Counteraction in South America

We're going to get caught with our pants down in South America while we're destabilizing the Middle East. There are simply going to be too many fires to put out. Uruguay just elected a leftist president, in a trend of the past few years that looks like South America is breaking free from its northern master. Venezuela's Hugo Chávez is actively organizing Southern American countries in order to form a trading block that can compete and negotiate with Europe and the U.S. (One Latin American politico recently referred to those two blocks as the same horse with different mounts.) So, we're having to stir up some shit down there. I expect CIA activity will become more intense, and if the past is any indicator, assassinations should be forthcoming.

US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roger Noriega Wednesday stated that the United States intends to make Venezuela's fellow countries more aware of the "destabilization acts" Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez insists on.

The countries of the region are expected to "join us in the defense of the region's stability, safety, and prosperity," Noriega added.

"I am not saying that Venezuela is to be isolated, but Chávez must be asked more frequently about his intentions and his stance vis-à-vis guerrilla groups."

[...]

"In spite of all our efforts to establish a normal working relation with the (Venezuelan) government, Chávez insists on opposing the US," the US Assistant Secretary of State said.
  El Universal article

A mortal sin.

Noriega ensured that the United States shall continue supporting "democratic elements" in Venezuela so that they "carry on occupying the political space they deserve."

Whatever that means. An overwhelming majority of Venezuelans have elected Chávez several times. Are they not "democratic elements"?

This "destabilizing" influence of Venezuela is a theme the WH has been pressing lately. Exactly the phrase Condi the Lip has been publicly uttering. The real WH concern is, of course, that Venezuela is becoming a major player in the stabilization and organization of South American countries.

There are so many good articles to read lately, and I haven't managed to find the time. Venezuelanalysis always has clear, concise articles, and Bob keeps up with Venezuelan affairs quite well. Dena recently sent a copy of a presentation by Venezuela's Foreign Minister to the OAS that I want to excerpt in rather large part here:

Venezuela's Foreign Minister denounces at OAS the frequent negative statements by U.S. officials against President Chavez

Presentation by Foreign Minister Dr. Ali Rodríguez Araque

February 23, 2005

[...]

We are witnessing dizzying and deep changes in the global society, changes that demand a critical examination of the functioning of international institutions, and particularly, those of our continent.

These realities call on us to face the greatest challenges posed by our desire to develop societies characterized by democracy, solidarity, and equality.

[...]

Each nation is the result of the synthesis of the most diverse historic, political, economic, social, cultural, and even geographic factors, all of which contribute to the nation very concrete specificities. The world's most stable political systems are those that best express these diverse realities.

[...]

We find ourselves now at an elemental first conclusion: it would be an error of very grave consequences, that of pretending to impose a singular ideology, and, with that system of thought, impose a political model and practices of a country with its own history and circumstances upon other countries. When speaking of democracy, the conclusion is simple: there does not exist a singular model of democracy, even when we apply principles of universal validity. Different realities will yield different ways to build democracy. And so, to subscribe to the eternal definition of Abraham Lincoln regarding democracy as government of the people, for the people, and by the people, we would add one thing only: government with the people. The people are not a simple abstraction. On the contrary, they are something very concrete.

Decades of neglect of the most basic economic, social, cultural, and even political rights in Venezuela left as a result a hurtful and inexcusable level of poverty, reaching up to 80 percent of the population. As such, esteemed ambassadors, our people are, by large majority, a poor people.

From this emerges a second elemental conclusion: the realization that democracy in a country like Venezuela, whose concrete reality is one of poverty, depends on giving the large majority of the country the opportunity to participate, that is, the overcoming of poverty becomes the government's first reason for being. How could one consider oneself a democracy that respects human rights when 80 percent of the population is subjected to the daily outrage of poverty and its terrible consequences? What type of democracy can be built upon illiteracy and the ignorance it breeds [...]?

[...]

[...T]he Venezuelan people have developed, because they have lived it, a
clear conscience of the political, social, economic, and cultural exclusion that they suffered through the years of representative democracy. For that reason they decided that it wasn't enough to simply elect representatives that could substitute them in making fundamental decisions. Of course, they still elect members of the National Assembly, of regional assemblies, and of municipal councils. Similarly, they still elect the President, governors, and mayors. But that is not enough. The point of the exercise of political power in a democracy, if that democracy is true, is not simply limited to periodic electoral participation or the separation of powers; rather, it ensures the citizen enjoys certain fundamental guarantees such as the ability to consult on matters of public interest and the ability to revoke the mandate of elected leaders. This is what has happened in Venezuela. It first happened when the people were consulted as to whether they wanted a new Constitution, it happened when the text of the new Bolivarian Constitution was submitted to public approval, and it happened last year when the people were given the option to revoke the mandate of President Hugo Chávez Frías. The results are universally known.

