Considering President Chavez's long history in the region, his success in handling crisis, I think it's time he have a chance to explain...

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (R) and senior rebel commander Ivan Marquez of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) walk at Miraflores Palace in Caracas November 8, 2007. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has asked Chavez to mediate with the Marxist guerrillas from Latin America's oldest insurgency, the FARC, to break an impasse in negotiations meant to win the release of the group's most high-profile captives. REUTERS/Jorge Silva (VENEZUELA)

...how rebels, after generations of being rebels aren't necessarily terrorists so much as entrenched in lives they don't necessarily have control within or ways to change. It's time to listen to an unpopular leader and discern if he indeed can make a difference in the lives of those so involved with violence that they can't find their way out.


Mathaba News Network (click here)
Chavez: 'I support the search for peace, not the FARC'
Posted: 2008/01/15
From: Mathaba
'I do not support the FARC ''Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia'', I support the search for peace,' Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said Sunday.

Good night...

...and then there was that whole Massachusetts oil deal which was interesting.

Considering Georgie just grandstanded in Saudi Arabia for the exact same issue, 'Cheaper Oil for the USA" in exchange for advanced weaponry, Chavez didn't even ask for anything in return. Hello?


August 28th 2005, by Bernardo Delgado - Venezuelanalysis.com
Caracas, Venezuela, August 28, 2005 —Venezuela’s Chavez said to visiting Rev. Jesse Jackson (click here) today that he would like Jackson to help with finding a way to provide discounted heating oil and free eye operations to poor communities in the U.S. Pointing out that Venezuela provides 1.5 million barrels of oil per day to the U.S., Chavez said, “we would like to provide a part of this 1.5 million barrels of oil to poor communities.”

...and Hugo Chavez has made good use of the oil monies of the People of Venezuela...

He has been true to his 'theme' of liberating Venezuela from the clutches of insitutions that have, in the past, locked South American countries into insoluble debt. He, along with Brazilian President, Inácio Lula Da Silva and Paraguay's Nicanor Duarte created a South American alternative to the IMF. I hope it goes well. It's philosophy is something the people of South America understand and approve of. Not bad, for a man Bush simply dispises.

Venezuela cuts oil payment time (click here)
Published: Jan. 8, 2008 at 11:26 PM
CARACAS, Venezuela, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Venezuela's state energy company, PDVSA, decided Tuesday to cut the period for which foreign companies can pay for oil from 30 days to eight. Venezuelan officials said they decided to reduce the length of its payment period so PDVSA can, in turn, reinvest in its infrastructure sooner, Globovision TV reported Tuesday. Officials also attributed the decision to the declining value of the dollar. In 2007, Venezuela assumed majority control of several large oil projects, including those of U.S. producer ExxonMobil.

So, in a role not frequently notable to Hugo Chavez, he assisted with the release of hostages.

Consuelo Gonzalez, released hostage of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, with her daughters Patricia, second left, and Maria Fernanda Perdomo in Caracas, Venezuela, on Monday.Photo: AFP

Now realizing, Columbia and Venezuela are in a very dangerous neighborhood, is to realize why it took Hugoo Chavez to secure the hostages.

But, these acts of caring for people get him a lot of mileage and to a greater degree, rightfully so. I don't know about you, but, if push came to shove I would rather have a man with the background and sincere commitment to democratic socialist principles than otherwise. After all, he thought nothing of intervening.

The results were good results. Can anyone else claim such a success given the nature of the hostage takers? I don't think so. Not without causing a war. And a war is the last thing the people of South America need. So, Hugo did good. He did better than good, he did great.

See, Hugo is 'kinda' typical of those that seek to thwart harmful and out of control American policy. There is this espionage story about the USSR...

...Speaking through an interpreter, Chavez called on nations to rise up against what he called America's hegemony. He even had some recommended reading for his colleagues: Noam Chomsky's Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance.
"It's an excellent book to help us understand what's been happening in the world throughout the 20th century," Chavez said, "and what's happening now."...

