Wednesday
30Aug2006
US plans to oust Chavez
Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at 10:00AM 
It shouldn’t come as any surprise, but reports are emerging that the US government has been filtering millions of dollars to groups in Venezuela who oppose South America’s socialist darling, Hugo Chavez. [link]
Of course the left have been saying for the last couple of years that Bush has a hidden hand in Venezuela’s affairs; and the right even publicly encourages such interventionism – remember last August when evangelical nutjob, Pat Robertson, argued live on air that the US should assassinate Chavez? You know the rule Chavez: you can piss off the US, just don’t do it while stood on millions of barrels of oil. Now, see me after class.
The United States is on the precipice of an economic downturn that will make the DotCom bubble seem like a losing a dollar down the back of the sofa. House Prices are flatter than a family of hedgehogs on a daytrip to the M25, and those in the know, are aware that China’s economic stability (which fuels much of the US consumer’s rabid lending) is precarious at best. Experts predict that US businesses may have to slash up to 73,000 jobs a month if the housing market crashes [link]. A socialist paradise, just a hop over the Caribbean Islands, will not help those ideologically nervous Americans.
America has a history of meddling in the affairs of its lowly neighbours, indeed the Monroe Doctrine establishes it in principle, and such interference was rampant during the Cold War; especially in Central American states such as Nicaragua.
I have been critical of Chavez in the past (I was hasty and probably wrong), but there is no justification for removing an elected leader from a sovereign state. The Venezuelan people overwhelmingly support Chavez, and Bush and his henchmen should respect that, even if Chavez really gets up their noses. Of course they won’t, and Chavez should watch his back.
Reader Comments (8)
The Mayor of Caracas, Venezuelan Capital, has ordered that two huge golf courses in the city be destined to building homes for the poor. He alleges that it is shameful that those two courses be at bird's sight from the Caracas shanties. While a chosen few hit the ball, thousands starve to death. Is he not right?
Bush? It is not Bush it is the establishment of the US. Those trying to control oil and other natural resources all over the world.
The Right and in particular the Bush admin. hate Chavez because he refuses to comply with their policies; he won't let himself be bought by their corporate capitalism; he refuses to compromise his own socialist beliefs to gain wealth.
Chavez should not be deposed by the US, I agree, it should be the Venezualan people who decide who governs, however, in order for the electorate to make a balanced judgement, one must have a balanced government and opposition.
Sadly Venezula lacks such things.
Also, Chavez chosse to poke his nose in the affairs of other countries, he should not be suprised if it happens to him.
Bolivia?
..has ordered that two huge golf courses in the city be destined to building homes for the poor... Is he not right? ~ Jose
That depends. Someone has invested in the golf courses, are they being recompensed? And who is to say that the land is so desperately needed? Or is the concreting over the golf course more symbolic and malevolent? A lot of old scores are always settled when power changes hands. Just ask the fox hunters of England.
Sadly Venezula lacks such things. ~ spyder
There are so many interested parties in declaring Venezuela’s elections fraudulent, it’s hard to believe the criticisms. The Carter-Centre backed the 1998 election. And there were as many charges of corruption of Caldera’s party.
Of course democracy wasn’t his first route to power; Chavez attempted a coup d'état in 1992.
It seems that bushes america hates all vague manifestations of socialism, democratic or non.
It doesn't matter how many votes Chavez wins, or how fair they are (personally I am very sceptical of claims to the converse).
We should feel happy to criticise Chavez (particularly for his choice of pals), but this sort of thing is just disgusting.
Imagine how Americans would react were this to be done to them.
A hatred of socialism is built into American society - which remember is one of the most unequal on Earth. When you create a devil, you can give him any characteristics you wish.
The Mayor said that those two golf course must be bought to be destined for homes for the poor. I don't think, though, that the purchase price be to the satisfaction of the owners.
It is not the first time this happens anywhere, and it is quite a logical thing in a country like Venezuela whose poor had always been abandoned by the previous governments.
Changes in these cases are always drastic and never convince a few. And this change was imperative in Venezuela, an oil rich country whose wealth was shared among the top layers of its society, and the rest - the most important slice - taken outside of the country.
There cannot a balanced government and opposition while both do not work jointly for the good of a country.
Poor countries have always been the prey of foreign bribery and Venezuela was not an exception. Things appear to be changing now.
I don't think Chavez is surprised the US wants to keep its claw on Venezuela, as was the case before Chavez won the last elections.