Venezuela's Chavez Seeking to Create 'Bolivarian Army' to Counter 'U.S. Imperialism'

Human Events Online ^ | February 25, 2005 | Oliver North

[bigsky]

Now for the bad news. Two weeks ago, the mainstream media were chasing after Secretary of State Condolleeza Rice on her whirlwind debutante tour of Europe, commenting on her elegant ensembles and disarming smile. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez was accusing the United States of trying to assassinate him.

This week, the potentates of the press mused over President Bush's efforts to melt the iciest of "Old European" hearts. But within four hours of Florida, Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega -- still the head of the communist-inspired Sandinista Party -- was endorsing Chavez' call for the creation of a "Bolivarian Army" -- comprised of soldiers from "like minded nations" throughout Latin America. Such an armed force would "protect these countries" from "U.S. imperialism."

Compared to Russia's intent to supply the radicals in Tehran with nuclear material and know-how, the rabid babble emanating from our back yard may seem a minor annoyance -- kind of like the neighbor's dog barking in the night. And it would be just about as threatening, but for one thing: The radicals to our south have found a wealthy new benefactor, the revolutionary Chavez.

With oil selling at near record prices, the elected Venezuelan head of state, and new darling of the radical left, is rolling in American petro-dollars. While the Bush administration has been preoccupied by its "New European Initiative," Chavez -- often seen sporting his Castro-style uniform -- has been taking every advantage of the distraction. And, apparently, he is willing to put his money where his mouth is.

With his new-found oil wealth, Chavez has offered to arm the new "Bolivarian Army" with weapons from communist China and, of all places, Iran. In a little-noticed speech this week at the Organization for American States (OAS), Ali Rodriguez, the Venezuelan foreign minister, denounced the United States and echoed Chavez' claims that the Bush administration has authorized the assassination of the Venezuelan president.

According to sources in Nicaragua, Chavez is using his fortune to finance Sandinista chieftain Daniel Ortega's political ambitions. One frustrated member of the legislature in Managua told me that "Chavez is Ortega's 'numero uno' financial benefactor."

Meanwhile, Alvaro Uribe, the pro-American president of Colombia, is increasingly concerned about the military support and sanctuary that the Chavez regime is offering to FARC narco-terrorists. Thus far, all of these concerns seem to have fallen on deaf ears in Washington.

One of the problems of being a super-power is that the role brings with it many responsibilities -- and many adversaries. It also requires a deftness and flexibility for dealing with unexpected challenges. The Bush administration demonstrated those skills in its response to the attack on 9-11. Though more protracted and far less "popular," the president's policy in Iraq seems headed in the right direction -- thanks to the courage, dexterity and perseverance of our armed forces.

In his European venture, President Bush is wise to do what he can to ease the prospect of another "Islamic Nuclear Power" in Tehran. It's even possible -- though unlikely -- that he can dissuade Vladimir Putin from selling nuclear technology to the Iranians. If there is truth to the rumor that the Russians are providing their nuclear know-how to Tehran in exchange for Iranian "help" in Chechnya, then the transfer will take place no matter what Putin promises.

But no matter what the outcome in Europe, regardless of how the administration deals with North Korea's nuclear ambitions, they cannot ignore the growing storm south of our border. As one retired intelligence officer, an expert on Latin America, told me this week, "If they think they have a problem with illegal immigration today, wait until the Castro-Chavez-Ortega 'Axis of Evil' gets done destabilizing this hemisphere."

His ominous warning seems to be timely. Last year, there were more than 1.1 million illegal aliens detained crossing the Mexican border into the United States. Several million more made it past our overworked Border Patrol. But of greater concern is the fact that apprehensions of non-Mexican illegals rose 40 percent above 2003 levels.

History ought to be an indicator of what's happening. When Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba, more than 20 percent of the island's population fled. Between 1979, when the Sandinistas marched into Managua, and 1990, when they were finally voted out of power, nearly 25 percent of Nicaragua's population became refugees. Ignoring the realities of what's happening today in Latin America invites a tidal wave of refugees fleeing north.

