Posted on 12/31/2002 5:25:32 PM PST by shanec
1) We only know about CIA mistakes because if the CIA does its job properly, which it does most of the time, no one ever knows about it.
2) The corollary to #1 is that the mainstream press doesn't say much about CIA successes because it is counter to their left-wing agenda.
3) The CIA was very successful in the Panama Crisis and the Afghanistan War of the 80s, not to mention that it had an excellent record during the Cold War of getting access to the highest echelons of the Soviet political system.
A momentous choice is before him. As President he has journeyed the entire planet blaming globalization and neoliberalism as the root of the pain of peoples. In all scenarios he has said that savage capitalism breeds on the power of an empire who practices it and imposes it on others. A new balance in world power is indispensable to humanize globalization and slow down neoliberalism. He believes to have conquered universal admiration in the frontal, daily battle against unipolarity. Does the empire hope to have us bring down the flags?
In the 48 hours following the terrorist attack he vanishes from sight. He would later say that he was in meditation. How can he forget that Fidel has delivered to him the relay symbols, ushering him as the rising leader in the battle against the empire? How can it be forgotten that Ghadaffi has pointed to him as the head of a new movement to conquer the dignity of imperialism's oppressed peoples? How not to recall that wondrous day in Malaysia, when rulers of 77 countries asked him to lead Southern nations in their renewed efforts towards justice and equity? Or the mail exchange with famous fellow Venezuelan Carlos Ilich Ramírez -"EL Chacal"- for whose extradiction so much has been done by the Ambassador to Paris? In his lonely reflection he turns his sight onto a magazine on his desk: The New Yorker with the 22 page report written by Jon Lee Anderson. The President has read it several times. He reads again the final paragraphs.
"Chávez acknowledged that there is still misunderstanding and confusion in the U. S. over his policies. On this he said: "Until recently, what was under discussion, here and abroad, was to appease Chávez." Let's be nice to him to see if we can tame him" easily.
But it seems this beast is not too easy to tame." He lowered his voice and, this time, he did not smile. "This is an ideological conviction of mine and nothing will change that."***
Fidel, Saddam and Hugo --An improbable but growing friendship of three military revolutionaries*** Mr. Chávez is the most intriguing new leader to emerge in Latin America since Mr. Castro - and he is the lynchpin between Mr. Castro and Mr. Saddam. Although Cuba had been sending doctors and health workers to Iraq for years, there had not been any major contacts between the two countries until Mr. Chávez appeared on the scene. This fall, Mr. Chávez became the first democratically elected foreign head of state to visit Iraq since the Gulf War, ostensibly to invite Mr. Saddam to a summit of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. But it also was an in-your face gesture toward the United States.***
Jimmy Carter - again.
Man, the lefties have sold out our country to no end.
Vote anti-democrat. Do it for the nation - seriously!
With so much going on I forgot about our vulnerability since we lost the Panama Canal. Can you elaborate a little on what you mean? Are you referring to a past/present connection or a future interlude between aQ-Venz at the Canal?
I'm not sure what you're alluding to, but I firmly believe all roads (and smuggling men and weapons through the Panama Canal) lead back to Beijing. Apparently, Zemin managed to convince al-Qaeda and the assorted other enemies of the US that we could be brought down if everyone ganged up on us.
Whether we survive as a nation or not will depend on where we are in God's timeline. Human nature being what it is, there will be ample opportunity to break up some of the cogs unless God has decided it's time for the US to fade in power. And I suspect that decision will be made on the basis of the character we exhibit.
Chavez has put 4.5 Billion $'s in Chinese banks and China is the biggest investor in Venezuela now with more committed there than in all the rest of South America combined, even if we include their Mexican investments, too.
Also, Chavez is clearly supporting Castro well beyond just rhetoric with "Free" oil 'in trade' for Cuban advisors running secret 'internal security' training camps there.
Also, FARC/ELN Columbian revolutionists, that US is fighting, are partially supported materially in exchange for lucrative drug trade that's transported via official health dept vehicles here across Venezuela with Puerto Rico as the foreign destination.
Relationship with Gaddafi and support of his regime has secured Katushka missles and their Libyan technicians here in Venezuela.
With Saddam Hussein, Chavez has both supported and trades with his regime, including oil processing shenanigans at Venezuela refineries to cover up the Iraqi original source.
He also formed and supports "Circulos Bolivarianos" all over the world, and is paying them on a monthly basis. There are even some in the States: New York, San Francisco, Houston, amongst other places. The more active ones are in Europe. They are 100% subversives, paid for with Chavez government money.
His goal is clearly not in having the countries oil revenues trickle down to the needy and is why, after five years of empty promises, he's even largly lost their support as well.
Yes, it's no wonder China would be so comfortable partnering with the Chavez regime.
Regarding the U.S. waking up to all this, I'm a bit cynical and if I had to bet I'd be concerned the US govt usually takes the shortsighted and short-term "whatever will provide oil stability stand". With little regard to longer term reprecussions to the people or nation there or the threat of terrorism supported by Chavez. So, we can look forward to the continuation and expansion of Hugo Chavez type innitiatives, such as...
Terror Threat from Venezuela: Al Queda Involved
Chavez bio-weapons lab in Venezuela for Saddam and Castro
-Shane
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