Good morning everyone. Here's a small reminder of what we will, sooner or later, have to deal with in South America.....in addition to Haiti, Africa, Middle East, Cuba and here at home.
Venezuela Erupting
While the world's attention is focused on the departure of elected despot President Jean-Bertrand Aristide from Haiti,
worse problems are brewing to the south. Venezuela's controversial president, Hugo Chavez, is provoking citizen anger by blocking a petition drive for a referendum on his dictatorial rule.(Snip)
Like Fidel Castro, Chavez has made the armed forces the lead agency in Venezuela's government, isolating civilians as well as municipal and departmental (state) officials. While local police live in barrios and may be unwilling to harm their neighbors, the army and national guard are protected by barracks and isolation from civilian contact.
Cuban intelligence and security specialists now reportedly march alongside soldiers, wearing Venezuelan uniforms and tattling on dissenters. They have also helped train so-called "Bolivarian Circles" partisan gangs that spy in neighborhoods, intimidate opponents and enforce political loyalty.
Outside Caracas,
his military units allow Colombian FARC guerrillas to camp out and resupply in Venezuelan territory. And he reportedly provides Bolivia's leftist coca union leader Evo Morales with money and advice. Morales was partly responsible for the ouster of President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada in October 2003.(Snip)