It's Ranting Dictators Week at the United Nations. First Ahmadinejad preaches the gospel of peace and now it's Hugo Chavez on UN reform. Yay!
Freshly stoked by his appearance at Castro's recent frat party for all the coolest dictators and totalitarian loons - also known as the Non-Aligned Movement - Hugo Chavez appeared at the UN this week as the highlight of their annual ranting dictators week.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Dave Nalle
I see this article has brought out the Chomsky-zombies in force.
YA: Why is Chavez crazy?
I have no idea. But his speech reads like something written by a lunatic, rambling, jumping from topic to topic, and largely just ranting.
YA: Is name calling your only argument?
No, but it's the fun part.
YA: Let's see what he said: he called Bush the Devil. Ok, how is that different from Bush calling countries an "Axis of Evil"? He said the US is harboring a known terrorist (the guy who blew up a Cuban civilian plane); well, that's true.
I never raised this issue in the article. Not everything he said was idiotic - as I pointed out in the part about UN Reforms.
YA: He says the US govt may have a hand in 9/11. Well, there is something very fishy with the official "explanation" of 9/11.
Only to those who prefer conspiracy fantasies to reality.
YA: Maybe you could take up reading for instance; Chomsky wrote a great book called Hegemony or Survival. It's well argued, well documented, and does not contain any name calling. You could learn a lot...
Sorry, I have actually read most of the book - or as much as I could stomach. It's utter drivel based on gross mischaracterization of fact designed to serve an anti-American, anti-capitalist and anti-freedom philosophy. Chomsky can't make a reasoned argument to save his life and wouldn't know a fact if it bit him on the ass.
Steve:This love it or leave it stuff is so oldschool..
It ain't that simple cowboy.
When did I ever say anything like 'love it or leave it'. Chomsky is welcome to stay in America and spew hate and disinformation for all eternity. It doesn't mean we have to listen to him or respect him or take him seriously.
Steve: and i know the "gatekeeper" is too insecure to put this up on your website...i tried at least
Who is this magical 'gatekeeper' you refer to?
MOH: The guy doesn't even know that the world's largest democracy, yes you read it right WORLD's LARGEST is also a member of NAM.
I'm fully aware that India is a member of NAM and of the G15. However, the group IS dominated by third world nations govered by dictatorships regardless of the fact that they have some other members as well. That's just a fact.
MOH: And with so many personal attacks in the blog this line just before the feedback column says: Personal attacks are not allowed. Please read our comment policy. Truly, truly funny. keep it up and you just might enter the loony heaven.
That applies to attacks on other commentors, not criticism of public figures like Chavez. But I'll make a note that you want to shut down free speech, just like Chavez did when he shut down the Venezuelan newspapers.
Dave
27 - Dave Sknothear
This is not a dialogue, and Dave appears to be either CIA or Naval Intel. He has an Anderson Cooper like wit and deft touch as he waffles about the truth before bending the light and make it appear to be a straight line. Hugo Chavez is a breath of fresh air. He has said what many people from many countries have felt about George Bush and U.N. for years. Are we so defensive, so weak in our institutions and beliefs, that we must attack such a man so savagely, instead of searching for the truth and wisdom in his words. Isn't a dialogue about differing viewpoints and working towards a convergence of ideas, how can we have a dialogue if we all beleive the same thing?
Different is good. Ask Chavez back. Read the history of the CIA and the U.S. involvement in South America. Read how Kissinger was involved in the Military coup in Chile that overthrew the democraticly elected leader. Read how Kissinger can't go to France or he will be arrested. Read about the narco wars in Colombia and Bolivia and maybe you'll understand why Mr. Chavez is a bit angry about the hypocrisy of Mr. Bush in offering democracy at the point of a gun? How many Iraqis do we have to kill to make them free and democratic? And we wonder why North Korea and Iran aren't getting in line to get some of that tasty new Democracy with freedom fries?
I know you write in a 'controversial' style to seem opinonated and passionate and to try to inspire response, but really a well reasoned argument would make a better effort than to simply write off arguments you don't understand as crazy, or insane. Only a fool beleives he knows everything and can learn nothing from anyone else for he knows all. So I offer you this morsel of truth, George Bush is not satan!!! Satan is actually Ann Coulter, shave her head and I'll bet 5$ you'll find 3 sixes.
