August 31st., 2005

The reincarnation of Ché Guevara

Summary:

• The words of evangelical preacher (Pat Robertson) generate a media show around Chávez.

• There is interest in knowing the New Saddam Hussein who could provoke another war.

• National revolution; ethnic drive; neofascism?

• Perplexity on the political process and mimetism of its leading player.

• Misión Milagro will save the sight of six million people.

• Cheap energy (oil) for the U. S. poor.

• Cuba and Venezuela will graduate 100,000 physicians for Latin America and The Caribbean.

• Oil for Ecuador and for Sandinista mayors in Nicaragua.

• The signing in Jamaica of the first bilateral accord launching PETROCARIBE.

• Chávez offers US$ 17 billion to finance –in the next few years- the energy needs of the area.

• The new weapons systems will be purchased in Russia, Brazil, China and Spain.

• An ideological rearmament; the army-people union.

• A community of nations:  the future of The Chávez-Fidel Alliance?

• US$ 2 billion for an Armed Forces Bank.

• José Miguel Insulza in Caracas.

• The OAS and The EU make Chávez very uncomfortable with the Integral Observation Project in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

• The end of perplexity.

President Chávez attracts attention.  He frequently appears in the most diverse media.  In the struggle between friends and foes, it is the latter that tilt the balance.  At times, they are also who most contribute to make popular the name and figure of the Lt. Col.  Pat Robertson –evangelical preacher- in his program The 700 Club / ABC Family said that ir was cheaper for the U. S. to murder Chávez than to wage a war vs. him:  swiftly, the world media echoed Robertson’s words and reactions in Venezuela and The U. S.  In the following days, major TV, dailies and magazines made big news with Chávez.  In many places, common people, even those not interested in Caribbean folklore, wanted to know who was this New Saddam Hussein who could provoke another war.

Among his detractors, there are intellectuals who frequently attempt to characterize him.  Political scientist Elizabeth Burgos published in Revista Encuentro (Madrid, No. 34-35), an analysis National Revolution; ethnicity; neo-fascism? It offers two appropriate terms for the perception of the political process –and its leading player- in Venezuela:  perplexity and mimetism.  Mimetism means the ability to change opinions or attitudes, in order to adapt oneself to people one wishes to please.  In Aló Presidente (21 Sunday) –broadcast from Cuba-, we saw him in olive green garb, next to Fidel Castro, applauded in a convertible riding on to Sandino, Pinar del Río, where the Comandantes inaugurated a housing development built by Venezuelan soldiers for victims of Hurracaine Ivan.  On Aló Presidente (28 Sunday), broadcast from  Caracas Military Hospital, he appeared in surgical garb to explain -for hours- the revolution he’s launching in health services with Cuban support.

Upon discarding medical garb, he was again the Messiah performing at The Youth Festival whose task is to consolidate The Latin American Revolution and to save the world.  He announced Misión Milagro offering eye surgery  to six million people in the Continent.  Brazil has a quota of 100,000 surgeries yearly; Colombia 60,000; Ecuador 30,000; Bolivia 20,000; Caribbean Islands 20,000; Panama 12,000.  The largest number -150,000- is reserved for U. S. citizens who cannot pay for these surgeries in their homeland.

A PROPHET ARMED WITH OIL

The President worries about U. S. poverty, especially poor Blacks.  Misión Milagro allows those with sight problems to come to Venezuelan hospitals to have free surgeries.  According to the President, in the U. S., during winter time, many die in the cold, thus, he offers them heating oil up to 40% cheaper. CITGO / USPDVSA will be in charge of this program with mediators such as Jesse Jackson, Danny Glover and similar VIPs.

Chávez ratified the creation of a Latin American School of Medicine in Venezuela, similar to that in Cuba.  He had announced it in La Habana on Friday the 20^th., at the graduation of the first class in The Latin American School of Medical Sciences.  He affirmed that Cuba and Venezuela –in the next 10 years- will graduate 100,000 physicians for Latin America and The Caribbean.  The, as well, he confirmed he’ll heed the call of Ecuador to cooperate in solving its oil crisis:  “we’re going to lend oil to Ecuador.  The commitments Ecuador has failed to meet shall be assumed by Venezuela.  Not a cent to be paid by Ecuador:  They’ll pay us back as they recoup oil production.”  Daniel Ortega –among guests- pleaded for Nicaragua.  Dionisio Marenco –Managua’s major- said that Chávez had offered Ortega to provide oil supplies at preferential prices, for Sandinista Municipalities, while freight and storage costs shall be covered by Venezuela.  These news made President Bolańos request a trip to Caracas to deal with Chávez details of this supply arrangement.  Nicaraguan analysts believe this issue might be key in future presidential elections.

