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Poll
Most reprehensible leftist agitator?
Hugo Chavez (Venezuela) 0%
Salvador Allende (Chile) 0%
Daniel Ortega (Nicaragua) 10%
Mohammed Mossadegh (Iran) 10%
Fidel Castro (Cuba) 10%
Al Gore (United States) 70%

Votes: 10

 Military intervenes to protect democracy in Venezuela

 Author:  Topic:  Posted:
Apr 13, 2002
 Comments:
Its a pattern we've seen too many times in Latin America...Chile, Nicaragua, and many other places in the last 50 years. A left-wing, authoritarian demagogue uses the very institutions and processes of democracy they want to destroy to come to power, and proceeds to destroy the economy through socialist mismanagement, and suppresses dissent by those true lovers of liberty who stand in their way. The latest such agitator was Hugo Chavez Frias, who was overthrown by the Venezuelan military in order to stop human rights abuses last week.
All thinking people have recognized the Chavez regime as essentially an attempt to turn the country into a Cuban-style totalitarian state. His authoritarian style, and closed-minded adherence to outdated leftist rhetoric, were widely recognized as detrimental. His opposition to the international free-market institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, combined with his attempts to cultivate relationships with such isolated, pro-terror states as Libya, Iraq, and especially Cuba, were leading Venezuela down the path to "rogue nation" status.

But unlike those countries, Venezuela has a proud tradition of democracy and free markets, which 4 years of leftist authoritarianism could not destroy. When Chavez tried to sack the management of the state-owned oil company (which past governments, responsibly, had supported the privatization of), the free press, oil executives, the Catholic church, and even the labor unions began a massive campaign in support of democratic rights. After a huge protest of nearly 200,000 people was attacked by armed pro-Chavez snipers, Chavez showed his true colors by shutting down all private television stations. The military, in the responsible Latin American tradition, revolted against these heinous order, and forced Chavez to resign.

A new transitional government headed by economist and opposition leader Pedro Carmona Estanga has taken office. Anti-business laws enacted by Chavez, and the new authoritarian constitution he created, have already been repealed. Oil production is being increased, and stock markets are going up. We in the United States should be especially supportive of this new government, as Venezuela represents the largest exporter of oil to the US, and one of the most reliable alternatives to the terrorist Arab states. It is vital that this source of oil remains available to international markets.


I wouldn't be surprised... (none / 0) (#1)
by The Mad Scientist on Sat Apr 13th, 2002 at 05:48:42 PM PST
...if the putsch would later turn out to be orchestrated, or at least backed, from the ol' USA.

What else one can expect when someone touches the oil corporations of major US suppliers.


 
Of course. (none / 0) (#2)
by zikzak on Sat Apr 13th, 2002 at 08:44:19 PM PST
It certainly is as simple a situation as your one-sided report would lead us to believe. Hugo Chavez is completely evil, and that's why all the Venezuelan people hate him.


who is it who is protesting? (none / 0) (#3)
by foon on Sat Apr 13th, 2002 at 11:43:45 PM PST
Seems as though <a href=http://www.granma.cu/ingles/abril02-2/16notaof-i.html>Red Cuba</a> is taking quite an interest in this. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Cubans are behind much of the agitation, they have done this sort of thing in Angola and elsewhere before.


Paranoia (none / 0) (#4)
by Anonymous Reader on Sun Apr 14th, 2002 at 09:38:52 AM PST
Chavez having some supporters: how strange!
Cuban newspaper interested in what happens in Latin America (and elsewhere): very very suspicious.


 
Well, now he's back... (none / 0) (#5)
by hauntedattics on Sun Apr 14th, 2002 at 04:52:51 PM PST
or at least he was an hour ago. Goodness knows what's really going on there right now.



 

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