Regards,
Dave
28 - Baronius
Chavez is a perfect example of something my hero P.J. O'Rourke said. The US is a stunning 19-year-old girl, and the Third World is an infatuated 14-year-old boy. They are obsessed with us and we're oblivious to them. They'll do everything they can think of, even turning communist, trying to get our attention.
29 - Vic
Wow, this thread tears it. This site is populated by a bunch of wacko leftists on the lunatic fringe whose hatred for Bush and the current administration actually OUTWEIGHS the instinct for self-preservation.
When the coalition of countries that is forming and building to destroy the U.S. finally attacks, you nutjobs will die just right alongside conservatives. Not only will you not get a pass, they'll probably take you out first.
Incredible.
Vic
30 - Clavos
YA says, in #3:
He said the US is harboring a known terrorist (the guy who blew up a Cuban civilian plane); well, that's true.
Not quite.
His name is Luis Posada Carriles, and according to this article from the BBC, "He was twice acquitted by Venezuelan courts of plotting to bomb the plane."
Chavez is grandstanding for his buddy, Fidel, on this issue.
Chavez is a demagogue and a thug.
31 - Franco
I am an American who has been living and working in Chile South America for many years. I have watched the rise of Hugo Chavez and his consistently changing behavior as he slowly reveals his true nature and agenda to become a full fledge dictator. He is doing all he can to change South America to fit into his ongoing agenda.
A couple of big moves Chavez has made here in South American that the north has over looked that will have serious and long term effects for both North and South America are.
1) The establishment of the Telesur TV network that was set up last year by Chavez and is financed by Venezuela's government. The Telesur network officials claim it is to be a Latin alternative to large media outlets like CNN. It is now being broadcast 24 hours a day into Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, Equator, Uruguay, as well as Venezuela. Chavez said, "The Telesur network is part of an awakening of our peoples," Fidel Castro said “the channel is a key step toward regional integration”.
Some critics call Telesur a way to spread anti-American propaganda in South America - an accusation strongly denied by Venezuelan Information Minister Andres Izarra, the station's president.
"It's an initiative against imperialism," Izarra said. "That shouldn't be interpreted, however, as an initiative against the American people."
I have watched this station with interest. I have seen only pure hardcore anti-American propaganda coming over my TV. There was a news report in the Santiago Times about a TV executive that had reported his crew had discovered hyper-second subliminal messaging was found flashing during its broadcast with American flags burning. I tried to find more on this report but the story went dry.
The other scary move by Chavez is his formalized deal with Russian to manufacture AK47’s in Venezuela. Russia has already granted Venezuela the licenieng and next year will be installing two large factories in Venezuela. One is to manufacture the upgraded AK47 automatic rifles with night scoops, and the other factory is to manufacture the ammunition and rifle launched grenades. Chavez has told the Venezuelans that he wants at minimum of 1 million armed citizens ready at all times to defend the country. Trouble with this is that it is not the whole story. Chavez plans to be every anti-American guerilla fighters military arms provider throughout Latin America. Over time and through the course of further events down here, when occasion so warranted it, Chavez would even support and supply weapons to bring down the last die-hard countries in Latin America who still have positive relations with the US, like Chile, Peru, and Mexico. I fear that he will start with Columbia and support the drug load rebels to bring down a country that clearly supports the US.
32 - Mike P
Dave said:
"Hugo Chavez is a breath of fresh air. He has said what many people from many countries have felt about George Bush and U.N. for years."
Hugo Chavez is a breath of fresh air?!
Really, what kind of uninformed statement is that? Do you even know what he is DOING in his country?
Do you know he shut down the opposition newpapers?
Do you know he enacted a law to imprision people who dare to criticize him (while he comes here and spews forth his bile)
Do you know he is arming Marxist militias in neighboring countries?
Do you know he imprisons anyone who dares to oppose him in an election?
Do you know that he rewrote his country's Constitution so that he could essentially be president for life?
You are sorely uninformed. Just because he says some nasty things about Bush...you fawn over him like a schoolgirl. Get a brain.
