Something About Hugo

Rise Up Against the Empire. Chavez speech to the UN.

CHAVEZ: "First of all, I would like to invite you, very respectfully, to those who have not read this book, to read it. Noam Chomsky, one of the most prestigious American and world intellectuals, Noam Chomsky, and this is one of his most recent books, 'Hegemony or Survival: The Imperialist Strategy of the United States.'" [Holds up book, waves it in front of General Assembly.] "It's an excellent book to help us understand what has been happening in the world throughout the 20th century, and what's happening now, and the greatest threat looming over our planet."

CHAVEZ: "It reads easily, it is a very good book, I'm sure Madame [President] you are familiar with it. It appears in English, in Russian, in Arabic, in German. I think that the first people who should read this book are our brothers and sisters in the United States, because their threat is right in their own house.

The devil is right at home. The devil, the devil himself, is right in the house.

"And the devil came here yesterday. Yesterday the devil came here. Right here." [crosses himself] "And it smells of sulfur still today."

--- I thought I was reading the Onion at first, Hugo beginning his speech with a plug for one of Chomsky's recent books. Then I too began to smell something, but it wasn't sulfur.

Synopsis from Google of Noam's book: "For over half a century, the United States has been pursuing a "grand imperial strategy" with the aim of staking out the globe. Its leaders have shown themselves willing to follow the dream of dominance right up to the edge of extinction. Chomsky investigates how we came to this moment."

How you came to this moment? Umm, your European ancestors put a bounty on native scalps, kidnapped, enslaved, murdered, maimed, fleeced, supported dictators, and thieved anything and everything of any value? And how many times do I have to tell you Noam, it – is – not – just – US leaders. Think global, hon. There's a lot of folks in on this, not just Bush and the Queen's thug.

Hugo, obviously aware of the average reading level of Americans, assures would-be intellectuals that Hegemony or Survival "reads easily." Hugo could have suggested the writings of men who experienced Anglo imperialism/oppression up close and personal, i.e. Che or Steve Biko or Malcolm. But no, Hugo recommends reading of the tweedy jacket w/elbow patches type.

Another specious section of Hugo's speech: "I don't think anybody in this room could defend the system. Let's accept -- let's be honest. The U.N. system, born after the Second World War, collapsed. It's worthless. Oh, yes, it's good to bring us together once a year, see each other, make statements and prepare all kinds of long documents, and listen to good speeches, like Abel's yesterday, or President Mullah's . Yes, it's good for that. … But we, the assembly, have been turned into a merely deliberative organ. We have no power, no power to make any impact on the terrible situation in the world. And that is why Venezuela once again proposes, here, today, 20 September, that we re-establish the United Nations."

--- Re-establish the United Nations? You mean give power to that nasty bunch of old men involved in pedophilia for food, oil for food, sex, bribery, and have never enforced resolutions against Israel? How much power would they like? Enough to have stopped the Korean War, Vietnam, Central American wars, Bosnia, Kosovo, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Iraq? How many Iraqi children died under UN approved sanctions? How many died in apartheid for decades while the UN "adopted" resolutions? God please don't let the UN adopt me.

Chavez offers suggestions for the UN. One is "strengthen the role and the powers of the secretary general of the United Nations." Cue bono? I'm sure the global elite would like nothing better. All the world reps in one purse agreeing to renew "peacekeeping" missions. Intervention by vote. Why not change the title to United President, we pledge allegiance to one monolith, with liberty and conformity for all.

Chavez, in his iconic "leftist" presidency, launched a public-education campaign in Venezuela to teach the people that it's their duty to pay taxes. If you think that's justice you need to research the incomes and lifestyles of 80 percent of Venezuelan citizens. Hugo halted privatizing the aluminum industry (leftists cheered); in the meantime he removed restrictions to foreign investment in oil, gas, mining, tourism, petrochemicals. (Backdoor to privatization, wink wink.) He passed a natural gas investment law providing favorable conditions for foreign investors.

Unfortunately, there has not been a rush to invest by investor nations, aside from Russia, Iran, and China. All of whom in the long-term will likely prove as imperialistic as the US for the average Venezuelan.

Still there are those who put their faith in the "era of 21st-century socialism" brought about by putting forward a "capitalist path of state development." But I warn you – anyone who says 'capitalist' and 'socialism' are working together is using code for wealthyfare/serfdom.

Or in Chavez own words: "We need to bring the invisible hand of the market and the visible hand of the state together in an economic system where there is as much of the market as possible and as much of the state as necessary."

Oh how those market possibles and state necessarys get tangled and reversed in the process of joining invisible and visible hands, but it all sounds so darn good.

For the short-term, fortunately for Chavez, the Iraq War strengthened Venezuela's oil based economy, big time, as the country was another Argentina meltdown waiting to happen. Chavez's political life and national coffers have been and are two of the biggest beneficiaries of US imperialist aggression in the Middle East. Is that invisible too?