Chavez Flails at Home and Abroad
Daily, as all but a few Chavista favorites become poorer and more oppressed, Hugo Chávez becomes more unstable, more dangerous, sillier, and probably less powerful.
Domestically, Chavez policy is “the beatings will continue until morale improves.” Internationally, he changes course almost daily, and at least a few Latin American countries seem to be gaining an increased perception of the loose cannon he represents. This may even be having an impact on the situation in Honduras, where the new government appears to have “won” and former President Manuel Zelaya — and his mentor Chávez along with him — appears to have lost.
A few of the worsening problems in Venezuela are cataloged here and here, in addition to the more recent happenings listed below.
There has been a takeover of coffee producers due to shortages; Venezuelan coffee production is now the lowest in twenty years. The main reason is that coffee prices artificially set by the government are inadequate to permit the producers to grow and harvest their crops. This affects small and large producers alike. This is important because Venezuela produces excellent coffee and Venezuelans love to drink it. This may assume an importance approaching even that of the shortages of rice and other foods.
Thirty-four radio stations were closed very recently and legislation was proposed under which “any person who divulges false news through the media that upsets public peace … will be sentenced to prison from two to four years.” The legislation was offered by the attorney general, who said it was needed because of “new kinds of crime that result from the abusive exercise of freedom of information and opinion.” Others among Chávez’s government ministers claimed that the public was “clamoring” for such a crackdown and that there was great need for “an appropriate protection for citizens who are left defenseless against the irrational use of power by the media.” Chávez’s minister of housing and public works welcomed the legislation due to the poisoning of society by opposition media and because freedom of expression should not be seen as “the most sacred of freedoms.”
Then, on August 6, the vice-president of the Venezuelan bishops’ conference charged that Chávez was trying to “turn the country into a society that has only one ruler, one entity who has all the right and all the obligations and gives the leftovers to the citizens.” This criticism came in the context of the closure of the Venezuelan radio stations.
Suddenly, the National Assembly decided that the attorney general’s office had no legislative powers and accordingly could not pass such legislation. That articulation makes little sense, because such technical details have generally been insignificant in Chávez’s Venezuela — the attorney general speaks for Chávez and Chávez rules. More than likely, Chávez et al are pulling back a bit. In any event, the legislation is “no longer” on the National Assembly agenda.
Globovisión (which the Chávez government is in the process of shutting down) was attacked by a mob of Chávez’s “Red Shirts,” who invaded the building, set off tear gas bombs, and generally trashed the place. That’s nothing new; it’s what the Red Shirts, like the Brown Shirts before them, do. After the fact, however, Chávez condemned the attack: “Yesterday, something happened that we condemn, because what it did was give oxygen to the bourgeoisie,” he fumed. What had particularly irked him was that fingers had been pointed at him as unfavorable images whizzed around the world amid the immediate fall-out from the attack. “This act of aggression yesterday against a counter-revolutionary television channel, what it does is give oxygen to the counter-revolution and it is a counter-revolutionary act,” he declared with no sign of forgiveness towards his former companera. Giving Chávez’s Bolivarian socialism a bad name is to be tolerated only within limits arbitrarily approved by Chávez.
Chávez may be temporarily detouring around domestic problems in favor of stirring up international tensions. There are two obvious motivations for such a ploy. It may, at least briefly, divert public attention from daily hardships and focus it on phantom external problems. Chávez may also see it as enhancing his international image. It needs refurbishing, and bluster has worked in the past.
Based on a claim of threatened invasion by the United States from military bases in Colombia to steal Venezuelan oil, Chávez has announced the purchase of several battalions of tanks from Russia. According to Chávez, a battalion normally has forty tanks. Other weapon purchases from Russia are also being negotiated.
Chavez considers the U.S. plan “a possible step towards war in South America” and called on President Barack Obama to reconsider it. “We’re talking about the Yankees, the most aggressive nation in human history,” he told reporters at a press conference at the Miraflores presidential palace last Wednesday.
