As Nero,
'Messianic' Chavez Looks to Set Our Region Aflame ...
"Ambition and power create
delirious visions. Hugo Chávez goes off half-cocked and announces an armed
intervention in Bolivia and, if necessary, his intent to create an 'American
Vietnam.' Let us be very cautious, since oil and authoritarianism go hand in
hand in many countries around the world."
Ambition and power create delirious
visions. Hugo Chávez goes off half-cocked and announces an armed intervention
in Bolivia and, if necessary, his intent to create an "American
Vietnam." [Some in Latin America - including Bolivian President and Chavez
ally Evo Morales - have charged the CIA with fueling an insurgency against the
Bolivian government].With the same oil-addled reasoning, Chavez spoke recently
of creating a "Bolivarian" military force. What should we make of
this? Very simply, he can't tolerate that in the exercise their democratic
rights, the Bolivian people can decide the future of their own government
[reference to an upcoming referendum in Bolivia]. The very thought of Evo's
electoral defeat - an unlikely outcome at best - raises his blood pressure and
as a solution, he wants to incite a great conflagration like Nero did in Rome .
Based on separatist fantasies "inspired by the United States," Chávez
presses on the key points of tension in his country, Ecuador and Bolivia.
Sounds like an apocalyptic movie.
PRESIDENT CORREA FIRES DEFENSE
MINISTER;
OTHER OFFICERS RESIGN OVER CIA
CONTACTS
Fortunately, we heard that in
Spain, President Rafael Correa said that we're a country of peace which doesn't
accept the violence and war that Colombia exports. This assures us that Correa
would never support these initiatives. In addition, he already took a clear
position when he said that Ecuador will not join the "Bolivarian"
armed forces, specifically refuting Chávez' warmongering line - and in distinct
contrast to Uribe. This is as it should be: one should expect a government of
academics - men and women of letters and thought - to reject such messianic
regional projects. These are the same men and women who initiated the process
of change to deepen democracy, in peace and legal order, as they promised when
we voted for them. And this promise cannot be used to go beyond the "legally
constituted powers" they already have.
The world has changed and the
"American Vietnam" forgotten along with the fall of the Berlin wall
and the economic opening of China. Vietnam itself has buried its thousands of
dead and opted for economic development by establishing a liberal democracy
that left behind first, the feudalism, later, the painful war, and finally, the
futility of communism.
[Editor's Note: The author is
sadly mistaken on Vietnam. While it's true that communist orthodoxy is less important
now than in the past, the country remains an authoritarian one-party state -
anything but a "liberal democracy."]
Even if the
Ecuadorian government is aligned with Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua under
the ideological umbrella of 21st century socialism, it's clear that it cannot
share these visions which are the result from oil-intoxication. It is a
statistically proven fact that an ideology or the destiny of a people cannot be
imposed by way of armed force.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
For the new millennium, the
only thing fitting for Ecuador and Latin America is a political center of real
democratic socialism, based in education and technology; a way of life where
the future is shaped in an atmosphere of freedom, debate, responsibility and
social conscience, with just and wise laws, effective systems of control to
counter corruption, and an economy based on solid growth and equity.
CHAVEZ TO BUSH: 'YOU'RE A DONKEY,
MR. DANGER'
We understand and support the
government's position toward Colombia, which is dignified and firm in respect
to opposing its breach of Ecuador's territorial integrity .
We understand that initially, that position made us appear as if we were close
to the FARC [the Colombian insurgents]. And we also understand and accept the
important clarifications made by the President, who was categorical in
asserting that an invasion of our territory by guerrilla groups would be an
"act of war."
Let us be very cautious,
since oil and authoritarianism go hand in hand in many countries around the
world. Could it be that they are pressing for war in order to consolidate their
disguised dictatorial power?