33 - JustOneMan
"Chavez is not a dictator. He was elected president of Venezuela by a clear majority,"
You liberal morons have ignored the fact that Bush not one BUT TWO elections and continue to Bash him everday day...but about Chavez you whine..."oh we cant discredit him he was elected by his people"
Liberals are insane!
34 - troll
beats stupid
35 - Franco
Hugo Chavez is the richest man in the world. How do we come to that fact. First, Chavez, sicne he took hold of the presidency of Venezuela has systemically changed the governmental structure. He has packed the congress and courts with his backers. He has rewritten laws into the Venezuelan constitution giving him complete power over the country resources. Chavez answers to no one when it comes to how and where he spends the counties oil wealth. All of this wealth is completely in his hands and under his cotrol. How much dose this wealth amount to in US dollars.
Let’s do some simple 4th grade arithmetic. But first I suggest the reader first take a seat and buckle up. It is reported that Venezuela may have reserves of about 350 billion barrels if all their known heavy and light crude is counted. But wait, there's more, a lot more. Palast reports a US Energy Department expert believes Venezuela holds 90% of the world's super-heavy tar oil reserves - an estimated total of 1,360,000,000,000 (1.36 trillion) barrels. Let me repeat that - 1.36 trillion barrels. That alone is more oil than Hubbert believed 50 years ago lay under the entire planet.
But lets leave the 1,360,000,000,000 (1.36 trillion) barrels out of our equation for now and use the 350 billion barrels to keep things conceptual. Oil sells today for around $62 dollars a barrel. When multiplied by 350 billion barrels we find Chavezs personal checking account is worth 21.7 trillion dollars.
350,000,000,000 x $62 = $21,700,000,000,000
350,000,000,000 x $50 = $17,500,000,000,000
350,000,000,000 x $40 = $14,000,000,000,000
350,000,000,000 x $10 = $ 3,500,000,000,000
Either way you slice it, Chavez is the riches man on the planet, 434 times richer then Bill Gates. Is it any wonder why Chavez is now setting up constitutional changes to allow him to remain president of Venezuela until 2025. Do a google search if you don’t believe us.
36 - TmjUtah
I was doing three things at once, just in the door after another fulfilling twelve hour work day, when CSPAN replayed Chavez's speech.
I heard the female translator's voice but didn't know what the event was.
I initially mistook the translation to be some reporter repeating a Howard Dean speech or some other Reality Based (tm) sermon.
Then I actually watched the tube and saw it was old Hugo up there. And he closed with a Chomsky book.
Karl Rove, you magnificent BASTARD!
37 - Franco
In response to JustOneMan statement that "Chavez is not a dictator. He was elected president of Venezuela by a clear majority,"
Yes, Chavez did find a way to get democratically elected. However there still remains unanswered questions by the Chavez political machine concerning heavy ballot tampering as report by several international election monitoring agencies, including several from liberal European concerns.
Why is the likely hood of ballot tampering a truth being hidden from the world. It must be remembered that Chavez led an attempted military coup to take control of Venezuela in 1992 that failed and many people were killed. Chavezs quest for power, at any price, has already been clearly marked with blood.
If he is willing to lead a military coup in 1992 that was assured of causing the deaths of many, then rigging elections with ballot tampering in is second attempt at power 1999 is childs play.
Chavez is a communist. Communism is a lie and a proven failed system that can not support itself. Russia and Cuba are proof of that. Casto has always had to live on handouts from other states. Russian handout and now handouts from Chavez. Communist China has had to embrace capitalism as it clearly saw its rewards when Hong Cong was retured to them. They had to lean to keep the golden goose alive. It it was not for capitalism and free enterprise in the first place, Hong Cong would remain a slum and Chine would not have learned a thing of its value.
Chavez does not have the skills to lead any capitasm enevers to grow and sustanin his people and he will never bother to lean them, he has too much oil money to think about and spend and lots of oil money to carry is delutional, Casto enfested dream. Funny thing is that without the wealth of capitalism buying the oil in the first place Chavez wealth would not otherwise exist. What a paradox of disalutional misfits making the rules as they go.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is happening before our eyes.
But it is eash to spot the hard core lefties that have never achived any success in the free interprise system or even understanding how the capitalism system works. They will tell you however all about how bad it is. The blind leading the blind.