Only a year ago, Chávez said that Venezuela would welcome Russian military bases. He was quoted in the Russian news agency, Interfax, as saying that Russian troops would:
be welcomed warmly. … We will raise flags, beat drums and sing songs, because our allies will come, with whom we have a common worldview.
Had most of the Venezuelan people asked themselves the following questions in 1998, Chavez would have never taken over: do we want to vote in someone who has attempted to take power by a coup de etat? Would not a golpista trample on our democratic traditions when put in power? Too many simple said, ” anything but what we have at present.” It was no accident that Chavez was voted in when oil prices were at their lowest in years. Most of the dissatisfaction was related to the reduction in oil revenues the government had to distribute.
Given his lack of respect for democratic norms, I doubt Chavez will not leave power peacefully. He will be done in by his own people. A mob will descend from the barrios to storm Miraflores. Unfortunately, this may be decades in the making.
‘Everyone rises to their level of incompetence.’
Laurence J. Peter
If Chavez doesn’t acknowledge his problems and inability to solve them, somebody will force him to.
Venezuela has been lucky with its oil, but they cannot survive as a country if they don’t know how to feed themselves. They have great agricultural resources and climate, but many don’t want to get their hands dirty. Like the USA, most of the hard work is done by IMMIGRANTS.
Another failed Central-Planner for the history books.
So you want cheap food. Lets pass price controls and eliminate the profit of the farmer, food processor, distributor and retailer. Then we will have cheap food for everyone ya! via Bolivian revolution ya!
How it was difficult for so many people to see through Chavez is beyond my ability to grasp. The man is a buffoon, a shrewd ape parading around before the camera making one idiotic pronouncement after another. Now he has officially closed down all dissent with jail terms, and this suprises anyone? These are the revolutionary darlings of the American left: all you have to do is say anything about your love for the poor, and voice your criticism at the ruling elite and their kulak supporters, and Sean Penn will come round to sniff your butt and certify you a “man of the people”. A tyrant rose, right in front of our eyes, for over a decade, and nothing at all was done, and it’s only going to get worse. Eventually, he’ll wind up on the end of a rope, after thousands are murdered.
Chavez sees that he has a small window to extend his power. Our current weak and feckless foreign policy will not stand up for the rule of law or true democracy while this current administration is in power. My guess is we will see much more trouble from Chavez in the near future. Hopefully we correct our mistake quickly.
Replace every mention of Chavez with Obama. Then, imagine someone writing the article, which is what you’d have to do because, when Comrade Obama is wielding the same powers as Chavez, no one will be allowed to write and post such an article.
I still have the old reel-to-reel tapes I recorded of Fidel Castro being interviewed by the U.S. Media early in his “struggle”. He assured everyone that he was only supporting the revolution to bring democracy to Cuba.
Chavez will never leave office peacefully.
Only a matter of time before the people in Venezuela realize the jig is up.And 40 tanks or russians setting up military bases there wont help feed folks on the the homefront.Only capitalism will do that.Forty anti-tank missiles at one milion a piece can take out those Russian tanks.Waste of money.If i lived there id be critisizing the govt over it.Since when do socialists invest in a military?I thought being peaceful and singing kumbaya with vicious killers is their motto.Actually id probably be thrown in jail if i did critisize the govt there.
Like Ruebacca said another central planner in the dustbin of history.
With the mood in the United States already simmering, I doubt that Dear Leader could pull off a putsch. If he were to try to impose martial law, he would quickly find he didn’t have very many left in the military, police or fire departments willing to coerce their fellow citizens. Too bad Venezuela didn’t have a 2nd Amendment.
Wouldn’t it make sense of recognizing a government in exile of Venezuela, and then they would
be the first government of the post-Chavez Venezuela.
I am sure President Obama will find Hugo Chavez work in the Obama Administration as an czar when he gets booted from office.
I saw a preview of the soon to be Obama’s vision for the United States. I was in Tegucigalpa, Honduras yesterday afternoon to do some shopping. I saw the Obama-Chavez-Castro-Zelaya-FARC thugs doing what they do best-destroying a democratic republic, and the rule of law.
