I actually was a little uncharitable to Hugo Chavez above. He’s isn’t a dictator in the normal sense in that he’s a democratically elected leader of his nation. But like Vladimir Putin within his political system, he’s little short of a dictator.
What’s bothering me tonight is reading the coverage of the Bush-Chavez grudge match taking place in various Latin American capitals over the last few days. Bush and Chávez Spar at Distance Over Latin Visit reads the NY Times headline:
“I don’t think America gets enough credit for trying to help improve people’s lives,” Mr. Bush said, speaking at a joint news conference with Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
But while President Bush pressed that point, President Chávez led an “anti-imperialist” rally at which he railed against what he called American hypocrisy and greed, and called Mr. Bush a “political cadaver.”
“The Bush plan is ridiculous,” Mr. Chávez said at the gathering in Buenos Aires, across the Río de la Plata from Montevideo, Uruguay, Mr. Bush’s next stop. “He thinks he is Columbus, discovering poverty after seven years in power.”
It’s somehow unseemly, but certainly in perfect character, for our beloved president to get down in the mud with tin pot dictators like Hugo Chavez or even Saddam Hussein. By allowing them to monopolize our attention and our foreign policy energies we somehow stoop to their level. It makes us smaller. It makes them bigger. It makes them even more heroic in the eyes of their admirers and not-yet admirers. As for Bush, he’s already so small a president that perhaps he’s not worried about wrestling with Chavez and being brought down even a further peg or two. Because that’s what Chavez is doing. Make no mistake. Hugo Chavez is beating us in the propaganda war. We were already taking a drubbing from our misadventure in Iraq. But this makes it even worse.
A former lieutenant colonel and coup leader who got himself elected the president of a mid-level Latin American country is taking on the President of the United States, and winning. If Bush wants to go to war with Iran who do you think would be next? If America were Sparta we’d have a war agenda drawn up for us for the next generation. First Afghanistan, then Iraq, then Iran, then North Korea, then Venezuela, ad infinitum.
Bush’s pandering to the Latin Americans reminded me of, well, his pandering to Americans in the aftermath of Katrina: “I care, I really do. Anyone who believes to the contrary is just plain uninformed.” How many actually believed him then or now when he said those things? Can anyone believe him now when he says these things:
Mr. Bush seemed annoyed when a Brazilian reporter asked whether he agreed that “the U.S. really had its back turned to Latin America.”
“The characterization that our back has been turned is just, it is not borne out by the facts,” Mr. Bush said, with his shoulders tightening and his voice turning stern. “It may be a perception, but the facts dispel that, and that’s why I’ve come.”
He added, “So my trip is to explain as clearly as I can that our nation is generous and compassionate, that when we see poverty, we care; that when we see illiteracy, we want to do something about it.”
Mr. Bush’s motorcade took him through the regional constituency that Mr. Chávez has been trying to court: people living in crushing poverty beside the thriving upper classes that benefit from increased trade with the United States.
At one point, the president’s limousine had only a few feet separating it on either side from the cement-walled, tin-roofed huts lining a road on the motorcade route. Bare-chested children and their parents gathered in doorways, on roofs and in windows as he passed, watched warily by Brazilian troops carrying submachine guns.
The reporter, as the Times does so well in these situations, adroitly and ironically commented on Bush’s words by juxtaposing them with the images of poverty which Bush waltzed past with barely a flicker of acknowledgment or engagement. So callous. So oblivious. So typical.
What is Bush so afraid of regarding Chavez and his appeal to Latin Americans? Does he really believe the entire Southern Hemisphere will turn Red from the blandishments of this man? Can Bush really be so insecure as to feel it necessary to engage him in this way? And by so engaging him, he has only magnified Chavez’ appeal throughout the region and the rest of the world where they hate the U.S. (which thanks to our fearless leader, is many, many places). This is a game that Bush can’t win. It’s a wonder he even tries.