However Chavez is not included in the blind leading the blind. He leaves that to the people of Venezuala and supporting lefties from other shores. Chavez clearly knows and sees what he wants. Absolute POWER baby.
38 - MCH
Re #27;
"This is not a dialogue, and Dave appears to be either CIA or Naval Intel."
- Dave Sknothear
Nope, Nalle has never served.
39 - Dave Nalle
MCH, I serve in the ongoing war against ignorance and foolishness - which I guess makes us enemies.
Dave
40 - Dave Nalle
This is not a dialogue, and Dave appears to be either CIA or Naval Intel.
While I do have friends and relatives in both lines of work, it doesn't take a background in covert intelligence to see the obvious - just a willingness to look beyond the partisan propaganda.
Hugo Chavez is a breath of fresh air. He has said what many people from many countries have felt about George Bush and U.N. for years.
Actually, I acknowledge that this is true. He's both entertaining and he has a constituency to speak for. They're all socialists and fascists of one kind or another, but they certainly share his hatred of the US.
Are we so defensive, so weak in our institutions and beliefs, that we must attack such a man so savagely, instead of searching for the truth and wisdom in his words. Isn't a dialogue about differing viewpoints and working towards a convergence of ideas, how can we have a dialogue if we all beleive the same thing?
In most cases I'd agree with you, but not in the case of someone like Castro or Chavez or Kim - all of whom have demonstrated that they have no regard for the welfare or rights of their people. They're dictators and there's no excusing their abuse of power. Do you negotiate with a poisonous snake?
I know you write in a 'controversial' style to seem opinonated and passionate and to try to inspire response, but really a well reasoned argument would make a better effort than to simply write off arguments you don't understand as crazy, or insane.
That's more a characterization of his behavior than whatever arguments he presented. Of course his argument was mostly 'bush is a devil', and that's not exactly intellectually impressive. I've already written at length on the specific abuses of the Chavez government - you can read those articles here on BC. This article was just something lighter to poke a little fun at the ridiculous Chavez road show.
So I offer you this morsel of truth, George Bush is not satan!!! Satan is actually Ann Coulter, shave her head and I'll bet 5$ you'll find 3 sixes.
Technically that would make her the Antichrist, but I'm willing to believe it.
Dave
41 - shotta
Your comment about the movement of the non-aligned being dictators is just totally of. There are tonnes of democratic states in there - with fair and free elections and googles of freedom of speech.
42 - shotta
And many many of the states listed in the movement of the non-aligned are allies of the U.S.
I just wanna say it's just funny all these people who name call instead of debate - doesn't apply to everyone here as some people have tried to make objective points both ways but sheeesh.
43 - Dave Nalle
Your comment about the movement of the non-aligned being dictators is just totally of. There are tonnes of democratic states in there - with fair and free elections and googles of freedom of speech.
Then why did they elect Castro as their leader for 3 years, and why do they let the agenda basically be set by Castro, Chavez and Ahmadenijad?
Here's the truth about the NAM. It was founded by Nehru so India is still in it, but India is about the only major nation left in it unless you count Indonesia or Pakistan. It started out with some principles, but in the 1960s it came under domination by Soviet-bloc states and became anything but non-aligned, and that soc ialist/totalitarian domination has continued since that time.
The current incarnation is more of an alliance than non-aligned. It's basically a club for countries which hate America and oppress their own populations, though a few legitimate governments have stuck with it. I bet they won't stay with it much longer if it remains the Hugo-Mamoud show it seems to be turning into.
Take a look at the membership sometime - it's on Wikipedia. What self-respecting country would want to be in that group of rogue nations?
Dave
44 - Dave Nalle
Shotta, isn't NATO the only formal alliance the US is currently part of? No NATO states are in the NAM.
Dave
45 - kentuckyliz
Chavez speech and behavior leads me to believe he is a twenty year old college student enchanted by lefty causes. Holding up the Chomsky book is the dead giveaway.
Oh, only if it were true. College students eventually grow up, become economically productive, have families, and learn something from life. (Except for those who continue to wear tie dye and rent houses with a large group of other lefties in some campus slum and work at Wild Oats.) Hugo is stuck!