Since the OAS planned their meeting in Teg. yesterday, $3,000,000 in cash had been sent to Honduras an changed into lempiras, on the black market to pay the Zelaya mobs (“supporters”) t take the city and demand his return to the presidency. Sinced it has been proven that FARC had been supporting Zelaya, and his return to Honduras to help protect their drug smuggling, the Honduras officials believe that it was their blood-drug money that was changed.
Since the OAS meeting did not occur, the 6,000 Zelaya terrorist were all dressed up, with a pocket full of money, but no party to attend, they decided to burn the place down. I drove down some streets that the mob had used. It looked like a war zone. They left a trail of filth, private property defaced, burned a school bus, robbed and completely destroyed an american restarant, and battled with the police. Here they are called “chavistas”.
These crimes could have been prevented if the Obama misadministration and the civilized countries had supported the rule of law in Honduras. Instead they united with the communist countries, in the OAS and the UN, to oppose the constitution, and the rule of law in Honduras.
Many people in Honduras know that this is a spiritual problem, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities aginst powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiriual wickedness in high places.” Eph. 6:12 Some of the anarchist even dress like the devil.
Have we gone so far in supporting plain naked evil that we can’t turn back the clock if history? I and others pray that God will come quickly and save us in this late hour. He is our only hope. We must trust and obey Him.
Peace
Bobby
bobbyhonduras@yahoo.com
Re Comment #13 — Here is an article with some photos showing the sort of chaos and destruction Sr. Zelaya and his merry men (and women) are producing. It is interesting that some of the violent demonstrations demanding the return of Sr. Zelaya have been led by his wife, Xiomara Castro and daughter Hortensia.
According to the linked article,
“The first lady has stayed in the US Ambassador’s house. Members of the violent Frente Nacional de Resistencia group met with the US Ambassador Hugo Llorens over the weekend, though reportedly the Ambassador will not meet with members of the government.”
Sick.
Mr. Miller.
I reported on what i physically observed yesterday. Later, i read the blog about Mrs. Zelaya leading the terrorist. Earlier in the day, i visited another missionary who is closing her ministry and medical clnic, in Danli, and leaving Honduras. She reported that several containers, (i undetand that there over twenty) that she helped ship to Honduras from the U.S., loaded with medicine, wheel chairs, food, etc., to help the poor, were stolen by Xiomara Castro, and sold. But i am sure that all the Obama media reported about that. Recently, some of the supplies were discovered in Teg., but the medicine was expired and the food spoiled. Perhaps U.S. ambassador Hugo Llorens can ask her about the supples paid for by U.S. tax payers, since he and Xiomara Castro are comrades (“comarade group sleeping in one room”)Webster.
Pease help us God!! We live in a crazy world.
Viva Honduras!!
Bobby
Bobby, thanks for the information. It is very sad and very sick, and I hope that you and all of those in Honduras who believe in the rule of law prevail. I think you will.
Mr. Miller
I and the other foreign missionaries living and ministering in Honduras want to thank you, and Pajama Media for helping us get the truth about Honduras to the United States and the world. Recently i read a report from a major news media in the U.S. that wrote that the pro Zelaya protesters in Teg. were peaceful the previous day. But i had an El Heraldo paper lying on my desk with a photo of a school bus, from a private school, loaded with small children, that had been attacked by Zelaya supporters the same day.
It is becoming more difficult for us to operate our church ministries, medical clinics, orphanages, feeding programs, etc., because of the Obama, Chavez, Zelaya, Castro, Ortega, OSA, UN alliance agaist Honduras. I can understand why they do not like the “rule of law”.
Most ministries here depend on visiting groups to help us survive. Many large groups have canceled their trips, to honduras, because of the unstable conditions caused by the enemies of the rule of law.
Some wonderful ministries may not survive. We are doing all we can to continue to care for our 42 orphans. We pray to receive more. Yesterday and today we harvestered about 2,200 lbs. of beans on our farm. Our corn crop is almost ready to harvest. That will help us feed our children. We pray to replant beans later this week. We also grow carrots, for juice to help feed our tiny babies. Magil is about ten months old, but weighs only nine lbs. He and others were almost dead when we received them. We also have onions, and green pepper planted on farm.