...Dallas was a television program about this wealthy oil family, living on a go-zillion acres of land in Texas (click here). The series was very spicey and it was a long held view that the 'illegal' market of Dallas videos at the time was rampant through the USSR with the country of Georgia leading the assault, or should I say the profiteering. There was no way that Dallas was marketed illegally throughout Russia for the purpose of destabilizing it, but, there is a long held belief it contributed to 'the thinking' including Parastroyka and Glasnov.

So, when Chomsky wrote his book about Hegemony and the like, it is assumed there is a lot of truth in it. Now, to some degree there is, in that, when listening to most Neocons/Right Wing Republicans they sincerely believe conquering the world and so called spreading democracy is 'the right of the USA.' In other words, in order to insure the USA remains a democracy it needs to destroy every other sovereign government on Earth. To realize how close Bush/Cheney has come with that 'strategy' is a little scary.

Hegemony is not about waging 'fair' and 'conventional' wars. It's about destroying everything in the path of American wrath and never regreting it. That is what Hitler did, okay? There are still Right Wing Republicans talking that way on national radio. Iraq wasn't enough of a mistake, they are still determined to blow up anything not American and be happy about it.

So, realizing books like Chomsky's are read and mostly backed up by the actions of the Bush/Cheney administration, it gets fairly obvious that Hugo Chavez believes in the potential to be invaded FOR NO GOOD REASON by a Superpower that even Russia opposes with defunct USA Star Wars Technology. So, Hugo got a bad rap. He stated his sincerest fears. It didn't go over well.

I think want really got Hugo in trouble with the world and his people was the 'Devil thing.'

...by the way, I thought it was a great speech. I really did. I still do. Considering Hugo is a Christian, there was a lot of 'himself' and sincerity, I thought.

..."And it smells of sulfur still today," Chavez said. "Yesterday, ladies and gentlemen, from this rostrum -- the president of the United States, the gentleman whom I refer to as 'the devil' -- came here, talking as if he owned the world."...

Whether anyone wants to say it or not, Venezuela is a nation in a tough neighborhood.

Colombian Troops Begin Retaking Rebel-Held Territory (click here)

...But although most of the guerrillas responded to the offensive by disappearing into the jungle, some shot at helicopters this morning, hitting three aircraft and wounding two soldiers and a pilot, Gen. Fernando Tapias, chief of the armed forces, told reporters at the Defense Ministry in Bogotá this morning. He suggested that the takeover of the region would be slow, since the military was wary of anti-personnel mines on the roads and the possibility of rebel ambushes....

He's been demonized as of late because of his extremist 'attempts' to be dictator

He's a revolutionary. As General he attempted a coup in 1992. It was unsuccesful, or so they say, because in 1998 there was nothing unsuccessful about his election to President.

He is popular because he is sincerely a man that wants to elevate people to a standard of living they have never been afforded. His 'fall from grace' during the Bush Years is due to the fact he is concerned for the national defense of Venezuela and it's sovereignty.

His concern comes from the same source as any other small country viewed as being in disfavor of the USA, it stems from the aggressive nature of the USA as well as the unpredictable us of it's military.

Hugo Chavez - The Controversial Venezuelan President. Do want to understand him or simply ridicule him?

Hugo Chevez greets you.

Bolivarian Revolution - The Rise of the Disenfranchised.

...The Bolivarian Revolution is a struggle waged by those who have those who have always been socially excluded against those who have traditionally been privileged against. It's a battle of dignity against ignominy, a battle for the rights of the peoples of Venezuela and Latin America. The Bolivarian Revolution is a result of and a struggle of the will and hope of the Venezuelan people to be independent and the owner of the riches of my country.
The Bolivarian Revolution, and President Chavez as its leader, is the result of this struggle, inspired by the ideas of our national hero, Simon Bolivar....

