD 1703 1704 a a DT 1705 1709 step step NN 1710 1717 further further RBR 1718 1720 to to TO 1721 1728 explain explain VB 1729 1733 that that IN 1734 1736 US US NNP 1737 1743 Deputy Deputy NNP 1744 1753 Assistant Assistant NNP 1754 1761 Defense Defense NNP 1762 1771 Secretary Secretary NNP 1772 1773 [ [ ( 1773 1780 Rogelio Rogelio NNP 1781 1787 Pardo- Pardo- NNP 1787 1788 ] ] ) 1789 1795 Maurer Maurer NNP 1796 1799 for for IN 1800 1807 Western Western NNP 1808 1818 Hemisphere Hemisphere NNP 1819 1826 Affairs Affairs NNPS 1827 1830 met meet VBD 1831 1835 with with IN 1836 1846 Venezuelan Venezuelan NNP 1847 1852 Armed Armed NNP 1853 1859 Forces Forces NNPS 1860 1867 Supreme Supreme NNP 1868 1877 Commander Commander NNP 1878 1881 and and CC 1882 1891 Inspector Inspector NNP 1892 1899 General General NNP 1900 1905 Lucas Lucas NNP 1906 1912 Rincon Rincon NNP 1913 1915 in in IN 1916 1924 December December NNP 1925 1927 of of IN 1928 1932 last last JJ 1933 1937 year year NN 1938 1941 and and CC 1942 1946 made make VBD 1947 1949 it it PRP 1950 1955 clear clear JJ 1956 1958 to to TO 1959 1962 the the DT 1963 1969 latter latter JJ 1970 1974 that that IN 1975 1978 the the DT 1979 1985 United United NNP 1986 1987 ! ! . 1988 1994 States State NNP 1995 1996 “ `` `` 1996 2004 supports support VBZ 2005 2014 democracy democracy NN 2014 2015 ” '' '' 2016 2019 and and CC 2020 2024 that that IN 2025 2026 “ `` `` 2026 2028 we we PRP 2029 2031 in in IN 2032 2034 no no DT 2035 2038 way way NN 2039 2044 would would MD 2045 2052 support support VB 2053 2056 any any DT 2057 2062 coups coup NNS 2063 2065 or or CC 2066 2082 unconstitutional unconstitutional JJ 2083 2091 activity activity NN 2091 2092 . . . 2092 2093 ” '' '' 2100 2105 Since since IN 2106 2109 the the DT 2110 2116 United United NNP 2117 2123 States State NNP 2124 2125 “ `` `` 2125 2133 supports support VBZ 2134 2143 democracy democracy NN 2143 2144 , , , 2144 2145 ” '' '' 2146 2150 then then RB 2151 2154 why why WRB 2155 2158 did do VBD 2159 2165 Maurer Maurer NNP 2166 2170 have have VBP 2171 2175 that that IN 2176 2183 meeting meeting NN 2184 2188 with with IN 2189 2195 Rincon Rincon NNP 2195 2196 ? ? . 2197 2200 Why why WRB 2201 2204 did do VBD 2204 2207 n’t n't RB 2208 2211 the the DT 2212 2218 United United NNP 2219 2225 States State NNPS 2226 2232 inform inform VBP 2233 2242 Venezuela Venezuela NNP 2242 2244 ’s 's POS 2245 2259 constitutional constitutional JJ 2260 2270 government government NN 2271 2273 of of IN 2274 2277 the the DT 2278 2282 coup coup NN 2283 2290 attempt attempt NN 2291 2293 by by IN 2294 2300 Rincon Rincon NNP 2301 2304 and and CC 2305 2308 the the DT 2309 2315 others other NNS 2315 2316 ? ? . 2323 2326 For for IN 2327 2332 every every DT 2333 2339 effect effect NN 2339 2340 , , , 2341 2346 there there EX 2347 2349 is be VBZ 2350 2351 a a DT 2352 2357 cause cause NN 2357 2358 . . . 