Venezuelan Students Protest Chavez Dictatorship; U.S. Withholds Support
The U.S. isn’t the only country with a hyperactive lame-duck Congress.
In Venezuela, where Hugo Chavez’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) recently lost its supermajority -- which to this point had allowed it to legislate virtually whatever it wanted -- the lame-duck National Assembly has been feverishly busy passing far-reaching measures before the legislature disbands for the Christmas holiday. Most controversially, the National Assembly passed a measure that grants Chavez the authority to legislate by decree for the next 18 months. Additionally, this morning the PSUV passed an initiative that grants the national government authority to regulate nation-wide university operations (I assume this includes things like which professors are allowed to continue teaching) and to decide which academic programs are offered. These measures are intended to reinforce the government’s aim of building a “socialist homeland.”
But if the Socialists thought that no one would notice (with all of the students heading home for Christmas break, and all), they were sorely mistaken. Today, thousands of students took to the streets of Caracas to protest, shouting, “People listen! This is a dictatorship” and “They won’t take away our right to protest. Long live the university! …Out with the military boot!”
The Socialists, generally being antagonistic toward any opposition, sent in the police and National Guard troops to quell the protest. Though a handful of protesters were injured, the group was undeterred and many vowed to assemble again over the coming days to continue their protest.
Oppressed peoples fighting for their freedom. Sounds like something the U.S. could really get behind. The only problem with that? Barack Obama seems more concerned with making sure Hugo likes him than with promoting liberty around the globe. To be fair, Hillary Clinton’s State Department is “deeply troubled” with the Socialists' new initiatives. Whatever that means.
Merry Christmas Venezuela.
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Jul '10
Re: Venezuelan Students Protest Chavez Dictatorship; U.S. Withholds Support
Go Caracas!
Nov '10
Re: Venezuelan Students Protest Chavez Dictatorship; U.S. Withholds Support
Obama's infatuation with Chavez is not only unseemly, but downright disgusting. Jimmy Carter was infatuated with tyrants, too, but Obama adds a homoerotic vibe that is really creepy.
Edited on Dec 24, 2010 at 9:02amJul '10
Re: Venezuelan Students Protest Chavez Dictatorship; U.S. Withholds Support
Venezuelan students vs. British students.
Compare and contrast....
Aug '10
Re: Venezuelan Students Protest Chavez Dictatorship; U.S. Withholds Support
Diane I have never been the peripatetic answerer. But I am wearing my shoulder out here trying to redirect to the Shahab missiles that just arrived south of Cuba , near the exotic, isolated but promising Island of The Monroe Doctrine. Might have something to do with geopolitik.
Jun '10
Re: Venezuelan Students Protest Chavez Dictatorship; U.S. Withholds Support
They can't help it down there. They were colonized. That gives them a free pass for eternity.
Jul '10
Re: Venezuelan Students Protest Chavez Dictatorship; U.S. Withholds Support
The US Government withholds support of the Venezuelan students as they withhold support of the American people. They aren't capable of a whole lot of that, and the unions have booked what there is for the rest of the term.
Dec '10
Re: Venezuelan Students Protest Chavez Dictatorship; U.S. Withholds Support
For Obama and the State Department, a hammer in the hands of a Jewish family adding on a bedroom in Jerusalem is a far greater threat to American security than Iranian missiles in the hands of a deranged demagogue within spitting range of American borders.
May '10
Re: Venezuelan Students Protest Chavez Dictatorship; U.S. Withholds Support
An administration that can not stand up for basic principals against a tin pot thug like Chavez, is one deserving scorn.
Kenneth's comparison of VZ students versus their British counterparts brings to mind another comparison. VZ has the highest per capita ratio of Miss Universe to population, almost all of whom are students. Britain......not so much. Go Western hemisphere!
Oct '10
Re: Venezuelan Students Protest Chavez Dictatorship; U.S. Withholds Support
So which lame duck congress was more productive--Obama's or Chavez's?
Re: Venezuelan Students Protest Chavez Dictatorship; U.S. Withholds Support
Barack Obama seems to share in the romantic vision of third-world tyranny that had the New Left in its grips back in the dark ages when I was in college. This explains why I think Dinesh D’Souza, who knows a thing or two about the anti-colonialist left, is on to something in The Roots of Obama’s Rage.