Richard, the u.s and bush must engage and try to bring back into the fold the nations that are trying to liberate themselves from the economic model that they are rebelling against. Noam Chomsky at counterpunch has this recently published interview…..here is a portion that pertains to hugos economic battle… these men are fighting an epic battle on the macro economic-front…..like castro who fought it at the macro but lost sight of the micro economy in his country, castros showed us that he could take the ideology to the world by helping revolutions in africa and latin america but could not furnish the world with the window dressing of a vibrant cuban economy, he tried to window dress the cuban medical system as being advanced to show the world that his central planning has been a success on the humanistic front.
here is a portion from the american enterprise institute piece on cuba and venezuelan subsidies to them.
Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez provides $2 billion annually to his Cuban partners in the form of oil subsidies–almost half of the $4-6 billion that the USSR previously supplied.
(this is noam chomskys interview) It’s in this context that the Venezuelan phenomenon surfaces. Venezuela is indeed now, under Chavez, using its oil wealth to accelerate these processes–both the international integration and the internal integration. It’s helped countries of the region free themselves from U.S. controls, exercised in part through the traditional threat of violence, which has been much weakened, and in part through economic controls. That’s why country after country is kicking out the IMF, restructuring their debts, or refusing to pay them, often with the specific help of Venezuela. In Argentina particularly, Venezuela bought about a third of the debt and enabled Argentina to “rid herself of the IMF” as the President [Nestor Kirchner] put it. The international integration is also proceeding, not just through Venezuela. It doesn’t get reported here because it’s sort of not the right story, but a lot of things are happening. So in early December for example, there was a meeting of all South American leaders in Cochabamba, Bolivia–which is right at the heart of Morales territory, Indian territory–and they proposed, they had constructive ideas and suggestions which could lead towards sort of a European Union type structure for South America.
here is a picture of cuba before castro…..latin american leftists still use him as a successfull example of communism/socialism, not because of the success of his economy, but because of his hatred for the capitalistic oppressive yankees in north america. this is from the american enterprise institute report on cuba before castro and what cuba might convert to after he leaves….He (castro) is afterall the ideological idol they prop up and mythify while still living…imagine what they will do when he passes…he will be seated in the heavens as a veritable god, he will ascend and sit on the throne with che guevara as his right hand man to lead the oppressed of latin america, chavez sees himself as part of a triumverate (castro, che, chavez), if he succeeds in ousting the imf/usa debt-masters out of their corner of the universe.
here is what cuba was like before the revisionism of castros revolution.
Castro apologists have painted pre-revolutionary Cuba as a repressive backwater, a picture that is not supported by the evidence. In fact, the Cuba Castro took over in 1959 was one of the most prosperous and egalitarian societies of the Americas, near the top according to most sociodemographic indicators, behind only Argentina and Uruguay. The country’s social and economic statistics also looked remarkably like lesser-developed European countries of the day, such as Spain and Portugal. While it is well-known that Cuba’s infant mortality rate is the second lowest in Latin America today, many historians fail to mention that pre-Castro Cuba ranked thirteenth in the world, with the best rate in Latin America. It also had the third highest daily caloric intake, the fourth highest literacy rate, the second highest number of passenger cars per capita, and ranked fourth in the production of rice.[2]
The country was also culturally advanced before Castro seized power, with the third highest newspaper circulation per capita and second highest cinema attendance per capita in Latin America.[3] Although, to be sure, the country suffered from the inequalities of wealth that plagued all countries in Latin America at that time (and still do), Cuba had the largest middle class of its peers in the Western Hemisphere.
Rarely mentioned is the fact that in the 1940s and 1950s the island had progressive labor, land tenure, education, and health laws that rivaled those of many of its neighbors in the region. For example, the 1940 Cuban constitution established such labor laws as the right to work, a maximum forty-hour work week, one month of annual vacation, social security, and the rights to form and join unions. Indeed, by 1958, almost half of the Cuban labor force was unionized. A 1951 World Bank report actually criticized laws protecting Cuban workers because they were considered so generous that they discouraged foreign investment.[4] That fact hardly supports the popular image of a nation plundered by foreign exploitation until Castro rescued her dignity.
The sad fact is that Castro transformed a country that was among the most successful and progressive in Latin America into a nation in which “greater equality” means that almost everyone is destitute
Interesting stuff from Venezuela-see bleow
Chavez most famous quote “‘the world has wealth for all, but some minorities, the descendants of the same people that crucified Christ… have taken over all the wealth of the world’.
