The United States has a big thorn its side. His name is Hugo Chavez, the President of Venezuela. The man seems to be on a crusade to limit America’s sphere of influence in South America and thwart U.S. foreign policy (a.k.a. oil policy) as best he can. Some have even called for his assassination. Global Policy.org has one perspective:
Chavez has always been outspoken in condemning what he calls “U.S. imperialism,” mocking President Bush as “Mr. Danger” and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld as “Mr. War.” But Venezuelan officials insist that his recent threats to sever ties with Washington — thereby suspending the export of 1.5 million barrels of oil per day — are more than the rhetoric of a populist rallying domestic support. “When the president talks, it is not a joke,” said Mary Pili Hernandez, a senior Foreign Ministry official. “The only country Venezuela has bad relations with is the United States; with all other countries we have good or very good relations. But with just one word, the U.S. could resolve all of the problems. That word is ‘respect.’ ”Chavez asserts that the 21st-century equivalent of the Cold War is the developed world’s thirst for oil — and its attempts to manipulate weaker governments to secure it. Oil-rich Venezuela sells 60 to 65 percent of its crude oil to the United States, making it the fourth-largest oil supplier to the U.S. market. This year, near-record-high oil prices have helped Chavez finance a variety of social programs that he vows will make the country more independent of U.S. influence.
Observers say the oil revenue also has emboldened Chavez’s foreign policy strategy. He has recently inked oil agreements with Argentina, Brazil and his Caribbean neighbors and has launched efforts to strengthen ties with China through oil accords. Rafael Quiroz, an oil industry analyst in Caracas, said the Chavez government believes that the conflict between developing countries endowed with such natural resources and nations with high demands will only intensify in coming years. Chavez would like to precipitate that conflict, Quiroz said. “I think he’s correct to try to speed up that kind of confrontation, because the developing world — where 85 percent of world reserves are — will stand in a better place after that,” Quiroz said. “Every day it is more apparent that oil is fundamental for Venezuela in its international relations, and it is the main ingredient Chavez uses to form strategic alliances.”
SM tipster Sluggo informs us that one of Chavez’s top foreign policy advisors is a Sri Lankan-Canadian human rights activist named Sharmini Peries, who was a journalist with Frontline India before working with Chavez. After interviewing him she joined his cause.
Sharmini Peries became advisor to President Hugo Chavez after interviewing him and members of the Venezuelan government while she was on assignment for India’s magazine Frontline in 2004.
In addition to her work with Frontline, Peries has worked for Democracy Now and other news organizations. She has also been the director of Justice International, a Toronto-based international organization dedicated to human rights and social justice; executive director of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange and the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression; executive director of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, an organization defending the rights of immigrants and refugees in Canada; and executive director of the Commission on Systemic Racism in the Ontario Criminal Justice System. [Link]
The picture above is linked to an interview with Ms. Peries. She is quite the rabble rouser it seems. A quick Googling of her name results in scores of left leaning critiques of U.S. policy. I find her current job interesting (and this post worth blogging) because it seems so rare that a foreigner has such influence at high levels of a government not their own. Chavez’s Presidency seems to attract “rebel” spirits from around the globe under a single, mostly anti-American policy, banner. Could she someday be an heir to Arundhati Roy?
That’s unfair to say that Chavez, or his fans or peers are anti-American, they are not. He is however one of the few people to call out the world’s only super power when they are behaving arrogantly and idiotically. He is very much against the Bush administration which does not equal anti-Americanism, it just means he has the common sense to see an idiot and his actions for what they are and more importantly refuse to be dictated his own actions by the idiot.
I didn’t say that actually. Go back and double check.
Chavez is a master politican, and un-democratic. He’s like a top notch DJ, spinning and feeding off the crowd, changing his tunes to keep them hypnotized. Before anyone quotes the new election results (he won in a landslide), other facts such as only 25% voter turnout, a boycott by most oppostiion parties, etc. factor in.
Seriously, he’s just another political bafoon who has managed to exploit weaknesses in his opponents, make enough gestures and throw money to solidify his position, grasp more power, etc. With his bombastic rantings against the United States, particularly Bush, he keeps the focus elsewhere, while he consolidates power via undemocratic methods in Venezuela.
I personally don’t think he’s anti-American; he just knows how to play the populist card and politcal games very effectively. If this meant he would have to drop Castro as his bedmate, I think Chavez would do so in a heartbeat. It isn’t suprising that he attracts folks of similar leftist, socialist, and anti-American attitudes. His message has been very international, and his appeal/stature seems to have taken on larger than life picture.
