Chavez strengthens his grasp on power

Miami Herald ^ | April 16, 2002 | FRANCES ROBLES frobles@herald.com with Special correspondent Christina Hoag

[Free the USA]

bttt

[Revolting cat!]

Next time they'll do better

I too doubt there'll be a next time. Right now his mentor in Havana is wagging his finger and telling Hugo "I told ya!" There are no coups, successful or otherwise, in communist countries, in totalitarian police states.

The underclass of Venezuela will be more than happy to fill the ranks of secret police and party bureaucracies, the way the underclasses in Eastern Europe had done and the way the underclass of this country fills the ranks of our own gubmint agencies. The only thing missing from this comparison is the intellectual class, which in Venezuela unlike in the other Communist countries, doesn't seem to be on the side of the Revolution (unless I've been misinformed.) Intellectuals and disaffected, guilt ridden aristocrats are in Communist paradises given the task of conceptualizing and organizing the police state apparatus. Oh well, Cuban advisers will be more than happy to assist.

[Gritty]

That Chavez's armed Bolivarian Circle Chavistas would ambush a peaceful march and that his senior military would then ask him to resign, just wasn't on the day's agenda.

My bet is they had some inkling of it. Chavez must have had these Brownshirts around for a while and the military should have known they were potential trouble. If they didn't think of it, they were remiss. If we knew Chavez was trouble by observing him from this country, they must have realized it even moreso there.

I think they just tried to do the best with the cards that were dealt and weren't prepared.

You're probably right. They weren't prepared. They should have been smart enought to know you don't ask a Marxist to "resign". It's never successful, so they should have put together a better plan before they moved. Once they moved, they should have gone all the way - not take half-measures.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Oh well, Cuban advisers will be more than happy to assist.

January 2002 - Venezuela's Chavez Steps up Verbal Attacks On Church-- Calls It a "Tumor" for the Country's "Revolution" ***CARACAS, Venezuela, (Zenit.org).- Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez assailed the country´s Catholic bishops, accusing them of not "walking in the way of God" because they do not openly support the political leader´s "revolution." ….In past months, Chávez has tried, unsuccessfully, to establish a Church loyal to his government (similar to that in China), separated from the bishops, with priests and former priests who subscribe to his Marxist ideology.

His criticisms against the Church grew harsher after 80,000 protesters marched last Wednesday in Caracas in opposition to his government. This was the largest protest against the 3-year-old Chávez government. As a result, the president has sped up the militarization of his regime with the appointment of Ramón Rodríguez Chacín as Interior Minister. Chacín was a navy captain who took part in the failed 1992 coup organized by Chávez himself.

The appointment followed soon after the suspension of Vice President Adina Bastidas, who was replaced by Diosdado Cabello, a retired colonel who also took part in the failed coup against democracy. Four other military men of the unsuccessful coup are now in the Cabinet. At least 50 soldiers occupy midlevel posts in government, the diplomatic corps and state-run enterprises. ***

February 2002 - Chavez Tries Charm to Disarm Critics (Russian and Cuban security advisers in Venezuela) ***The official said he was also concerned at the growing role of Russian and Cuban security advisers in Venezuela. Egui Bastidas said he had experienced "the direct participation and the attempts at indoctrination by the Russian and Cuban intelligence services, who have direct and virtually unlimited access within the Helicoide (DISIP's headquarters building)." The official's lawyer, former DISIP Secretary-General Joaquin Chaffardet, said around 100 members of the Cuban intelligence services are currently operating in Venezuela. The new allegations would, if proven, further strain the already difficult relationship between the United States and Venezuela.***

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I didn't mean to leave the impression they wouldn't welcome it and were probably trying to envision a way to get him out.
I just don't think they thought they would be thrust into a situation that would require action that day.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

January 2002- Opposition lawmakers attacked by supporters of Venezuela's President Chavez****CARACAS, Venezuela -- Dozens of supporters of President Hugo Chavez attacked opposition lawmakers trying to leaving Venezuela's legislature following a marathon session late Saturday. ….Supporters of the president, known as "chavistas," attacked the legislators -- shoving, hitting and in some cases throwing rocks -- after a nine-hour session that ended with a Chavez ally's re-election as president of the National Assembly. 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.***

[dr_who]

So much for Venezuela.

[Diamond]

Yes, of course you are right. I asked the question somewhat sarcasticly after watching LeftyHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS breathing a collective (pun intended) sigh of relief at Chavez's re-taking of power. I didn't hear any mention of the huge throngs in their analysis last night.

Cordially,

[weikel]

Yep this is going to be like the July plot.

[weikel]

Forget the trial you don't kill them in 6 hours you kill them immediately along with any members of their inner circle and their spouse now they failed because they were not ruthless enough and will end up like the guys who tried to kill Hitler.

[weikel]

They did command troops but they weren't ruthless enough they weren't willing to do what Pinochet did.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thank you for the information. I'd read they didn't have troops under their command. I guess they meant immediate or direct command.

[weikel]

Im sure they don't have troops any more they'll be swinging from meathooks soon enough.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It should be Chavez on the hooks.

[weikel]

They had their chance but they wanted a bloodless coup the fools.

[bourbon]

thanks for the link about Chavez's attacks on the Church.

he and FARC are definitely natural allies. I believe FARC operatives recently killed the Archbishop of Cali. Look for more of these despicable acts to become the norm in Venezuela under Chavez.

[bourbon]

I think this young punk deserves his first Freeping, any takers?

scroll down on the page and you can post your comments automatically.

I would write him myself but I've sworn a solemn oath not to write to this damn fool paper. Mama taught me to keep my word.

this guy is SO wrong on SO MANY issues, freeping him should be like shooting fish in a barrel.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Venezuelan troops prepare to patrol neighborhoods in Caracas April 16, 2002. Foes of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, shaken but not bowed by his surprise return after a failed coup bid, voiced deep skepticism about his offer of a dialogue, and they demanded elections, his resignation or a clear change of policies. REUTERS/Daniel Aguilar