Caracas news paper El Diario published an article on ‘The Zionist Jews’ whose tone rapidly becomes apparent with the first paragraph, translated by bloggers Daniel of Venezuela News & Views and Alexandra Beech (hat tip: Larwyn).
Zionists, the destructive sect of radical Jews, are again impregnating the Jewish community with its animosity towards humanity. The genocide they executed in Palestine and Lebanon is similar to the Holocaust which the Nazis executed against them, and they will undergo another Holocaust because of the global hatred they are accumulating. If the Jews have charged the Nazis for their victims, they will have to pay Lebanon for their killings. The Jewish race is condemned to disappear, because if they continue marrying among themselves they will continue to degenerate; if they open their marriages they will racially dilute themselves, so they only recourse is to stay united, to provoke wars,
and auto—genocides.
The article continues even more ominously:
Possibly, we’ll have to expel them from the country, as other nations have done, which is the reason that Jews remain in a continuous state of stateless exodus, and it is why in 1948 they invaded Palestine, guided by Albion. Will global justice allow the United States, England, and Israel to destroy the Middle East to take over its oil? Only the union of its people will save them.
Anti—Semitic graffiti is appearing much more frequently in Caracas. Some Venezuelans believe Chavez was imbued with anti—Semitism by his mentor, Norbeto Ceresole, an Argentine known for his extreme neo—Nazi views. .
I am not fan of Castro. He was never democratically elected, but Hugo was elected three times, and as for the smear about him refering jews when he was talking about crucifying Christ. That was debunked in an article from the forward.
Chavez is a leader who has won three elections by overwhelming margins, basically by directing Venezuela’s vast oil weath to programs for the poor instead of giving it all to the white oligarchy and Bush and Cheny’s friends. For this he has been subjected to a coup and an unsuccessful recall effort. Please watch “The revolution will not be televised”
He is also routinly smeared by the corporate media. Read Greg Palast’s archive on Chavez. The fact that Simon Weisenthal Center chose to participate in yet another smear, is yet more evidence that American Jewish Organizations have been coopted by the minority right wing element.
Who would you rather have in charge of your own imaginary nation – Chavez or Bush? I guess it depends on whether you are part of the elite Chavez mentions, or want to be. Only one of these men is actually governing, in the traditionally accepted definition. For most people, the Bush path leads to poverty at best, disaster and death otherwise; while the Chavez path improves their lives and, crucially, provides hope based in a sense of community and solidarity that reaches out to the poor of other nations.
Which man’s approach to governing do you think likely to be more effective in combatting the culture-destroying problems we face in the next 50 years?
Chavez has his blemishes, but Bush is all blemish. OK, he will be gone in a few years, but where is the real alternative in the ‘good cop’ opposition?
If you could exorcise some of the personal from the ‘Chavez doctrine’ it would be a fair blueprint for managing the coming challenges, because the only way to meet them will be with strong, democratically elected activist governments, with private interests firmly under control. The World Bank/IMF front for the Washington consensus has to go, for all our sakes.
Glenn: I’m sympathetic perhaps to the general thrust of what Chavez is trying to do. But there’s no question in my mind that he’s a bully and more an ideologue than a technocrat. There will come a time when the energy bonanza will go bust. Is he preparing for a rainy day? In other words, is what he’s doing sustainable or a flash in the pan? Is this based on a cult of personality or is it a movement that will have continuity?
Of course, Bush is far worse than Chavez as you say. His capacity for evil is far greater. But I’m not sure whether if Chavez had a similar amt. of power he wouldn’t use it for purposes just as ill. Power tends to corrupt whether you’re a right-winger or left.
There are no political leaders that have no power what so ever. The best you can hope for is a check at the ballot box, unless you are an anarchist, and Chavez has won three elections. I think we need to stop this bigotry against all latin american leaders, unless you apply such suspicions equally to European and North American wons.
Why is there no suspicion of how the Prime Ministers of Cananda will use their power for instance?
Winning elections is but one mark of a true democracy. But what about the other functioning political institutions? Are they robust? Or are they cowed? Is there a balance of powers? Or is power concentrated in the hands of the executive? Is there any countering power to check the executive’s power?
Hamas too won an election. But that doesn’t make Palestinian society democratic–at least not yet. I have every confidence that Palestine will become a full-fledged democracy. But it isn’t yet.
