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Caribbean-Latin America
Venezuela Calls For War
2010-07-29
Chavez has wrecked his armed forces, replacing trained officers with men selected primarily for their loyalty to Chavez. These commanders have been ordered to forget about traditional military thinking and adopt bizarre doctrines invented by Chavez. Even many of the officers promoted for their loyalty to Chavez, are having second thoughts about all this. To deal with this, Chavez is forming a large civilian militia, led by politicians loyal to him. Nicaragua and Cuba have pledged to provide Venezuela with military support if invaded by Colombia and the United States. This is what Chavez claims is going on, but he, Nicaragua and Cuba know it's all for show. The show goes on. Colombia and the U.S. deny they are planning to invade, and Chavez calls this part of a dastardly plot.
Posted by:miscellaneous

#12  Untrained civilians led by political hacks. Yeah, that usually turns out well...

Probably how the Red Guards got started, or any cult of personality revolutionary guard. It's also a way to control you population. Those that tow the dictator line get special privileges and positions. It also locks them to the government ideology. Be nice, play by my rules or lose our support, get censored, etc. It's the Syrian, I mean Chavez, way.
Posted by: miscellaneous   2010-07-29 21:29  

#11  He's using war as an excuse to get people to agree with something stupid - like building a force that he can use against his own people.

Sound familiar? It should. It's part of the healthcare takeover bill.
Posted by: gorb   2010-07-29 21:29  

#10  He's hoping for a short and victorious war ...

(Doesn't always work out real well)
Posted by: DMFD   2010-07-29 19:43  

#9  Folks, do a little thinking. What is the last resort of scoundrels who are losing the respect of the people? It's a war against some neighbor that you can create justification for. The only problem with Hoogo is that he's picking on someone who actually has a capable armed force. I'd also expect many of the Latin American countries would be more willing to support Colombia's side in the struggle, rather than Chavez'. The notable exceptions would be Ecuador and Bolivia. I don't even think Lula would directly support, or even encourage, Venezuela in a war against Colombia. If Venezuela thinks it's having it rough now, consider what a couple of ARCLIGHT strikes down through their most populous cities would do to morale. They can't gut the economy-Chavez has already done that.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2010-07-29 16:55  

#8  Yeah, the US would never invade, for fear of the mighty... Nicaraguan Army?

Keep tellin' yourself that, fat boy. See how it works out.
Posted by: mojo   2010-07-29 12:49  

#7  This is different. They wear red shirts, not brown.
Posted by: Fred   2010-07-29 11:49  

#6  Chavez is forming a large civilian militia, led by politicians loyal to him.

Untrained civilians led by political hacks. Yeah, that usually turns out well...

Posted by: tu3031   2010-07-29 10:48  

#5  His forces would last just a bit longer than Custer's if Columbia and the US invaded.
Posted by: DarthVader   2010-07-29 10:46  

#4  "El Supremo", from the Gregory Peck movie, Captain Horatio Hornblower, R.N.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2010-07-29 10:09  

#3  Chavez is forming a large civilian militia, led by politicians loyal to him.

Now just name them the "Elite Republican Guard" for SCM consumption. I think the previous holders of that trademark can't be reached for comment or objection. Or you can call them 'cannon fodder' which history usually tags them with.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2010-07-29 08:35  

#2  Chavez is sounding more and more like Groucho Marx in Duck Soup.
Posted by: borgboy   2010-07-29 01:57  

#1  Chavez is forming a large civilian militia, led by politicians loyal to him.

Sounds like something a socialist dictator would do.
Posted by: gorb   2010-07-29 01:07  

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