British Understatement Emigrates to America

Mr. Robertson has set off an international firestorm by saying that the United States should assassinate President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela. "It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war, and I don't think any oil shipments will stop," Mr. Robertson said on his program on Monday.

The State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, said at a briefing in Washington: "Allegations that we are planning to take hostile action against the Venezuelan government are completely baseless and without fact.

"I have been very clear that this is not the policy of the United States government. We do not share his views. And his comments are inappropriate."