Jimmy Carter admitted that he lied about the legitimacy of the Venezuelan elections that saw Chavez elected, out of fear that criticism would trigger widespread bloodshed. Our good ol' country Christian boy has pissed away his credibility with his inability to tell the truth about the murders, poll closing, voter intimidation, and ballot tampering that took place in the election. Jimmy lied and admitted it. But today's college kid lefties ignore that fact, because in their morally impaired minds, the ends justify the means.
I have friends in SA...the description of Chavez' abuse of the country, clampdown on opposition, setting himself up as dicktater for life holding the checkbook and with no checks and balances...using his TV station to propagandize the surrounding bloc of nations...it's all TRUE and there are many people of these countries worried about the political and economic impact if these stinking ideas and ideology take hold.
Hugo Chavez is a danger, but primarily to independent thinkers in Venezuela who don't toe the line, and then to surrounding countries, and only indirectly to the USA. He should be watched but nothing else for now.
Re Karl Rove as magnificent bastard...Yes!!! great point. I am waiting for the leftie wackoes to see how Assmydinnerjab and Chavez do some good for Bush as the American people are reminded of the Axis of Crazy that is out there and who hate us...then the lefties will turn it into a conspiracy theory that Rove masterminded this brilliance. Ha! All the right has to do is sit back and shut up and let the dicktaters speak and the lefties to show their love for them. Priceless...especially this close to the election.
46 - Silas Kain
Hmmm. Let's really screw up the political scene. Karl Rove vs. Hillary in 2008! THAT would be so much fun to watch.
47 - Silas Kain
And, based on the above, how would Chavez and the rest of the world react to that kind of race? We're in for a lot of political changes around the world in the next couple of years.
48 - Bliffle
The willingness of Chavez and Ahmadenijad to openly chastize and taunt the US is testimony to the failure of the neocon/Bush foreign policy. An administration which sought to intimidate foreign powers with military intervention and preemptive warfare has had exactly the opposite effect. The bumbling and ineffectiveness in Iraq and Afghanistan has diminished tha stature of the US military around the world.
Chavez and Ahmadenijads open chastisement of Bush is the bitter fruit of a failed belligerency. I bet the US Warrior Class never even considered the possibility of failure. I bet that they thought that aggression was the answer to everything and all they had to do was crank up the saber rattling. Fools.
49 - Nancy
Calling Bush a devil is nothing more than what at least half of the US electorate does every day ... when we're not calling him worse. Ol' Hugo is the wanna-be dictator of Venezuela. So? Dubya is the wanna-be dictator of the US. He's certainly doing his damnedest to claim excemption from being subject to US law & the constitution. I wouldn't be surprised if he even tries, come 2008, to declare that due to 'wartime' emergency security issues, he's suspending the elections & remaining in office. Hugo is no worse than Bush - but at least he does read something more challenging than "My Pet Goat" - AND he doesn't take 3-week vacations every 6 weeks, AND he can pronounce "nuclear" and make his subject & verb numbers match, which is more than Junior can manage.
Likewise, Bush is the one who started the name-calling: Axis of Evil, Hitlers, Appeasers, etc. Turnabout is fair play; if he can't stand select smears & some painfully true observations being applied to himself, he shouldn't start it to begin with. Having opened himself up for such, however, the least he can do is take his own medicine like a man instead of the whining craven he is.
As for this overriding fear among the right that we are the target of worldwide invasion/destruction plots: you spineless wussies, get a life! That's pure Karl Rove alarmist BushShit, and you know it. Trying to retain power thru fearmongering is the lowest form of cheap, tacky, racist tactics. Yes, racist: right down the line with Brodie's rantings about wogs perpetually lusting after and raping white womens. Only crystal-pure cowards & deserters like Bush & Cheney, who were so afraid of combat or danger they weaseled out of their rightful share of military service but are now armchair warriors thirsting for blood (as long as they or theirs are well protected & never in danger of actual harm, & it's other people's blood - or their disciples like Rumsfield, Limbaugh, and other such heroes big in the mouth, miniscule in action) only these yellow, spineless sorts go around in perpetual fear of evil plotters. The rest of us, those who are actually the ones in harm's way & likely to get it on the chops because WE don't have the advantage of secret security bunkers, the Secret Service to protect us, etc., we all go about our lives & business, and most of us shrug off the dire warnings of wogist threats to our lives & Amurrikan Way of Life.