After La Habana, Chávez flew to Montego Bay to sign The First Accord among 14 member-nations of PETROCARIBE.  At a press conference he said Jamaica shall receive 21,000 barrels-x-day, with 40% financing for 25 years at 1% yearly interest:  Venezuela will invest US$560 million in the enlargement of PETROJAM REFINERY.  According to Minister Phillip Paulwell, projected imports for this year are US$ 1.1 billion.  “We will not have to use our crucial hard currency reserves because Venezuela will provide us with most of them.”  Jamaica shall be able to pay with goods and services.  From Montego Bay, Chávez said that his strategy is to finance US$ 17 billion –in the coming years- through PETROCARIBE.  To dissipate rumors that The Dominican Republic does not qualify for PETROCARIBE, a mission is coming to Venezuela to analyze the application of the accord signed last June.  As a prophet, armed with oil the Comandante gradually clears perplexity on The Bolivarian Revolution.

THE FATE OF PETRODOLLARS

It is an armed revolution, says the leader of Anti-Imperialism.  Petrodollars allow new weapons systems; from new suppliers; Russian assault rifles and helicopters; Brazilian combat planes; Chinese three-dimensional radars; Spanish ships.  Regarding projects, The Navy announced US$ 1.1 billion investments for the next five years to increase and update its weaponry.  There are budgets and petitions to non-US suppliers for ships; boat-ambulances and a heavy coastguard ship.  The Air Force plans to substitute the U. S. F-16 system with Russian MIGS  The President repeats in his frequent barrack talks that rearmament is also ideological.  A new military way of thinking:  the anti-imperialist definition of The Armed Forces and the Army-People union.  This is the track of all new legislation.  Chávez’s and Fidel’s discourses are faithfully applied regarding the automatic military alliance vs. threats both countries may face.  Art. 5 in The Armed Forces Organic Law, one of its tasks is “to defend a community of nations by a joint-combined operation:”  the structure of The Chávez-Fidel Alliance shall be a sign of it in the light of International Law.

Behind the mimetic figure there is a pragmatic soldier shaped by the Venezuelan Barrack Culture.  He ordered the opening of an Armed Forces Bank, which will begin operations with funds from former Central Bank Reserves, with US$ 2 billion launching monies.  Among its objectives, it shall issue loans for housing; vehicles and similar needs.  A pending question is sending to Cuba a large number of officialdom.  Carlos Alberto Montaner argues that the purpose is to show them the truth of The Cuban Model where the military make the dominant class.  

INSULZA’S VISIT

The presence of The OAS Secretary General at The Americas Social Charter Meeting was both opportune and enticing.  His arrival coincided with acts of violence by Chavista Brigades vs. opposition demonstrators demanding free and fair elections and with a governmental media spectacle of ethnic confrontation within Rev. Jesse Jackson’s visit.  Caracas diplomatic circles echo the impact on Insulza of the potential for political confrontation, as well as the lack of a government-opposition dialogue.  He said that The OAS and The EU are willing to send integral observation teams for parliamentary elections, as long as the government would comply with Observation Protocols of both bodies.  Should the government formalize invitations, it will have to improve conditions of citizenry participation, thus, channeling opportunity for a vigorous political recoup of dissidence.  The alternative is for The OAS and The EU to witness the severe democratic deficit in Venezuela.  The regime may reject the integral observation model.  The list of guest observers includes Pérez Esquivel; Galeano; Noam Chomsky; Rigoberta Menchú; Hebe de Bonafini; Ignacio Ramonet and similar friends of the Revolution, but whose views are so biased that they do not compensate the absence of independent observation.  Should doors be closed to The OAS and The EU, the international community will have new elements to wipe out perplexity before Chávez’s regime –says Elizabeth Burgos-.