Back in December of 2000: Fidel, Saddam and Hugo --An improbable but growing friendship of three military revolutionaries-- The Castro-Hussein-Chávez connection is anti-American and anti-capitalistic, but not in an ideological way. What matters to the three is domestic power built upon a base of nationalism that they believe legitimizes their policies In a way, this bizarre trio represents the rebirth, a half century later, of the kind of nationalist populism spawned by General Juan Perón in Argentina and Gamal Abdel Nasser in Egypt. Mr. Castro and Mr. Saddam gained power through armed revolutions; Mr. Chávez, a paratroopers' lieutenant colonel, was democratically elected in 1998, after serving time for trying to overthrow the government in 1992.
Then in June of 2001: CARACAS, Venezuela …."There is a legal framework that clearly states when liberty of expression begins and when that liberty of expression becomes a violation" of Chavez's right to maintain his own honor, said Saab. "Does liberty of opinion and expression give you the right to slander whoever you want? Especially if you are not an internal political dissident but a foreigner?" … Some business and opposition leaders reacted with dismay Monday to President Hugo Chavez's threat to expel foreigners who criticize Venezuela. But many doubted that the fiery nationalist would follow through.
Here Venezuelans are eight months later: Venezuelan Paper Calls Chavez Dictator -- Chavez called the violence a "warning" to the opposition "and its absurd and evil intention" of trying to destabilize his government. He threatened to deploy supporters on "every street corner" to "defend the revolution," as the leftist leader refers to his policies. --SOURCE