Again, thanks and God bless you and Pajama Media for helping the great free Constitutional Republic of Honduras. We will survive and prosper, because we are on the side of truth.
Viva Honduras!!
Peace,
Bobby
bobbyhonduras@yahoo.com
hhmmission.org
Failing at home and abroad? Are you sure Chavez is not a Democrat? Venezuela is a nice country with a very warm and friendly population. Chavez is not a Venezuelan – he is a communist. He is plunging that country into poverty and war. What else is a communist good for. My heart goes out to the Venezuelan people. Instead of us helping you we sent you Jimmy Carter, always a sign of an impending disaster. The curse of the Peanut Farmer.
Hola, amigos, but can you say “Ustades Unidos” in about another two years?
Viva la revolucion, comrades!
And if you get a little hungry along the way . . . eat your dog.
Chavez’s primary goal is controling power in Venezuela, and gaining influence abroad. Since many are quickly realizing that his socialist utopia was just a mirage, he’s stepping up efforts to turn Venezuela into a Cuban-style police state, complete with “neighborhood councils” to keep tabs on “unpatriotic” activities, and repression of free speech in radio and TV.
By silencing the opposition, and paying off enough well-paid thugs and cronies, Chavez aims to stay in power, regardless of a sinking economy, just like his Cuban mentor has for decades.
Chavez is rapidly consolidating his grip on power, though he hasn’t completed it yet. Venezuelans must make a concerted effort to remove him soon, or the window of opportunity will be lost for good.
I am an American by choice but a Honduran by an act of God. Honduras has been a very good ally to the US and now they turn their back on us because we believe in real democracy. We are simple people that have more “cojones” than Venezuelans, Nicaraguan,Cubans and the rest of the people that have decided to have someone like Chavez or Castro as their master. We will not go quietly into the night( I have heard that before) and will do what it takes to make our Honduras better from it was with the grace of God.
21 G. Martin My wife is from Colombia so we are sympathetic to those in Latin America who are fighting for freedom. Colombia has endured 60 years of guerrilla warfare and with Chavez and Obama the fight is becoming more difficult. We like many Americans applaud the Hondurans for their willingness to take on this would be dictator. Unless you get them early on it becomes more and more difficult to get rid of them. They will use any means to inflict their will on the people. If the people are basically peaceful and honest it is very hard for them to become a fighting force unless they understand the perile they are in.
The people in this country are living in the past. We still live with the illusion are government is a beign well meaning entity. Yet we have a totalitarian state in the making. The media has become a pawn of the state. Most people here are hard working and honest. They have no taste for politics. They just want to be left alone. Soon that is not going to be an option. First go our freedoms and then the police state arrives and it is 70 years of oppression.
While Honduras tries to cope with her insignificant problems, and Venezuela goes down the toilet, an official of the U.S. Department of State protested Venezuelan President Chávez’s unwarranted attack on the gentlemanly sport of golf in Venezuela.
Gosh darn! I screwed up a bit on the html code. I think the editors can figure out the problem
Thanks. Dan Miller
According to this article,
Beats having the U.S. Department of State working with Venezuela on the dastardly game of golf.
Well I for one hope Chavez is serious about his threats, and follows through, if only to see Columbia remove this corruption from power. He has turned a Venezuelan Army (that had a professional core) into a corrupt entity who’s leadership is absolutely political and absolutely not professional, high praise would be that they are 8/10ths of useless. The Columbians will turn that joke of an army into meat.
Nice that somebody had some relatively good news to report….
I truly enjoyed reading this Dan.
Chavez continues to “flail” abroad and at home.
Meanwhile, Honduras has remained firm in her refusal to permit former President Zelaya to return to office. For continuing updates, this is a good site to visit.
UN LLAMADO AL MUNDO…
Hola, Mi nombre es Pedro Lopez padre, escritor y creador del proyecto Bolivariano de Hugo Chavez para el 2007 – 2013 y te invito a que leas una verdadera historia…
http://www.intercongreso.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=114&Itemid=171
Gracias por ayudarte a vivir….