Lest you think I’m being too hard on Chavez & Hamas, I also believe that Israel is a democracy which leaves much to be desired in terms of the realization of democratic values and principles. And as for Bush-Cheney, fuhgedaboudit. These are not democrats, but tyrants or wannbe tyrants. Thank God we have enough countering branches of government to temper the worst of their depredations.
Venezuela has three branches of government including a legislature and a supreme court. The constitution guarantees freedom of speech, press, association, religion and assembly. Chavez hasn’t shut down any networks or newspapers, despite the fact that many literally incited the 2002 coup. I dare say a newspaper that incited one against our own government would probably be shut down on completely legitimate grounds. He has no political prisoners in jail, and no secret prisons. He is also doing much to help the third world out of their debts to the IMF. I think he is a very positive force.
I would rather have Bush as my leader than Chavez. I dont accept the explanation proferred by Damecrat that the term “Christkillers” is not applying to Jews. The fact that the Jewish community of Venezuela didnt protest this to me means they are intimidated. When I was in shul in Caracas recently, I noted that people dont say gut Shabbes anymore, because it sounds like good Chavez. They say Shabbat shalom. Bush doesnt raid Jewish kindergartens, while Chavez raided the Hebraica kindergarten. OK, I guess 3 year olds can be militants sometimes. Adolf Hitler was also democratically elected to German leadership too. Castro has accomplished more with limited resources that Chavez, who has placed his banks to transfer money from Iran to Hamas, and Castro is not known to have a Jewish problem. In my mind, Chavez is just another tinpot dictator, expropriating resources from one elite and creating a new elite. He is little different from Peron of Argentina, Mobutu of Zaire, Mugabe of Zimbabwe, and Lukashenko of Belarus
You don’t accept that christkillers was not a reference to Jews? Did the jews drive out Simon Bolivar?
Fair.org’s newsletter
The term “Christkiller” nearly always refers to Jews. The fact that Jews were not involved historically in the persecution of Bolivar does not mean that history cant be rewritten. In many circles, it is believed that the African slave trade was controlled by Jews, even though it wasnt. The fact that the term Christkiller is now being applied to those who persecuted Bolivar is extremely ominous-it suggests a plan to indoctrinate South Americans that Jews are behind all colonialist movements in Latin America. Anti-Semitism is also popular in Alta California circles. The revision of history is a staple of Palestinian education, and it looks that this is being imported by Chavez. You also havent addressed the blatantly anti-Semitic column from El Diario, the official government mouthpiece of Chavez
“Zionists, the destructive sect of radical Jews, are again impregnating the Jewish community with its animosity towards humanity. The genocide they executed in Palestine and Lebanon is similar to the Holocaust which the Nazis executed against them, and they will undergo another Holocaust because of the global hatred they are accumulating. If the Jews have charged the Nazis for their victims, they will have to pay Lebanon for their killings. The Jewish race is condemned to disappear, because if they continue marrying among themselves they will continue to degenerate; if they open their marriages they will racially dilute themselves, so they only recourse is to stay united, to provoke wars,
and auto—genocides.
Possibly, we’ll have to expel them from the country, as other nations have done, which is the reason that Jews remain in a continuous state of stateless exodus, and it is why in 1948 they invaded Palestine, guided by Albion. Will global justice allow the United States, England, and Israel to destroy the Middle East to take over its oil? Only the union of its people will save them”
Melvin: This is a ludicrous non sequitur. First you haven’t established a connection bet. Chavez and Palestinian education; second you haven’t even established that either of them engage in revision of history. Besdies, I could easily point you to numerous instances in which Israeli children are taught deliberately inaccurate versions of Israeli history. What does it all prove anyway? Next to nothing.
In addition, no one here at this blog accepts any material unless it is authenticated with a link. I refuse to accept the article you quoted as real till you provide a link and also prove the translation is reputable. And I’m not just directing this at you. I’d like Dameocrat to provide links as well. Further, you folks don’t need to quote entire articles. That gets to be a flame war which is boring to everyone but you. Pls. quote the material fr. the articles you find most important & don’t cut & paste the entire thing.
