While Chavez dis-arms the police, it's instructive to see who he is bringing in to help him maintain his regime.
From my Caracas connection at
http://www.militaresdemocraticos.com he told me last night that:
"We also got a big IRANIAN contingent, as well as ALGERIANS and INDIANS. The Iranians got a big official government reception, and included high-level government officials from Iran. The Algerians, when they came, got in through customs through a special door and did not have to show passports or pass immigration controls in any way. I have this on tape (filmed by a passenger on the same, from Holland, two days ago)."
Also, he wrote, Chavez is stepping up his dependance on Tripoli for help in supporting his regime there, too. 18 specialist Libyans arrived there 3 days ago, to supposedly restart the oil refineries because he can not find local workers, who are both skilled and willing to break the strike, to do so.
They were received by top-level MVR party bosses, so they might be more than mere oil workers. I am enclosing a list of names and the route they took to get here, for whatever it is worth...
LIBYANS IN VENEZUELA
Flight plan -
01/09/03: LX 2585 Tripoli > Zurich
01/10/03: LH 3755 Zurich > Frankfurt
01/10/03: LH 534 Frankfurt > Caracas
Received in Maiquetia (Caracas airport) by:
Ali Ahmed, of the "Libyan Commission"
Cilia Flores, member of Congress, "MVR"-party
Nicolas Maduro, member of Congress, "MVR"-party
Juan Barreto, member of Congress, "MVR"-party
Arrivals (last name, first name):
Alghariy, Alsudik
Najjar, Elmabruk
Adun, Koaled
Adel, Zeguera
Nagib, Sherif
Benelfgh, Abubaker
Bentahir, Nabiel
Enbia, Abdulfat
Majrab, Waldi
Elkom, Amhamed
Nashnush, Abdulgha
Romia, Mohamed
Shwich, Abduraoo
Elghanud, Abdulnas
Barhmi, Ezzedin
Seleni, Abdulssa
Gwile, Hasan
Besha, Mhemmed
Current place of residence: Hotel Eduard, Macuto, Vargas state
Stated Mission: Reactivation of various PDVSA oil refineries
They have a serious problem there that is a giant powder keg and the fuse is already lit.