How can a leader of a country who instituted a program that has taught almost two million former illiterates to read and write within a year be called a tyrant? How can a leader of a country who incorporated land reform that has been a huge success be called evil? How can a leader of a country who has been instrumental in eradicating diseases that once ravaged the nation be called troublesome? By having the name of Hugo Chavez; that’s how.
In past few years, Hugo Chavez has worked wonders with the nation of Venezuela. He has endured assassination attempts; a failed coup; and an illegitimate recall vote; all sponsored by either the U.S. administration or its stooge allies within Venezuela. Today, even former opponents of Chavez begrudgingly admit he has done a wonderful job at the helm of their country. All the horror stories of the rich being raped of their money have proven untrue. The country is now prospering and for the first time, a member of the indigenous population that encompasses 80% of the country is in power. And, his efforts have benefited, for the first time, the majority of the 80%.
This success is becoming too much for the U.S. Chavez has run afoul of all that the U.S. looks for in an allied leader. He is friends with and has collaborated with President Fidel Castro of Cuba. In the past couple of years, his influence has been profound in other Latin American countries. His message is that the should be independent of the yoke of Washington. And, this thought process is being welcomed all over the southern portion of the Western Hemisphere.
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I find it sad that many people in the Arab world, as well as many non-Arabs who are aware of the plight of Iraq, know little or nothing about the politics of Latin America in general, or those of Hugo Chavez in particular. Techniques the U.S. used in Latin America to prop up violent regimes and deny the people any form of humanity were the same being used today in Iraq: torture, deceit, stooge government appointees, etc. Now, the U.S. will thrust on Latin America the same techniques used against Iraq: techniques taken from the U.S. 1970s and 1980s Latin America playbook.
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