Chavez Flails at Home and Abroad
Venezuela has insufficient funds to import increasingly scarce food and other necessities which it no longer produces in sufficient quantity, but Chávez’s acquisition of armaments to withstand the claimed U.S. threat from Colombia seems unaffected.
More recently, Chávez froze relations with Colombia, a move that was not well received by some. Chávez also claimed that he would halt the importation of ten thousand cars from Colombia. On August 7, an increasingly mercurial Chávez reversed course and sent his ambassador back to Colombia. During a televised conference, he said, “Go back to Bogota, Gustavo. Go to work, and you have a lot of it.” Chávez also denied any intention to sever relations with Colombia. It has been suggested that Chávez was gently reminded that Venezuela’s fading oil wells need lots of natural gas from Colombia to maintain the pressure necessary for oil recovery.
Most Latin American countries, other than Argentina — the birth place of many fine wines, Che Guevara, and Juan Peron — have not been much bothered by the United States-Colombia accord. However, Chávez’s symbiotic relationship with FARC, which continues although denied by Chávez, seems to concern even some of his allies. These concerns are being exacerbated by Colombian President Uribe, who has been touring other Latin American countries and giving leaders his dossier on Chávez. It has been speculated, probably correctly, that Chávez’s turnabout on Colombia was a result of President Uribe’s favorable reception in other Latin American countries. Brazil was the cornerstone of President Uribe’s efforts, since the Union of South American Nations, UNASUR, is principally Brazil’s baby and although Venezuela is a member of UNASUR, Brazil has not yet accepted Venezuela into the Southern Cone Economic Zone (MERCOSUR).
Brazil is becoming an increasingly powerful country and is a natural rival for Venezuela as well as for Colombia. The United States is now investing $10 billion to help Brazil exploit massive hydrocarbon reserves off Brazil’s coast, which are expected eventually to transform Brazil into one of the world’s ten largest oil producers. This cannot be good news for Chávez, whose own oil production continues to decline.
Chávez cannot control the international price of crude oil (although he would like to); as it has declined much of the funding for his social programs has become unavailable. A cutoff of natural gas from Colombia would obviously accelerate the decline. Substantially reduced oil production during Chávez’s reign also has hurt. Chávez needs oil money to continue to provide bread and circuses at home; when he is reduced to providing only circuses but no bread, his power suffers. Oil funds are also needed to advance the spread of “Bolivarian socialism” elsewhere. However, inflation reached an all time high in July, and the unavailability of hard currency and dramatic declines in Venezuelan production of oil, food, and other necessities are attributable directly to his policies, which don’t work. One can hope that some of his acolytes may have noticed this.
Nor have things been going well for Chávez in Honduras, to which former President Zelaya has been unable for more than forty days to return, other than by stepping briefly over the border with Nicaragua. Here is a very good translation of an article in an Honduran newspaper, la Tribuna, explaining for those who don’t already know why what happened in Honduras was not a “military coup.”
Apparent failure in Honduras and at least modest support for the new Honduran government from Panamá, Japan, Taiwan, Peru, Germany, Colombia, and Israel cannot be pleasing to Chávez. Even the United States may be getting on board. A Department of State letter released on August 4 was remarkable in that it omitted any repetition of the demand that Zelaya be reinstated and for the first time put most of the blame for Zelaya’s current situation on Zelaya. It now appears that the United States will no longer threaten sanctions and that “whatever changes that come will be by Honduran consent alone.” Even President Obama has backed off a bit. On August 7, he said that although he continues to support the reinstatement of Zelaya, the United States cannot take unilateral action. “I can’t press a button and suddenly reinstate Mr. Zelaya.” Perhaps the reference to “Mr.” Zelaya, rather than to “President” Zelaya was due to a teleprompter malfunction; perhaps it was intentional. Meanwhile, the Honduran government has decided not to receive OAS representatives who want to come to negotiate the return of Mr. Zelaya:
The group’s mission was to try to persuade Micheletti to negotiate with international mediators seeking to return President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a coup on June 28. But in addition to insisting that he accompany the delegation, Insulza failed to include foreign ministers who might be open to “reconsidering our position,” the statement said, which “has made it impossible to hold the visit” now.
From the beginning, Insulza and the OAS as a whole have harshly condemned the coup and said that any solution to the crisis must include Zelaya’s restoration to office.
Honduras continues to prepare for its regularly scheduled November 29 elections, to which a dozen countries have agreed to send observers. Panamá is helping Honduras to plan a credible and rapid method to transmit the results.
It is impossible to hide the increasing severity of problems from those directly experiencing them. The culture of impotence, long prevalent in many Latin American countries, extends only so far and, as the people have to do without even the bare necessities of life, the limits of their acceptance of the status quo must eventually be reached. That seems to be happening. As it occurs domestically, Chávez’s allies are becoming more attentive to his international blunders as well.
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….