2359 2364 After after IN 2365 2371 taking take VBG 2372 2375 the the DT 2376 2382 Office Office NNP 2383 2385 of of IN 2386 2396 Presidency Presidency NNP 2396 2397 , , , 2398 2404 Chavez Chavez NNP 2405 2408 has have VBZ 2409 2420 implemented implement VBN 2421 2423 an an DT 2424 2435 independent independent JJ 2436 2443 foreign foreign JJ 2444 2450 policy policy NN 2451 2454 and and CC 2455 2461 seemed seem VBD 2462 2464 to to TO 2465 2467 be be VB 2468 2471 not not RB 2472 2474 in in IN 2475 2479 step step NN 2480 2484 with with IN 2485 2488 the the DT 2489 2495 United United NNP 2496 2502 States State NNPS 2503 2505 in in IN 2506 2510 many many JJ 2511 2519 respects respect NNS 2519 2520 . . . 2521 2525 Take take VB 2526 2529 one one CD 2530 2537 example example NN 2537 2538 . . . 2539 2541 To to TO 2542 2545 the the DT 2546 2552 United United NNP 2553 2559 States State NNPS 2559 2560 , , , 2561 2565 Iraq Iraq NNP 2565 2567 ’s 's POS 2568 2574 Saddam Saddam NNP 2575 2581 Regime Regime NNP 2582 2584 is be VBZ 2585 2586 a a DT 2587 2592 thorn thorn NN 2593 2595 in in IN 2596 2599 the the DT 2600 2603 eye eye NN 2604 2607 and and CC 2608 2613 flesh flesh NN 2614 2619 which which WDT 2620 2624 must must MD 2625 2627 be be VB 2628 2635 removed remove VBN 2635 2636 . . . 2637 2640 But but CC 2641 2647 Chavez Chavez NNP 2648 2650 in in IN 2651 2654 his his PRP$ 2655 2659 2000 2000 CD 2660 2665 visit visit NN 2666 2668 to to TO 2669 2673 some some DT 2674 2678 OPEC OPEC NNP 2679 2685 member member NN 2686 2692 states state NNS 2693 2697 made make VBD 2698 2699 a a DT 2700 2704 stop stop NN 2705 2707 at at IN 2708 2715 Baghdad Baghdad NNP 2716 2721 where where WRB 2722 2724 he he PRP 2725 2729 held hold VBD 2730 2735 talks talk NNS 2736 2740 with with IN 2741 2747 Saddam Saddam NNP 2747 2748 . . . 2749 2751 In in IN 2752 2760 addition addition NN 2760 2761 , , , 2762 2767 while while IN 2768 2771 the the DT 2772 2778 United United NNP 2779 2785 States State NNPS 2786 2788 is be VBZ 2789 2798 disgusted disgust VBN 2799 2803 with with IN 2804 2807 the the DT 2808 2813 Cuban Cuban NNP 2814 2824 Government Government NNP 2825 2830 under under IN 2831 2837 Castro Castro NNP 2837 2838 , , , 2839 2842 the the DT 2843 2849 Chavez Chavez NNP 2850 2860 Government Government NNP 2861 2864 has have VBZ 2865 2869 kept keep VBN 2870 2871 a a DT 2872 2877 close close JJ 2878 2890 relationship relationship NN 2891 2895 with with IN 2896 2899 the the DT 2900 2905 Cuban Cuban NNP 2906 2916 Government Government NNP 2916 2917 . . . 2918 2926 Probably probably RB 2927 2931 this this DT 2932 2934 is be VBZ 2935 2938 the the DT 2939 2944 major major JJ 2945 2951 reason reason NN 2952 2955 why why WRB 2956 2959 the the DT 2960 2966 United United NNP 2967 2973 States State NNPS 2974 2976 is be VBZ 2977 2982 happy happy JJ 2983 2985 to to TO 2986 2989 see see VB 2990 2991 a a DT 2992 2998 change change NN 2999 3001 of of IN 3002 3012 government government NN 3013 3015 in in IN 3016 3025 Venezuela Venezuela NNP 3025 3026 . . . 