Apparently "Love Your Enemies" Doesn't Work For Him Anymore

Evangelist Pat Robertson has apparently joined the "kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out" school of international diplomacy:

Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson called on Monday for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, calling him a "terrific danger" to the United States.

Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition of America and a former presidential candidate, said on "The 700 Club" it was the United States' duty to stop Chavez from making Venezuela a "launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism."

Chavez has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of President Bush, accusing the United States of conspiring to topple his government and possibly backing plots to assassinate him. U.S. officials have called the accusations ridiculous.

"You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it," Robertson said. "It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war ... and I don't think any oil shipments will stop."

Electronic pages and a message to a Robertson spokeswoman were not immediately returned Monday evening.

Thanks, Pat. Anybody else you want to see dead while we're at it?

Look, I agree that Chavez is a bad guy, but he's his own worst enemy. His sphere of influence consists basically of Cuba and not a whole lot else, and given the instability of countries run by guys like this, he probably won't be around that long (Cuba, notwithstanding).

Christians really don't need "leadership" like this showing up on the front page of the papers.

UPDATE: Bush administration quickly distances itself from Robertson:

The Bush administration swiftly and unequivocally distanced itself Tuesday from a suggestion by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson that American agents assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a frequent target of U.S. foreign policy.

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, appearing at a Pentagon news conference, said when asked: "Our department doesn't do that kind of thing. It's against the law. He's a private citizen. Private citizens say all kinds of things all the time."

I think Rummy left out the word "stupid" from that last sentence.