In the 1980s, the threat to our south originated with Soviet-inspired and financed communism. Castro's minions aided and abetted the effort -- as did most of the Soviet satellites. Today, it's coming from a virulently anti-American, well-financed regime in Caracas -- but it is no less of a threat to the United States or to other democracies in the region.

The effectiveness of Chavez' anti-American campaign is increasingly evident in places where it should never take hold. In Managua, President Enrique Bolanos has lost control over Nicaragua's Sandinista-controlled military. His promise to destroy their stockpile of Soviet-made SA-7 shoulder-fired missiles, capable of bringing down a commercial airliner, has yet to be fulfilled. That may not be much when compared to the threat of an Iranian or North Korean nuclear weapon, but that will be scant comfort to the passengers on the U.S. airliner brought down by one of the surface-to-air missiles.

All of this begs for the Bush administration to put away the mementos of their European trip and start paying attention to what's going on in our hemisphere.

[cgbg]

Venezuela--the fifty first state.

Chavez is the one who should be dreaming about barking dogs.

[george wythe]

The Clintons sold them everything they need

You get no disagreement from me. Selling advanced technology and computer systems to the Chi-coms was a treasonous act by the Clintons, especially the know-how that allowed the Chinese to better aim their missiles to the US.

My opinion of the Clintons is at the very bottom. The only possible crook worse than them was Janet Reno, who covered up all their crimes.

Apparently, the Chinese are not satisfied with the Clintons' gifts. The Chi-coms want more sophisticated weapons to keep the arm race going.

[inkling]

I understand that Chavez has recently purchased more than 200 armored vehicles. What use are armored vehicles if your neighbors are friendly.

I think the armored vehicles are to repress his own people and put down potential rebellions -- especially in the cities. They wouldn't be much help to Chavez for actions against his neighbors since the area is heavy jungle and rugged mountains.

[MattinNJ]

If you recall, the Cuban immigration wave was extremely positive for our country, bringing with it well-educated and committed people.Sounds like the same thing might be happening in Venezuela.

Excellent point. The Sandinastas have taken Nicaragua again. Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, and even Chile is lurching to the left. Peru and Columbia are under extreme duress from Chavez, Castro, and the Chicomms. A lot of South Americans are on their way here

My in-laws escaped from Cuba in the late 60's. They are extremely hardworking, honest, family oriented and staunchly anti-communist. They raised two wonderful children (including my wife)who became very successful. In fact, my Brother-in-law is a Wharton grad.

Eventually cream rises to the top. The ambitous people will leave their communist hellholes or die trying, thereby leaving the less desirable behind. America will always have the best and brightest immigrants for the most part.

[Fast1]

You do not live in Miami do you?

[antisocial]

"A Bolivarian Army? What are they gonna do -- throw arepas at us?"

Don't worry they only want to emmigrate several million more Marxist/socialists to the United States so we will be more receptive to the idea of becoming more like the Eurosocialists.

[Bald Eagle777]

I beg to differ. Check this out. Free registration is required, but it's worth it to read the following article. I have been keeping a close eye on MS-13 and like gangs, and these are not positive for the country. Clearly, we have a problem. It is also of concern that AQ & OBL are reaching out to these elements ...

Gang leader in custody, officals say
By Dave Montgomery
Star-Telegram Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - The arrest in South Texas of a man reputed to be a Honduran gang lord known as "El Culiche" -- the Tapeworm -- is intensifying law enforcement concerns about the Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, a Central American gang that authorities believe is spreading its operations throughout much of the United States.

Here's a quick excerpt:

"Ever Anibal Rivera Paz, suspected as the mastermind of a December bus attack in Honduras that killed 28 people, was being held in a South Texas detention unit Thursday; authorities arrested him Feb. 10 about 110 miles north of the Texas-Mexico border, saying he was sneaking into the United States with a group of illegal immigrants.

