President Hugo Chavez?

August 31, 2006

It doesn’t seem like a week can go by without Hugo Chavez visiting some avowed enemy of the United States and sounding his trumpet of a new world order. Would you be surprised that he sees himself as the top dog in such a universe. Hugo reminds me of the “little mouse that roars”; however, he is inviting into his home all sorts of diverse and deadly companions. Since Venezuela is so close to the United States geographically, Chavez is no doubt going to be a problem in the years ahead.

Chavez was “elected” as president of Venezuela but since that time, he has consolidated power, killed off the opposition, taken control of the media, and generally has run the nation more as a dictator. He, like most dictators, came to power by promising the lower class that he would help them. But, like Castro, he’s made the nation even more impoverished. Were it not for the high oil prices, the lower class would have run him out of the coutnry by now.

Hugo Chavez and OPEC are trying to keep the price of oil as high as possible so as to further enhance their ability to influence opposition to the U.S. This week Chavez is in Syria to get in his photo-op of the week with Bashar Assad. And of course his message is always that the U.S. is about to attack Venezuela or overthrow him.

Earlier this week, Chavez had U.S. cargo seized. And what did they find? Well, 180 pounds of chicken didn’t pass inspection! But, as Newsmax reported, “Barely a day goes by without Hugo Chavez hurling an over-the-top insult or threat at the United States yet Chavez, president of oil-rich Venezuela, is collecting hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies from the United States.”

I miss visiting Merida, Venezuela. I miss my friends in Maracay, Puerto La Cruz, Coro, Valencia, and other cities. Maybe one day I’ll get to return. That day though will have to be a day when Venezuela has a less radical, anti-American president (can you say dictator?).

Written by Ernie · Filed Under Daily Commentary