Chavez Made Dictator
By Warren Mass
Published: 2007-02-01 16:19 Email this page | printer friendly
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ARTICLE SYNOPSIS:
Venezuela's enabling law gives President Hugo Chavez dictatorial power.
Follow this link to the original source: "Chavez to usher in 'maximum
revolution'"
COMMENTARY:
As expected, the puppet legislature of Venezuela yesterday granted
dictatorial power to president Hugo Chavez. The vote came from a show of
hands at what seemed to be more a political rally with unsettling Nazi
undertones than a meeting of a legislature. "Viva President Hugo Chavez,
long live socialism. Fatherland, socialism or death. We will prevail,"
said
Cilia Flores, president of the rubber stamp National Assembly, according
to
the Wa****ngton Times.
As dictator, Chavez hopes to usher in an era of "maximum revolution" the
Times re****ted. The new dictator has plans to nationalize im****tant
industries and companies in the energy and telecommunications sectors and
plans, the Times re****ts, "to dictate unspecified measures to transform
state institutions; reform banking, tax, insurance and financial
regulations; decide on security and defense matters such as gun
regulations
and military organization; and 'adapt' legislation to ensure 'the equal
distribution of wealth' as part of a new 'social and economic model.'"
Though Iraq and Iran have distracted Americans, events in Venezuela are
arguably at least as im****tant. Chavez is an outspoken opponent of the
United States and has the ability, through his nation's oil wealth and the
distribution infrastructure the Venezuelan owned firm CITGO has in the
U.S.,
to influence American policy. And he may have attempted to build access
into
the American electoral system through electronic voting machines
manufactured by a Venezuelan firm that has shadowy ties to the ruling
regime.
Moreover, he enjoys growing influence in South America where he is
working
to spread anti-American sentiment and buttress radial leftist ideologies.
In
short, while we concentrate on events half a world away, the new dictator
in
our own back yard may prove to be the more serious thorn in our side.
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