As for Chomsky, I'll bet just about every author who ever lived would kill for the kind of publicity he got! I would.
50 - Deano
Clavos - re: Comment #30.
Did he mention the name or is it specific in the news reports that he's referring to Luis Posada Carriles?
I thought he was referring to the bombing of Cubana 455 in 1976 which killed 73 people (including almost the entire Cuban National Fencing Team). It was carried out by Orlando Bosch (a Cuban exile with strong ties to CANF), Bosch was later pardoned by - you guessed it - George Bush Sr.
51 - trafopajka
Wow, that's really great you understand everything and your opinion is always the greatest.
Hm, I love you man, you're such a genius!
52 - Michael J. West
The tenor of the pro-Chavez comments don't actually say a whole lot about Chavez himself, except to the extent of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Not "I like Chavez because of his policies," or "I like Chavez because he's done such-and-such," but "I like Chavez because he hates Bush."
Likewise, though, Dave, I'm not ready to pronounce Chavez "crazy" based on the rhetoric of one speech. I don't think he's crazy at all. I think he's a showboat who knows how to play to his people. Do you really think he was attempting to speak to the world in his UN speech? Of course not. That was for Venezuela and his other Latin-American supporters.
Come on, folks. You're not thinking.
Is Chavez a good guy? No he is not. There is a certain bizarreness to the attempted coup of '02, but his reaction to it was apparently to consolidate and expand his powers. He announced that another coup attempt had been fioed in 2004, with little evidence of any such thing. The recall election of 2004 contained very credible reports that he was cutting off government services to anyone who signed the recall petitions. And the same human rights organizations that criticize the Bush Administration also criticize Chavez.
The fact that Chavez doesn't like Bush is no reason to decide he must be A-OK. Al Qaeda doesn't like Bush, either.
On the other hand, Chavez strikes me as a man who knows precisely what he's doing. If he sometimes seems paranoid, I think it's because it makes for good copy and because he manages to make his supporters believe him. It also provides him with convenient excuses, like screaming "imperialist infiltrators!" when banishing U.S. organizations and cutting all ties to our military. And I don't think calling Bush "the devil" and pushing for Venezuelan seating on the Security Council is him being crazy...it's him rallying his support in Latin America.
Crazy would be implying that Chavez doesn't quite have a grip on what's going on around him and what he's doing. And boy, does he ever.
But come on. "He criticizes Bush so he's all right with me!" Just makes you sound silly.
53 - Michael J. West
One other thing, though: Chavez is not in any sense a threat to the United States. He's a pretty bad guy, but let's not blow him out of proportion. There's no reason to involve us in another stupid and useless fiasco like the Nicaraguan Contras.
54 - Nancy
Who said anything about liking Chavez? I don't like Chavez; I just don't condemn him for calling Bush names. Dubya's a big boy; he can take care of himself by having Rove start a smear campaign against Hugo, for all I care. Chavez is merely being good copy, is all. If he didn't do you think the sensationalistically-oriented MSM would give him a second's notice? Of course not: he'd be relegated to the position of just another banana-republic quasi-dictator. Kind of like Kim, who doesn't even have good working rockets, just a lot of hot air & temperament. So he puts on a bombastic Jimmy Swaggert act, pulls out a book & waves it around, calls a few names, and gets headlines & his picture on the cover of the Rolling Stone to send to his mother. Smart. And like I said, at least HE can pronounce "nuclear" correctly.
55 - Mistress La Spliffe
Dave, for god's sake, why did you provide a purchase link that that craptacular book? Isn't it enough that you mentioned the international left's new darling thinks people should buy it? Just how much market penetration are you hoping to get that pedantic sophist?
I agree with Michael West, though I'd like to point out Chavez's histrionics keep his popular mandate at home high. If one doesn't want Chavez-es mucking up the world, making efforts to rectify the economic situations that propel them into legitimate electoral mandates is a lot more useful than calling them crazy and tsk-tsking over that the world is coming to.
56 - Clavos
Deano,
Actually, BOTH Posada and Bosch were arrested by Venezuelan authorities at the time for the Cubana bombing. Bosch was released by the Venezuelans without ever being convicted, while, as I said previously, Posada was tried and acquitted twice (but not released) in Venezuelan courts. He later escaped, and came to the US.
