The failure of Hugo-bashing

[bemildred]

Despite U.S. efforts, the Venezuelan leader is winning friends across Latin America.

IT WAS YET ANOTHER public relations coup for Venezuela: Vila Isabel, the samba club sponsored mainly by the Venezuelan government, won the parade competition in Rio de Janeiro's Carnaval last week. A float with a giant likeness of Simon Bolivar, combined with thousands of ornately costumed participants parading down the avenue, trumpeted the winning theme: Latin American unity.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice just last month called for "a united front" against Venezuela, continuing a long-term policy of trying to isolate the country. But Washington has been spitting into the wind. Venezuela's influence in the hemisphere has continued to rise while the U.S. has succeeded only in isolating itself more than at any time in at least half a century. It might be worth asking why.

First, Venezuela is a democracy — despite the best efforts of the Bush team to use President Hugo Chavez's close relations with Cuba's Fidel Castro as evidence to the contrary. Its elections are transparent and have been certified by observers from the Organization of American States, the Carter Center and the European Union. Freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly and of association prevail, at least as compared with the rest of the hemisphere.

In fact, most of the media remains controlled by the opposition, which attacks the government endlessly on all the major TV channels. It is the most vigorous and partisan opposition media in the hemisphere, one that has not been censored under Chavez.

LA Times

[fasttense]

1. Maybe Venezuela would buy our ports. They certainly are a more

Democratic nation than the UAE. Since the crazy king george is selling off our country anyway, might as well sell it to people with free elections and an unhindered media.

[murray hill farm]

2. Both Chavez and Castro are heros to

latin american countries..and to many other countries. Both have been successful in their standing up to the usa...and that makes a hero...a strong hero to countries that have been so long exploited...and manipulated to the disadvantage of the USA.

[Demeter]

3. The Only International Front I See Building IS Against the US BushCo

And some of its strongest supporters live here! Food for thought.