Simon Bolivar, Military General and President of Venezula 1813-1830

Revolutionary and diplomat

April 19th of 1810 marks the date of the Declaration of Independence. The “Junta” formed on that day appoints Bolívar, in the company of Luis López Méndez and Andrés Bello, as representative to the British Government. Once his mission was completed, Bolívar returns from London at the end of the same year. In Britain he was able to observe the practical functioning of institutions. Once restored to his place in the Caracas Patriotic Society, he becomes one of the ardent spokesmen for Independence which is finally proclaimed by Congress on July 5 of 1811. Bolívar enters military service, and rising to the rank of Colonel he takes a hand in the raid of Valencia under the orders of Miranda in 1811.

It's Tuesday Night

Venezuela by Cisco Houston

I met her in Venezuela
With a basket on her head.
And if she loved others she did not say
But I knew she'd do to pass away
To pass away the time in Venezuela.
To pass away the time in Venezuela.

I bought her a sash of blue
A beautiful sash of blue.
Because I knew that she could do
With all the tricks I knew she knew
To pass away the time in Venezuela.
To pass away the time in Venezuela.

Her lingo was strange, but the thought of her smile,
The thought of her beautiful smile.
Will haunt me and taunt me for many a mile
For she was my gal and she did the while
To pass away the time in Venezuela,
To pass away the time in Venezuela.

And when the wind was out to sea
The wind was out to see.
And she was taking leave of me
I said, "Cheer up. There'll always be
Sailors ashore in Venezuela.
Sailors ashore in Venezuela."

I am traveling this week. The time to attend to issues is sporatic.

King Abdullah awarded Mr Bush the Saudi Order of Merit

We all know now what the 'Iranian Speed Boat' farce is about. It's 'staged' justification for Bush's latest PEACE initative:



US to Sell Precision-Guided Bombs to Saudi Arabia (click title to entry, thank you)
By David Gollust State Department14 January 2008
The Bush administration officially notified Congress Monday of its intention to sell sophisticated precision-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia. The action, coinciding with President Bush's visit to Saudi Arabia, is part of a broader U.S. effort to bolster Gulf allies in the face of a more assertive Iran. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.
The Bush administration has already briefed Congress on its arms sales plans for Saudi Arabia. Monday's announcement sets in motion a 30-day period in which the House and Senate can block the plan with a joint resolution - action that appears highly unlikely....



Of course, kissing up the Saudi King is all worth it since Bush is allowed to take an activist stand for the ONLY time in his life grandstanding to oil prices. The most interesting aspect of the Bush visit to Saudi Arabia is not his promise to promote war, but, the assistance of the French President.

Sarkozy in Gulf to Sign Nuclear Deal, Boost Contracts (Update1) (click here)
By Helene Fouquet

Jan. 14 (Bloomberg) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy began a three-day Middle East visit to push energy and defense contracts and discuss regional political matters, including Iran, Lebanon and the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Sarkozy's trip began yesterday in Saudi Arabia and will continue in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates tomorrow. After signing accords on oil, natural gas and education in Saudi Arabia and discussing 39.5 billion euros ($59 billion) worth of contracts, France is set to sign a civil nuclear energy agreement in Abu Dhabi under which Areva SA, Suez SA and Total SA may build two nuclear plants by 2025.
Sarkozy, whose visit coincides with President George W. Bush's week-long trip to the region, said France could do ``much better'' at gaining a bigger market share in the Middle East where it lags behind countries including the U.S., China and Germany. In a bid to boost business and bilateral relations, France offered to supply civil nuclear energy to Arab and Muslim countries. In addition to the Abu Dhabi nuclear accord, France has raised the prospect of a similar deal with Saudi Arabia....



Since Bush's indulgence of Indian sales of nuclear technology didn't go well, the option of allowing France to deal the technology at least kept Bush clear of any criticism at home. Orders of Merit indeed. Now I ask you, as the other Sunni nations of the Middle East seek nuclear capacity, does anyone believe Iran will stop it's initiatives? No ! Why is it I much rather France under the leadership of far more passive influence? Hm?