Sunday, February 04, 2007

Hugo Chavez: Savior or Tyrant

I had the strangest dream last night. I can't remember what it was about but remember at the end of the dream there was a news report saying that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had been under State arrest for a month. What is really odd is that I don't remember reading or viewing anything about Chavez lately, so it's not like he was in my thought bubble. Still, the idea of Chavez being a target for another coup d'etat is not without merit.

I confess to having mixed feelings about Chavez. I had a roommate in college from Venezuela so I know the problems that existed in that country, particularly with its poorer citizens. There is no doubt the country was being robbed and raped by the upper class and the oil companies that descended upon her. One of the boldest and best moves, in my opinion, was when he nationalized the oil fields. It is a lesson that could be learned in Iraq.

However, while adored by the common man, Chavez has managed to create many enemies with his policies and his own unique brand of political speech. I will not disagree with Chavez’s assessment of George Bush of being el Diablo, but it casts doubt upon his legitimacy as a world leader. And it creates further political enemies for him within the United States. Add to that his political ideology with Fidel Castro and Bolivian President Juan Morales and it becomes apparent that Chavez’s brand of social democracy leans more towards communism than socialism or democracy.

There are several reports out of South America that cast more doubt upon Chavez’s true intentions. As reported in the Washington Post*, the National Assembly of Venezuela has given Chavez power to create new laws, restructure the government and dictate the flow of Venezuela’s oil profits. He also has been given the power to nationalize other industries such as utilities and telecommunications. And he could change the Country’s constitution to end presidential term limits.

Now substitute Hugo Chavez’s name with George Bush. Doesn’t sound so attractive, does it?

Add to that a growing sentiment of anti-Semitism within the nations of Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador** as well as the strengthening of ties between Venezuela, China and Iran and you begin to question just what are Chavez’s true intentions. Unlike Cuba, who was dependent upon the Soviet Union to survive, Venezuela, with its oil fields, can dictate terms to the rest of the world as long as we remain dependent upon oil.

Just one final thought. Chavez has been looked upon as the benevolent savior of many in the northeast United States when he provided inexpensive fuel oil to the poor of Boston and New York City. I’m not sure that there is any significance to it other than the generosity of the act. However, as a military leader, it is possible that Hugo Chavez has learned the one strategic element crucial to winning any war – to win the hearts and minds of the country you want to control.

Again, a lesson George Bush should have learned in Iraq.




* Washington Post, February 2, 2007
** JTA.org, February 3, 2007


3 Comments:

At 2/05/2007 09:35:00 AM, Blogger not_over_it said...

I still don't get why Chavez is painted as such a villan by the press while the Saudi royal family gets a pass.

Oh, wait, Chavez never held hands with Bush.

 
At 2/05/2007 10:16:00 AM, Blogger billie said...

interesting assessment. i can't disagree. my thought is- we here had come to think of our government as benevolent- because allegedly it is of the people for the people and all of that happy nonsense. no government is benevolent- some are just less corrupt than others. right or left- dictatorship is not a happy thing.

 
At 2/05/2007 02:41:00 PM, Blogger 5th Estate said...

IMHO Chavez is high on political power and feels entitled to act like an asshole.
But there's nothing wrong in principle with nationalising the exploitation of a nation's natural resources and sharing the proceeds amongst the common people and for the benefit of the commonwealth.
According to Connie Mack's (R-FLA) post on The Hill blog "Hugo Chavez is a clear and present danger to the people of Venezuela and indeed the entire Western Hemisphere. We cannot continue to let his actions go unnoticed."

That's a fucking outrageous comment for all sorts of reasons.

Chavez does remind me of "Shrub"--broad decisions, broad rhetoric and no nuance--dangerous chracteristics. But Chavez doesn't have the world's largest economy most sophisticated nuclear military at his disposal.

South America has been fucked-around with enough by the USA. A little less bullshit on our side for once would be advisable.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home