In keeping with these reflections, let me make one more point. Democracy, and along with it participation, cannot be limited purely to the political realm. It has to be included in the economic, the social, and the cultural.

[...]

It is for that reason that we would like to once again, with all due respect, stress the need of social justice as a fundamental component of democracy.

Today Venezuela is demonstrating to the world that it is possible to overcome the limitations of an elitist democracy, a democracy that is merely electoral, and that it is possible and necessary to build an inclusive democracy with equality, with a human face and in favor of all members of society.

[...]

It is necessary in the OAS to move towards a multidimensional and integral conception of democracy.

The Inter-American system is obligated, ethically, to determinedly take on the fight against poverty, in hopes of achieving, in all the countries of our continent, equality and social inclusion, both of which are fundamental paradigms in reaching societies that are more just and truly democratic.

[...]

Inseparable from the existence of a true democracy is the issue of sovereignty and self-determination. No country could hope to freely decide upon issues of concern if it is forced to act under pressure, or worse yet, under the threat of aggression or occupation, by external forces. Without self-determination, say what you will, there are simply no hopes for democracy.

[...]

We are sure that this forum will not entertain those who seek to impose hegemonic and unilateral criticisms upon others[...]

[...]

I find it necessary to comment on certain issues that have been persistently placed before public opinion. The most diverse accusations have been obstinately levied against the government of President Hugo Chávez Frías, such as that of his being a negative and destabilizing influence in the region. It has been similarly proposed that this Organization pressure and isolate Venezuela, a country that has, like any other country, legitimate rights. Insidious accusations, such as those linking Venezuela to organizations defined by others as "terrorist," as violators of the freedom of expression, as seeking to cause an arms race, and as destabilizing, among others, have been intensified with no sign of ceasing. Evident was the solitude of a certain spokesperson seeking to stir up the crisis between Colombia and Venezuela while both countries managed to overcome the crisis, maturely, responsibly, and with the solidarity of all the governments of the subcontinent. "Pied Piper" has been another term used, maybe not to insult Chávez, but to identify as "rats" those who see the development of the new democracy in Venezuela with a sympathetic eye.

The absurdity of the accusations levied against our government would not bother us in the least if a multitude of facts did not exist that prove that when such statements are made, it's because, sooner or later, an attack will follow. This is what happened to motivate the coup in April 2002 in Venezuela, and similarly occurred with the attack on the oil industry and the economy at large in December of the same year. It is what happened with Allende, it is what happened in the Dominican Republic, it is what happened in Guatemala and countless other cases.

[...]

Finally, in the name of all Venezuelans and our peaceful and democratic government, I would like to convey a message to all the governments represented in this forum: Venezuela, much like most countries, has but one enemy to defeat. That enemy is poverty. Against it we need to concentrate our strength, our every resource, all our capacities, and our will.

To succeed we need nothing but allies. We do not want enemies. We threaten
no one.

[...]

We want peace and prosperity for our people. It is what we desire for other people. It is what guides us. We do not pretend to export our democratic model, much less impose it upon anyone else. Each and every sovereign country will find for itself the best ways to deal with its problems, without interferences or impositions of any kind. All our hemispheric neighbors know that we speak out of a sincerity that is demonstrated by our actions. It is as such that we extend our hand of friendship, for we know that in peace and based on mutual respect exists the best opportunity to reach the prosperity for our people and the integration of our countries. It is this spirit of friendship and respect, indispensable conditions for peace, which we recognize as offering us the best possibilities to democratically achieve the great objectives here before us, despite the dangers generated by certain political activities. It is contingent upon our knowledge, esteemed ambassadors, that the road before us be one of possibility and not one of death and destruction. Our people want peace and well-being. Consequently, peace and well-being for our people should be the order of the day.

And wrapping that up...

Venezuela Analysis reported on January 23 that the US government, in a clear attempt to derail Chavez’s attempts for Latin American unity, sent a letter to South American nations asking them to apply diplomatic pressure on Venezuela for its allegedly soft stance on terrorism. However, the Andean Community responded with a request for the US to stay out of the dispute.
  Venezuelanalysis article

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