The wrecking of Venezuela

[Zorro]

<snip>

Venezuelans are starting to fall out of love with their president. Will they be allowed to vote him out of power?

WITH his bellicose bombast, theatrical gestures and dodgy jokes, Hugo Chávez, Venezuela’s president for the past 11 years, has turned himself into one of the world’s most recognisable and controversial rulers. His fans salute him as a saviour for the downtrodden of the planet, a man who is leading a grass roots revolution against American imperialism and its local sepoys. But to many others, including this newspaper, he has come to embody a new, post-cold-war model of authoritarian rule which combines a democratic mandate, populist socialism and anti-Americanism, as well as resource nationalism and carefully calibrated repression.

This model has proved surprisingly successful across the world. Versions are to be found in countries as disparate and distinct as Iran, Russia, Zimbabwe and Sudan. In one way or another, these regimes claim to have created a viable alternative to liberal democracy.

In Mr Chávez’s case, that claim has been backed up above all by oil. On the one hand, he has deployed oil revenues abroad to gain allies, and to sustain the Castro brothers in power in Cuba. On the other, having kicked out Western multinationals, he has signed investment deals with state-owned oil companies. Last month China agreed to lend Venezuela $20 billion, mainly for oil development. Mr Chávez has armed his revolution with Russian jets, tanks and rifles (albeit bought on tick). Meanwhile, a Spanish judge accuses his government of sheltering members of ETA, the Basque terrorist group. Intercepted e-mails from leaders of Colombia’s FARC guerrillas suggest that they have received help, and possibly arms, through Venezuela. Of course Venezuela’s government denies such claims. So just how much of a menace is Mr Chávez, and what, if anything, can be done about him?

<snip>

More at: http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=16109302

[protocol rv]

1. The Economist bothers me

When The Economist supported the war in Iraq, later started using misleading information to encourage a US attack against Iran, they cover up Israeli crimes in Palestine, and can be considered a neocon-dominated source, although they are very good at trying to hide it. Therefore I would suspect this is part of an organized campaign to interfere in Venezuela's internal affairs.

I would suggest you outsiders kindly stay out this topic, unless the Venezuelan government specifically does something to hurt your particular interests, because the situation here is an internal matter. And I'm sure that, given the way the polls are going right now, we will be able to put the National Assembly in the hands of the opposition, and later we will be able to vote President Chavez out of office.

On the other hand, since The Economist is British, and they seem to be so keen on offering advice to others, I'd like to point out you are losing a lot of soldiers in Afghanistan, and you are losing the war. My recommendation is that you stop being an American poodle, and try to grow your own foreign policy.

Fare thee well, and have a nice day.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[protocol rv]

3. Don't quote neocons

And if you are British, keep your troops out of Iraq :-)

[Zorro]

4. I'll quote whoever and whatever I feel like quoting, thank you

I find articles in The Economist quite informative.

If you take exception to their contents, then point out where they are in error.

[protocol rv]

7. The Economist and its errors

Let's see. First we have to establish, do you have access to the Economist - I mean, can you go back and access articles such as the ones they published in the run up to the war in Iraq? If you do, then I can do a search, and point out the articles to you, and show the sections where they either lie or distort the truth.

I can do the same regarding their articles about Israel versus Palestine, Russia, the Iranian nuclear fuel processing program, and many others. I read the Econommist, it's a good rag, but it has to be read with a clear understanding of their agenda. And their agenda is subtle neocon.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ChangoLoa]

6. What's wrong with you? Why so sarcastic? nt

[protocol rv]

8. i think he works for the Economist

I've seen the writing style, he's Bagehot. :-)

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

9. I think you're dead..... Let me check....... PEACE!!!. nt

[Judi Lynn]

12. Doesn't seem possible.

http://www.zefrank.com.nyud.net:8090/web/32.jpg http://www.zefrank.com.nyud.net:8090/web/64.jpg http://www.zefrank.com.nyud.net:8090/web/19.jpg http://www.zefrank.com.nyud.net:8090/web/18.jpg

[ChangoLoa]

10. Let's see

This year will say if we are a sound, consolidated economy or a short-legged disaster. After a 5-6% contraction in the first trimester, it's not looking good right now. Funny to see the two extremes expressing their point of view on this. Chavista media try to hide the obvious reality and to convince us that the actual crisis is a total illusion while hardcore anti-chavista media try hard to exaggerate the magnitude showing a morbid impatience for our country to fall apart. Reasonable debate has become impossible with our "Talibans", as we call them in Venezuela.

[EFerrari]

11. I love The Economist on this topic. Don't get to read much good comedy these days.

They did my favorite smear when they claimed Chavez stole an oil rig. That one was classic.

Thanks, Zorro.