Chavez and His Caribbean War

[Valin]

Townhall:

Austin Bay
7/21/10

Hugo Chavez's Venezuelan revolution has become a bitter joke. His nation's economy is collapsing. His archrivals in neighboring Colombia just held a legitimate national election that strengthened their hand against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the Marxist drug army Chavez backs. This week, the Organization of American States (OAS) will convene to consider Colombia's evidence. The Colombian military reportedly has the grid co-ordinates of FARC camps inside Venezuela.

Though the former right-wing paratrooper remains a darling of the international political left, Venezuelans know Chavez is responsible for their current economic and political nightmare. The dictator has squandered Venezuela's oil windfall and enriched his political cronies.

So Chavez rattles sabers and threatens war in order to divert increasing domestic opposition. At the moment, Colombia isn't his primary target -- its military is too strong. The Caribbean island of Curacao, however, lying just off the Venezuelan coast, provides Chavez with a convenient enemy both geographically and politically. (Snip)