People get so wrapped up in his uber-idealistic message (YAY, Hate on America!), that they don’t realize what he really is – just another bad politican in a position of power. He’ll have his day, too, when the smoke and mirrors vanish and people see what he’s done to Venezuela, and those who have followed his message.
chavez is a warrior. it’s just a shame that nations have to have sufficient monetary power to be able to stand up to U.S. imperialism. Buy Citgo!
I’m not trying to pick a fight with you but I see very little difference between “ChavezÂ’s Presidency seems to attract “rebel” spirits from around the globe under a single, mostly anti-American policy, banner.” and just calling him/them anti-American. I think I understand the subtlety your trying to convey but I guess I have to disagree on how effective it is.
It’s unfortunate that you don’t give people more credit than to assume that just because you think Chavez is un-American that his supporters think the same and ‘jump on his bandwagon’ for only that reason. First off, he’s not anti-American, though he does seem to have a disliking for the Bush administration (and what thinking person cannot?) but more to the point is that Chavez, unlike the rest of the greedy oil robber barons and slimeballs that infest this planet actually uses the wealth provided by his people’s natural resources to benefit the people. What a novel concept!
If you want to elaborate on ‘what he has done to Venezuala’ I’m all ears.
Its the CIA who tried to thwart Chavez from getting elected again in that RECALL election. My favourite lefty Rahul Mahajan blogged about it in detail. Its here
Chávez offers discounted heating oil to Boston’s poor
I said:
Chavez’s local supporters don’t care much for what happens outside, they care about the nuts and bolts. It’s his international support that seems to derive the greatest benefit from his anti-bush, imperialism, blah blah blah stance. I don’t have issues with whatever internal (Venezuelan) support he has. Those are the people his is ultimately responsible to. Denying that his “screw bush’ attitude doesn’t attract folks with a very leftist, anti US attitude is simply not objective. Are all supporters from that ilk, no. They are a strong and probably the most vocal contigent though.
What Chavez has done…
Pros: Education and Healthcare for the poor. Cons: Use authoritarian means to subvert opposition, consolidate power, robin hood economics, use fear mongering (which people accuse Mr. Bush of) to get his way.
BBC’s talking point/have your say section is interesting. You see far more people from foreign countries give high praise to Chavez (for standing up to the big bully, US) than local Venezuelans (where opinion seems a bit more mixed and critical on local level economics and power).
The high prices of oil (thanks to Mr. Bush?) has given Chavez the ability to conduct his policy lush in capital without major setbacks , as of yet. But oil is a one trick pony, and very few countries have been successful at using it to do well to emphasize good governance and economics. There are valid criticisms of US policy and the corrupt leaders of several South American govts. People get pissed, elect someone who’ll tackle the status quo and bring about a change. Chavez has made those promises, but he’s of the same mold as the other guys. Men who’ve forgotten it takes good governance (and respect of democratic institutions).
Previous Venezuelan govts were far too elitist, now the pendulum is swinging to the other extreme.
Here’s a post from Marc Cooper (writes for the Nation, or did last time I checked) who critiques Chavez from the left (the links and comments also include other criticisms from the left).
*I don’t know squat about Chavez, although my superficial impression is that he seems like a standard issue thug. I had an acquaintance, Venezualan and who worked as a reporter, who wasn’t a fan. Not many in her Venezualan newsroom were, apparently. And that pretty much exhausts my meager knowledge.
Oh, and Harry’s Place (blog) has many, many critiques of Chavez from the left. Can search their site if interested. I only include these particular references because I know at SM stuff that comes from the left is take more seriously. We all know the right has many problems with Chavez.
That Sharmini Peries was a writer for Frontline is all you need to know. It’s a leftist rag that run anti-American screeds in every issue.
chavez will last only as long as the oil price stays sky high. he (and his advisers) will go down with the oil.
For all of the anti-American rhetoric, the reality is that Venezuela is non too reluctant to cozy up to the U.S. when it suits its needs, as the stats in teh article itself shows, and as is shown by the recent deals with Citgo (the wholly state-owned Venezuelan oil company) which recently agreed to ship below market heating fuel to American markets.
Dont miss the comment on Coopers article that Chavez has numerous girlfriends and exwives. It is possible that your heroine is just one of those.. sadly, women are still needed in too many ways.