3033 3035 In in IN 3036 3039 the the DT 3040 3044 past past NN 3044 3045 , , , 3046 3054 whenever whenever WRB 3055 3056 a a DT 3057 3061 coup coup NN 3062 3070 occurred occur VBD 3071 3073 in in IN 3074 3078 some some DT 3079 3084 Latin latin JJ 3085 3093 American american JJ 3094 3103 countries country NNS 3103 3104 , , , 3105 3110 there there EX 3111 3114 was be VBD 3115 3121 always always RB 3122 3123 a a DT 3124 3132 backdrop backdrop NN 3133 3135 of of IN 3136 3138 US US NNP 3139 3150 involvement involvement NN 3150 3151 . . . 3152 3155 The the DT 3156 3160 only only JJ 3161 3170 guideline guideline NN 3171 3182 determining determine VBG 3183 3185 US US NNP 3186 3195 rejection rejection NN 3196 3198 or or CC 3199 3206 support support NN 3207 3209 of of IN 3210 3213 the the DT 3214 3224 government government NN 3225 3227 of of IN 3228 3229 a a DT 3230 3231 [ [ ( 3231 3238 foreign foreign JJ 3238 3239 ] ] ) 3240 3247 country country NN 3248 3250 is be VBZ 3251 3258 whether whether IN 3259 3261 it it PRP 3262 3269 follows follow VBZ 3270 3272 US US NNP 3273 3278 baton baton NN 3279 3282 and and CC 3283 3290 whether whether IN 3291 3294 its its PRP$ 3295 3303 domestic domestic JJ 3304 3307 and and CC 3308 3315 foreign foreign JJ 3316 3324 policies policy NNS 3325 3328 are be VBP 3329 3331 in in IN 3332 3338 accord accord NN 3339 3343 with with IN 3344 3347 the the DT 3348 3350 US US NNP 3351 3352 “ `` `` 3352 3360 national national JJ 3361 3370 interests interest NNS 3370 3371 . . . 3371 3372 ” '' '' 3373 3375 On on IN 3376 3380 this this DT 3381 3387 matter matter NN 3387 3388 , , , 3389 3390 “ `` `` 3390 3400 supporting support VBG 3401 3410 democracy democracy NN 3410 3411 ” '' '' 3412 3414 is be VBZ 3415 3418 but but CC 3419 3420 a a DT 3421 3430 signboard signboard NN 3431 3435 used use VBN 3436 3438 by by IN 3439 3442 the the DT 3443 3449 United United NNP 3450 3456 States State NNPS 3456 3457 . . . 3458 3463 Hence hence RB 3464 3467 one one PRP 3468 3471 can can MD 3472 3475 see see VB 3476 3480 that that IN 3481 3483 it it PRP 3484 3486 is be VBZ 3487 3490 not not RB 3491 3493 to to TO 3494 3496 be be VB 3497 3506 surprised surprise VBN 3507 3511 that that IN 3512 3515 the the DT 3516 3522 United United NNP 3523 3529 States State NNPS 3530 3536 chimed chime VBD 3537 3539 in in RP 3540 3544 with with IN 3545 3548 the the DT 3549 3558 Venezuela Venezuela NNP 3558 3560 ’s 's POS 3561 3565 coup coup NN 3566 3576 organizers organizer NNS 3576 3577 . . . 3578 3582 Only only RB 3583 3585 it it PRP 3586 3589 was be VBD 3590 3591 a a DT 3592 3598 little little JJ 3599 3602 too too RB 3603 3608 early early JJ 3609 3611 to to TO 3612 3615 get get VB 3616 3623 excited excite VBN 3623 3624 . . .