Both now live here in Miami. Take your pick.
BTW, Re CANF. Practically EVERY Cuban exile who came in the first wave (early 60s) is a member of CANF, which is primarily a lobbying organization on behalf Cuban-Americans, though it has been associated with violent acts in the past. Nearly all of my Cuban friends are members. Since the death of its founder, Jorge Mas Canosa, it has floundered, but still exists.
57 - Clavos
MJW,
Good analysis of Chavez in 52 & 53.
The only thing I would quibble with you about is your assertion that he's not a threat to US.
At present, no. But he's working very hard to appeal to and subvert the poor of other LatAm nations, as you mention in your comments.
Unlike Castro, this guy has the economic clout to make some real inroads in other countries. I think we should take him seriously, using our influence and economic incentives to help the LatAm nations deal with their poverty problems before Chavez spreads his revolutionary message too well.
58 - Michael J. West
Oy. Let's not get started on the CANF and the uesless and stupid-ass sanctions they insist upon. But that's another story.
59 - Deano
Thanks for the clarification Clavos! I suspected we were talking about the same event but for some reason Posada's name escaped my memory...
60 - Michael J. West
Thanks Clavos (#57), but I still don't agree. I can far too easily see us getting involved in another Nicaragua here (except that the Sandinistas were even less of a threat to us than Chavez), and that would be a ridiculous mistake. Although I would certainly agree with your solution of beating him to the punch in helping the Latin American countries deal with poverty.
61 - Clavos
MJW 58,
I suspect you and I would mostly agree there (wet foot/dry foot, the embargo, e.g.), but you're right; it's for another discussion.
62 - Lumpy
Bush needs to get Chavez to make more speeches. As a result of this speech Bush's approval ratings appear to have jumped 7 points or more in the latest approval polls. He's in the mid 40s for the first time in more than a year. Go Hugo.
63 - Pimo
Chavez is correct that the General Assembly has no power. This is by design. My humble suggestion for reforming the UN is to simply eliminate the General Assembly altogether. I'm sick of their whining and stupid impotent resolutions, and if the whole body was finally banished we'd be done with it.
64 - Marthe Raymond
I would be willing to bet just about any amount of money that I am the only person posting here who has actually gone to Venezuela several times and sat down with Hugo Chavez to talk about what's needed in Latin America (I live in Mexico) and the world today.
Getting information from the horse's mouth sure beats getting it from the horse's other end--the propaganda machine of the Bush administration....
Before one shoots his/her keyboard off with opinions, it would be useful and also ethical to find out what's really going on in Venezuela. Where, by the way, NO elections have been suspended--for any reason. Where the Supreme Court is considerable less partial than the US Supreme Court (although I was glad to see the US version finally show some spine in regard to the inhumane treatment of prisoners in Guatanamo). Where people's opinions are freely voiced and peaceful protesters are NOT dragged away in paddy wagons like they are in NYC.
As for leftists dying right next to folks on the right at the hands of US enemies--some of us leftists are not going to be dying anywhere near the US. Some of us left the belly of the beast many years ago.
65 - JustOneMan
WARNING WARNING
FACIST PROPAGANDA in #64
PS - Marthe - I would also love to hear about your face-to-face meetings with Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny and Big Foot I am sure they will as truth filled as #64
66 - Marthe Raymond
I see. Anyone who actually behaves like a responsible citizen of the world we live in, and puts his/her money where his/her mouth is (to buy airline tickets to Caracas and chase down information) is now a liar?
67 - Michael J. West
Don't pay any attention to JustOneMan, Marthe. We regard him as a cute joke.
68 - IgnatiusReilly
"We regard him as a cute joke."
What? I thought we agreed on pathetic joke. I must have missed the last memo.
69 - JustOneMan
One must always challenge the source of information on this site...Marthe what travel agent did you book your tour with..Id like to have a face to face with him also...
Oh wait a minute I just found expedia has some last minute deals on "face-to-face" meetings with world thugs, tyrants and dictators!
Wow I can wait to report back to you all....