I will provide a link next time, but I didn’t want to bother you with the spam filter again. The article I quoted is a newsletter and it ok to post it in its entirety.
throw mud see if some of it sticks.
Dameocrat: My spam filter kicks in when there are three or more URLs in the comment. So you’re perfectly OK including 1 URL.
BTW, it’s not at all surprising to see the neocon media outlets which picked up on Chavez’ allegedly anti-Semitic speech: VOA, Weekly Standard, WSJ, NY Daily News, & Wiesenthal (not a media outlet but definitely into the Holocaust/anti-Semitism industry).
‘But there’s no question in my mind that he’s a bully and more an ideologue than a technocrat.’
He is bullying a class of people that has bullied the rest of his country for years. People who enlisted the US to try and help overturn an election in which Chavez was eelected with better than 70% of the popular vote, on ther understanding that USD oil concerns would get first dibs on concessions. They needed some bullying those people.
‘There will come a time when the energy bonanza will go bust. Is he preparing for a rainy day?’
Isn’t he releasing oil wealth into public programs in health and education primarily, and also infrastructure? Not a bad start on the future to look after your country’s (and not just his own country’s) underprivileged masses – firstly to see that they live healthy lives, then to educate them so that they can compete in a global market. The US meanwhile seems happy to let health and education slide for people who can’t afford it.
Melvin is a typical Zionist cracker, isn’t he? How would you like to see the world thru a lens as narrow as that?
‘Lest you think I’m being too hard on Chavez & Hamas, I also believe that Israel is a democracy which leaves much to be desired in terms of the realization of democratic values and principles’
This is the forst para from an article by Dror Wahrmann at HNN – http://www.hnn.us/articles/35958.html
Foreign observers of Israel tend to focus so intently on the dangers the country faces from its Arab neighbours that they have largely missed an astonishing story that has been accelerating over the past few months: that of the Jewish state’s possible move toward internal collapse. If you consider this an exaggeration, just take note of what the past couple of weeks have brought about. A few days ago the chief of the Israeli police resigned after an investigation that found several of Israel’s highest police officers guilty of corruption and negligence. This came within a week of the forced resignation of Israel’s Chief of Staff from the military because of the fiascos of the second Lebanon war. It was also some ten days after Israel’s minister of justice was convicted of sexual assault while on duty, and a couple of weeks after Israel’s president – who holds a largely symbolic position – resigned temporarily following charges of rape and sexual misconduct. It was also the same day that the head of Israel’s tax authority resigned because of possible corruption charges. In the meantime, several other investigations are still pending, not least two or three directed at the Prime Minister himself, Ehud Olmert, concerning corruption and favoritism. And an appeal to the Supreme Court has already been filed against the minister of police’s choice for a new police chief – again, because of old charges of corruption of which the nominee had been acquitted only through a particularly narrow benefit of the doubt.
This is unrelated really, but I couldn’t resist. It’s not the only Israeli diplomatic corps sex scandal in recent times:
\
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has recalled its ambassador to El Salvador after he was found bound, drunk and nude, according to information reported Monday by Israeli media and confirmed by a government spokeswoman.
The longtime diplomat, Tsuriel Raphael, has been removed from his post, and the Foreign Ministry has begun searching for a replacement, ministry spokeswoman Zehavit Ben-Hillel said.
Two weeks ago, El Salvador police found Raphael in the yard of his residence, tied up, gagged and drunk, Israeli media reported. He was wearing several sex toys at the time, the media said. After he was untied, Raphael told police he was the ambassador of Israel, the reports said.
(via CNN)
Richard, have you read Christopher Ketcham’s Nation piece on the High-Fiver ‘remvalists’ and the ‘art students’? Required reading, but keep a stiff drink handy.
I dont know what to make of the israeli student story. i would be curious as to how the american jewish community would treat that article, i can only imagine what might happen if this story goes mainstream and reaches the masses. i feel there would be a very different reaction by the americans who identify themselves as jewish and by other americans.
Glenn: I saw all of the articles you mentioned except the Nation piece. As for the HNN article, Israel & its government can be quite corrupt. As for whether it will implode fr. within–this I find quite overstated. And as for the Israeli diplomat w. the S&M fetish, well all I can say its an all too human foible. I’m sure he isn’t the first diplomat to get caught w. his pants down, so to speak. I’m not sure it speaks to any underlying corruption in the Israeli political system. Of course it’s a horrible & disgusting behavior for someone in such a sensitive position. But beyond the individual involved I’m not sure it has any greater significance.
