Is the anti-American zeal of Hugo Chavez causing him to lose allies?
It’s a debate taking place in a few Latin American countries: Should Ecuador follow the lead of Hugo Chavez and Venezuela in demonizing Washington and obsessing over “oil-feuled fantasies” about U.S. intervention?
In describing recent allegations that the United States is seeking to topple the government of Bolivia, Alfonso Espinosa de los Monteros writes for Ecuador’s El Universo:
“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.’ With the same oil-addled reasoning, Chavez spoke recently of creating a ‘Bolivarian’ military force.”
Then, describing the kind of nation Ecuadorians want to create, Monteros writes:
“Fortunately, we heard that in Spain, President Rafael Correa said we are 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.”
“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?”
By Alfonso Espinosa de los Monteros
Translated By Halszka Czarnocka
May 17, 2008
Ecuador – El Universo – Original Article (Spanish)
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.
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.
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of U.S. involvement and influence in Latin America.
Founder and Managing Editor of Worldmeets.US