PS A responsible citizen of the world? Since you a from Mexico can you help us keep some of your relatives from entering our country illegally..isnt that what good world citizens do..respect other countries' laws and borders?
70 - Marthe Raymond
I LIVE in Mexico.
I am a US citizen. Since birth.
I do not find your racism and xenophobia cute or funny.
Nor do I find racism and xenophobia ANYWHERE cute or funny.
There are too many comments on this forum that trivialize life. Maybe in the US life no longer has any value?
71 - Dave Nalle
I imagine you find racism and xenophobia about as cute and funny as the rest of us find totallitarianism, government theft of property and assets and the throttling of free speech - all of which are practiced in Venezuela.
Marthe. Are you here to tell us that Chavez did not nationalize agricultural and industrial resources in Venezuela, shut down opposition newspapers, subvert the supreme court and override the rule of law with government fiat, rewrite the constitution to strengthen his rule and make it possible to jail political opponents, and also work to incite revolution in neighboring countries?
Because if you're trying to tell us that these known and documented facts aren't true, then we can just save time and not read your little snippets of propaganda.
I suggest you take a little time to read some of the concerns about Venezuela at Human Rights Watch, particularly in the area of changes to how the courts and laws work, the muzzling of the free press and the prosecution of government critics for treason.
Dave
72 - JustOneMan
Martha why would you choose to live in a country where people are kept in poverty by the upper classe - people like yourself who can afford to fly around the globe to meet with thugs and crooks---
Dont lecture me --- how many maids and garders do you have tending to your hacienda...PS why do you keep your US citizenship why not become a Mexican...
73 - Dave Nalle
Wow, JoM. That was just cruel - and so on target I had to giggle.
Dave
74 - Marthe Raymond
Dave,
I see nationalization of resources as a positive step here in Latin America--in Mexico Lazaro Cardenas nationalized the petroleum resources in 1938.
In Venezuela Chavez did not create the national petroleum company PDVSA--but he has forced other countries' petroleum companies to cooperate in joint ventures with it. And to pay the hundreds of millions of dollars in back taxes and royalties that they owed. Since they are still operating in Venezuela, they must view the operation as being in their interest.
Unused agricultural land may be expropriated (not nationalized) by the state. That's not a novelty--in the US the state may expropriate any land under what is called "emminent domain".
All opposition newspapers are alive and operating in Venezuela. None have been closed. If you have info to the contrary, post it here.
The Supreme Court has not been subverted--unlike in the US. "Overriding the rule of law with government fiat" is a phrase which makes absolutely no sense, linguistically or otherwise. Are you perhaps not a native English speaker, and would like to repost that phrase in your first language?
There is nothing in the Venezuelan Constitution that was created in 1999 that indicates an increase in presidential powers (perhaps you are thinking about passed laws, not the Constitution?), jailing political opponents or inciting revolution in neighboring countries. Do you have a copy of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela? I do.
These well-documented facts--show us the doumentation. Don't just tell us that we should believe that The Usual Suspects have been rounded up and are guility.
As for Human Rights Watch--do a little research about where they are coming from. It's always disappointing to find out that funding for such groups at HRW and Reporters without Borders is not free of influence.
A good example of what I am talking about: Last week's scandal about the reporters from the Miami Herald that were fired because they were being paid by the US government to write anti-Cuban propaganda. Fidel is no dummy--when he asked one of those very reporters in public in response to a rude question "¿Quien te paga?"--he knew who was paying him.
Another good plan if you're wanting to try to write about Latin America would be for you to learn Spanish. That way you would be able to read websites in that language as well as the Venezuelan opposition newspapers. The Washington Post and Fox News are not what we call primary sources in journalism.
75 - Marthe Raymond
Just One:
For your information, I live with a campesino family in a small village. I employ no maids nor gardeners. I volunteer my time forming community theater groups and livestock cooperatives. When I was managing a local English language school I employed only Mexicans as teachers.
You are also living in a country where the people are kept in poverty by the upper classes. Look at the tax reforms and the gini coefficient analyses since the Bush coup d'etat.
Inform yourself. Even if it means increasing your vocabulary and spending some time finding out what certain economic concepts actually MEAN.
I am as entitled to keep my US citizen as anyone else. I also have every right to lecture you. At least I am not calling you a liar.