‘As for whether it will implode fr. within–this I find quite overstated.’
Yeah, me too. Business as usual, just more of it the open than usual. If you lifted the lid on Bushco, it would be just as bad, perhaps worse.
‘But beyond the individual involved I’m not sure it has any greater significance’
I guess, but it was good for a laugh. We had I think two Israeli embassy staff leave here in disgrace for sexual misdemaenours recently, and there was a few pedophile cases too, in South America I think. But hey, the Australian diplo corps has several pending pedophile cases in PAcific Island nations right now, so I won’t be casting any first stones.
Not saying Isarel’s any worse, but it’s certainly no better than most.
You should read the Ketcham piece – it is important.
Venezuela is approximately 1,000,000km2 ie. the size of France and Spain combined . It has a population of less than twice that of metropolitan London! It is also immensely wealthy. Petroleum, Iron, Gold, Bauxite, Hydro-Electric power etc. Indeed, per capita, it is one of the wealthiest countries in the world! Consequently we should have a state-wide infrastructure at least as good as yours in the USA ie schools, hospitals, roads, airports etc etc paid for by our very large oil income. In fact not only do we lack even a basic infrastructural establishment, the vast majority of our population lives in pretty dire poverty…..not so pretty! After nearly 50 years of American backed democracy the burning question is WHERE THE HELL IS THE MONEY? Answer:It was taken, stolen by our oligarchy, America´s friends and agents who have run this country for the near totality of the 20th century. In the meantime the developement of ubiquitous communications have given our impoverished population an idea of how badly they´ve been ripped off! Along comes a member of their own social class who accurately articulates the scandel and who not only promises to do for those masses….. they all promise, but actually begins to deliver on the promises and in spades! Is it any wonder that he wins fair elections by majorities hardly seen anywhere else in the world..ie 65-70% of huge turn-outs. The USA then backs, if not institutes, a coup attempt against the legally and popularly elected President! The vast majority of Venezuelans back Chavez. The vast majority of Venezuelans have seen, for the first time ever a government that takes them, the poor, seriously. The question then is, is it because you are Americans or Jewish, or white that from a position of more or less ignorance you second guess a whole population? Is it because we is black? Your country has utterly abused/raped/violated our continent for over a century and a half. That is a fact! The Monroe doctrine indeed! By the way pre-Castro Cuba was Americas whore house run by a despicable little mafia pimp called Batista, all be it America´s friend. Gringos, mind your own business and let us mind ours. Tin pot dictator indeed! Your President is a War Criminal! And ridiculously stupid at that. Your Neo-Cons, though appearing less stupid are none the less a lot less sterling than they think. I´ve read Strauss and I´ve concluded that his Platonism is an Orchid Street, bargain rip-off of the great Plato. You spent Billions installing Saddam to fight Iran then more Billions undoing him and setting up your enemy in power in Iraq. etc etc etc. See to your own affairs before getting involved in ours! Saludos Ivan Gonzalez
PS: re The fragility of the Oil Bonanza. With America´s and Israel´s demented, apocalyptic version of a foreign policy a $200+ per barrel is just around the corner!
With friends like Ivan (aka Rene) Hugo Chavez needs no enemies. Ivan will make so many more enemies for him than he already has. Keep visiting our blogs Ivan. By the time you’re done even Americans who are sympathetic to Chavez will turn away in disgust.
There will come a time when Venezuelans will turn away from Chavez as they do from all authoritarian figures. I’d like to hear what you have to say about your savior then.
This is a vile, ignorant statement which reeks of anti-Semitism.
No, it’s because you’re being stupid. If you’d bother to read any of the posts in this blog you’d realize (well, perhaps you wouldn’t realize since you’re so blinded by hatred) that I am a progressive American and Jew who finds common cause with Third World struggles for freedom and economic dignity. But intolerance & propagandizing from the likes of you gives progressivism a bad name.
You don’t even have to try to be an annoying blowhard. It seems to come naturally.