Posted on 03/18/2005 6:17:59 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
ASSASSINATION plots, anti-American tub-thumping, failed coups and mutual hostility have been the staple of US relations with Cuba for nearly five decades. But increasingly they apply more accurately to Venezuela, where Hugo Chávez, its president, is alarming Washington with a series of aggressive moves that threaten American security.
In recent months, Señor Chávez has threatened to cut off Venezuela’s substantial oil exports to the US — 1.5 million barrels a day — made a series of sizeable arms purchases, sought common bond with American foes around the world and generally positioned himself as the most significant anti-Bush figure in the western hemisphere.
Washington is sufficiently concerned to be reviewing its policies towards its near neighbour under the fiery-tongued and populist former paratroop commander.
Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, has branded Venezuela a “negative force in the region”. US officials are increasingly worried at what they perceive to be Señor Chávez’s creeping authoritarianism and military build-up, and believe it could destabilise the region. “We are concerned,” said one.
Meanwhile, Fidel Castro’s most recent contribution to local debate came during a generally upbeat 5¾ hour speech, two hours of which he devoted to the merits of the pressure cooker which he is distributing cut-price to all Cuban households.
Señor Chávez’s animus against the US stems partly from the 2002 coup, which briefly unseated him. Whether there was an American hand involved or not, the suspicions of many Venezuelans were fuelled by Washington’s failure to condemn the takeover.
Since seeing off a referendum to unseat him last year, Señor Chávez has gone out of his way to get under Washington’s skin, emerging as the biggest thorn in Uncle Sam’s side since Castro seized power in 1959.
He has called Mr Bush “stupid”, railed against the “evil empire”, accused the US of trying to kill him and made lewd references to Condoleezza Rice, the Secretary of State.
More significantly, Señor Chávez has muscled his way on to the world stage, travelling to Cuba, Libya and China, striking energy deals on his way.
He recently entertained President Khatami of Iran and pledged solidarity with “our brother people” there.
But it is Señor Chávez’s tangible effort to make himself into a new champion of rising Latin American leftism that is more unsettling for the US.
Venezuela, the world’s fifth largest oil exporter, is flush from record high prices and Mr Chávez has used much of the cash to go on a military shopping spree.
He has bought 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles from Russia and military aircraft from Brazil. He has announced plans to buy radar equipment from China. A fleet of naval vessels are also on his shopping list. Mr Chávez has explained the purchases as “an honourable answer to President Bush’s intention of being the master of the world”.
But one particular American fear is that the military firepower may find its way into the hands of Farc guerrillas in neighbouring Colombia.
The US is spending millions of dollars to help its ally, President Uribe of Colombia, in the guerrilla war. Yet Venezuela is becoming a terrorist safe haven. Farc fighters stray into Venezuelan territory where they are allowed to live freely, according to Colombian authorities.
As significant, the arms purchases have been coupled with an intensifying of anti-American rhetoric.
Señor Chávez whips up sentiment against Washington almost daily and feeds an increasing paranoia that Mr Bush will move against him.
Officials announced this week that they were tightening Señor Chávez’s personal security. Civilian militias also began training for an eventual confrontation with the US.
State TV shows video of US officials criticising Señor Chávez, such as Dr Rice’s description of the country as a “negative force in the region”, while playing the theme music from Star Wars.
Graffiti on the streets of Caracas, the capital, declare: “If they kill Chávez, he will return as millions.”
Militia volunteers, known as popular defence units, wear black hats as they chant for the cameras: “Fatherland or Death!”
CHÁVEZ ON . . .
Assassination: “If they kill me, there will be a really guilty party on this planet whose name is the President of the United States, George Bush”
Bush’s Administration: “It is a mafia, a true mafia of murderers”
Cuba: “I am the second Fidel Castro of Latin America”
Capitalism: “The Devil’s economic model . . . The capitalist exploitation model has destroyed oceans, entire oceans”
Saddam Hussein: “A brother”
Condoleezza Rice: “I cannot marry Condolencia (condolence), because I am much too busy. I have heard she dreams about me”
Gaddafi’s Libya: “A model of participatory democracy”
US relations: “We have invaded the United States, but with our oil”
His ‘revolution’: “Every little grain of sand goes toward building the mountain . . . It’s like love. You have to make love every day in many ways. Sometimes carnally, sometimes with your eyes, sometimes with your voice. A revolution is love”
Then they can be prepared to have a very large can of whoop ass opened up on them.
We know how liberals love communist dictatorships while pretending otherwise.
Since he loves communism so much, we should remind him of it's principle axiom 'to each according to his needs, from each according to his abilities'.
Then, further remind Chavez that we need oil and his country has the ability to produce it.
Ergo, we get free oil from Venezuela. Or we expose Chavez as as fraud to all his 'Communist' pals.
Either way, its a win for us and a big fat loss to Chavez.
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