Authorities identified Rivera Paz by his multiple tattoos, a trademark of Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13. Born out of the civil wars that racked Central America in the early 1980s, the gang has become international in scope and poses a growing threat to U.S. law enforcement officers...."

[Bald Eagle777]

Invasion.

[Always Independent]

Finally! A war where the soldiers will be able see their families on weekends.

[El Conservador]

Fight a bunch of murdering, drug-trafficking thugs with another bunch of murdering, drug-trafficking thugs.

Sounds about right. /sarc

[hchutch]

So you'd rather have Pablo Escobar running around because you didn't want to deal with Los Pepes?

I suppose that the FBI shouldn't have convinced Sammy Gravano to testify against John Gotti, either...

The concept works. It works effciently. I ain't gonna shed tears for FARC. If COLAR gets `em, fine. If the AUC gets `em, that's fine, too. I just want those terrorists gone.

[OKIEDOC]

Yes that is what I think also.
However, there are roads from Venezuela to Colombia that these bad boys can travel down.
The Chinese have become very active in that area and it does not surprise me that Chavez is promoting business with them.

[OKIEDOC]

Don't forget that Brazil and Bolivia have new socialists leaning presidents.

These guys are in talks with Chavez about setting up a European type union to compete against the USA in both trade and military goals.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping

[SaltyJoe]

I have to agree with you on some parts. I think the Chinese will make an oversees investment in global terrorism and tyranny to protect their "inexpensive goods" market in China.

The recent stir of graphic execution pictures posted earlier (mis-titled saying that Tibetans were being shot for protesting) was more a tactic against American companies using Chinese markets to manufacture inexpensive goods. These are the everyday products we buy in nearly all American department stores and not just from the well known and often smeared Wal-Mart stores. I wouldn't doubt that such attacks against Wal-Mart is to push unionization of their employees more than nixing Chinese products.

The obvious move to:

1) reducing illegal immigration;
2) avoid paying into an overt and outspokenly hostile anti-American Communist Chinese government;
3) keep our inexpensive goods market inexpensive...

is to move the manufacturing of these goods closer to home, i.e. every possible country south of the USA.

Moving American dollars away from Beijing and its subsequent hard-to-influence bellicose puppet regimes (like North Korea) is a strategic threat that puts China into cold-hearted decision-making mode. Rather than having to change her anti-Christian/anti-religion State Religion character, her Communist (criminal) leadership will spoil other markets to keep China in a "favorable" appearance.

Hence, we see furious Communist Chinese action in Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. What works against Beijing is the massive exposure of her agents and exported managers to Christianity. Granted that from Mexico to Argentina and Chile they've have had their anti-Christian secret handshake history, but China is no Soviet Union. Beijing's "soft power" (yeah, right...not) expansion isn't as Stalinist in hatred and ruthlessness for absolute power (beyond the Asian continent).

Whatever Communist China puts oversees,

whatever ChiComms spend in defense upgrades,

whatever free information is communicated between her people and the rest of the world...

will hasten the end of godless Communism in China.

Those Chinese who will come out well in wealth will deserve the wealth they WORKED for as we all should keep what we earn (by the sweat of our brow). Very few of the criminal types will survive, even against their own people should they run and hide.

Yes, there will be injustices, as there has been since the fall of man. There will still be cocaine farming in the Americas and opium farming in Asia, drug lords terrorizing locals, drug addiction/sex slavery, and organized crime. There will be anti-Christian politics and people who continue to covet and hate their neighbors. And as always, there will be those who hate Israel and hate Jesus since they hate the Heavenly Father first. But hate is losing its ground and its hate that is spreading thin--not justice. Justice is winning.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Hugo Chavez - Venezuela

[kingsurfer]

ping

[John Lenin]

Never forget, Jimmy Carter helped.

[John Lenin]

Never forget, Jimmy Carter helped.