PARIS, France (AP) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Thursday that his government is preparing for a possible U.S. invasion, and he warned that such "aggression" would send gasoline prices in the United States soaring.

The U.S. government repeated that it is not planning any such thing.

Chavez, a vocal critic of "imperialism" and the Bush administration, said he was not against the American people -- just the current government.

"We are sure that it will be very difficult for the United States to attack Venezuela," Chavez said. He said his country has eight oil refineries and 14,000 gasoline stations in the United States.

"If the United States tried to attack Venezuela by a direct invasion, forget the oil," he said during a two-hour news conference beamed live to Venezuela. "Everyday we send 1.5 million barrels to the United States."

The barrel price of crude oil could hit $150 following a U.S. attack, Chavez said. Currently New York light sweet crude oil trades around $60 a barrel.

"That's why Pat Robertson, the spiritual adviser of Mr. Bush, is calling for my assassination. That would be much cheaper than an invasion," Chavez said.

Robertson, the U.S. religious broadcaster, said in August that Chavez should be killed, then later apologized.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Chavez's suspicions were unfounded.

"I've stated many times before, the United States is prepared to work with any government in the region: left of center, center, right of center. Our issue is with states that don't govern in a democratic manner," McCormack said.

The Venezuelan leader used his news conference to trumpet what he called his "alternative" vision of a world that works for the poor rather than corporations seeking profits.

Chavez reiterated longtime claims that the United States finances his opponents, seeks his ouster and sabotages efforts to move his country forward.

"Venezuela is used to defending itself ... and fighting imperialism," Chavez said, speaking in Spanish with a French translator.

"We must be ready for an aggression," said Chavez, who previously said Venezuela is organizing an expanded military reserve and civilian defense units.

In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corp. radio aired earlier Thursday, Chavez said he had evidence to prove the U.S. government was planning an invasion.

Chavez said he believed the reason Washington was plotting an invasion was to take control of Venezuela's oil fields.

Meanwhile, Israel canceled -- under American pressure -- a lucrative deal to upgrade Venezuelan warplanes, Israel TV reported Thursday.

The report said Israel was to install its own systems in U.S.-made F-16 fighters for the Venezuelan air force, but the U.S. government forced Israel to call off the deal. No dollar figure for the deal was given.

Israeli Defense Ministry officials were not immediately available for comment.

Nothing this guy says would surprise me. He's got a history of trying to grab headlines with off the wall statements. He sounds a bit paranoid to me but he is certainly free to say whatever he wants in his own country. If he wants to spend the money to build up his military, that's between him and his fellow Venzuelans. He's probably right that the US government wouldn't mind if he went away But I think he should be more concerned about his own people than the US, but that's sheer specualtion on my part.
So, what's your take on it sunb!?

who cares about a delusional dictator?!

Originally Posted by DTop

Nothing this guy says would surprise me. He's got a history of trying to grab headlines with off the wall statements. He sounds a bit paranoid to me but he is certainly free to say whatever he wants in his own country. If he wants to spend the money to build up his military, that's between him and his fellow Venzuelans. He's probably right that the US government wouldn't mind if he went away But I think he should be more concerned about his own people than the US, but that's sheer specualtion on my part.
So, what's your take on it sunb!?

I agree with you on that one DTop. I feel it has no real connection to the current US military situation in the region, and that the statements are more of a paranoid man than anything else.

The US is not his biggest problem at the moment, it is more the issues on the domestic front that need his focus but as any other despot it is moy importante militia than healthcare, food and jobs for the people.

I think you can add schizophrenia to that touch of paranoia that's bothering the man.

What surprised me is the UN assembly allowing this guy and Mugabe to address the assembly where they called President Bush and PM Tony Blair Hitler and Mussolini. Then they received an enthusiastic ovation from the audience. Limbaugh said they reminded him of a bar scene from one of the Star Trek movies.

I heard about this a while ago. I will tell you, it's not the first time he has said that.