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Title

Venzuela In Danger

Description

<a href="http://www.johnpilger.com">John Pilger</a> published an article on March 7, 2002 in the New Statesman about <a href="http://pilger.carlton.com/print/98841">President Chavez of Venezuela</a>. It seems that Venezuela is having trouble learning the lessons of its neighbors in the 20th Century. The story is the same as that told many times before. Democratically-elected left-leaning government nationalizes private oil industry and implements land reforms (which involves giving unused lands away to those that might make use of it) in order to address crippling poverty in over 80% of the population. This is not a military government; it is an elected government. And therein lies the problem. <bq>In 49 laws adopted by the Venezuelan Congress last November, Chavez began serious land reform, and guaranteed indigenous and women's rights and free healthcare and education up to university level.</bq> Again, that sounds great, but with all of the reforms going on, there is neither money nor interest in exploitative foreign trade. Nationalized assets were once owned: most of them by U.S. and British multinational corporations. It doesn't matter whether the people of the country are doing better; it's that the bottom line has been affected, so pressure is exerted to rectify the situation. At the same time, it would hardly do to allow a socialist upstart regime (elected though it may be) attempt to stay neutral. Pilger's comparisons to Chile of 30 years ago are natural. Chavez is now in the position that Allende was then. In addition: <bq>Defying Washington, Chavez has sold oil to Cuba and refused overflying rights to American military aircraft supplying "Plan Colombia", the US campaign in support of the murderous regime in neighbouring Colombia. Worse, although he condemned the attacks of 11 September, he questioned the right of the United States to "fight terrorism with terrorism".</bq> Talk about asking for it. He almost deserves what he gets, doesn't he? History can also provide dozens of examples that show where this will likely lead. As expected, the response has been: <bq>... On 5-7 November, the State Department, Pentagon and National Security Agency held a two-day meeting to discuss "the problem of Venezuela". The State Department has since accused the Chavez government of "supporting terrorism" in Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador. ... The US says it will "put Venezuela in diplomatic isolation"; Colin Powell has warned Chavez to correct "his understanding of what a democracy is all about". ... The International Monetary Fund has indicated it supports a "transitional government" for Venezuela. The Caracas daily El Nacional says the IMF is willing to bankroll those who remove Chavez from office.</bq> If we are to avoid allowing the U.S. to create another Pinochet, as was done in Chile, news like this has to be covered more. If no one in the U.S. is aware that this is what their country does to other countries, then no one will ever stop their government. And Venezuela will become another example of a country that tried to go its own way and was brought to heel. And the U.S. government can continue to do what it pleases to make itself richer and more powerful, all in the name of making the world safe for its citizens. And U.S. citizens can continue to ask in amazement, "Why do they hate us?"