22 Responses to “Cuba Can’t Handle The Truth”

1. Robert Clark on September 26th, 2007 2:50 am

   There are so many falsehoods and loaded assumptions in this article that it’s difficult to know where to start or even even whether to bother. But here are a couple of thoughts.

   * To the best of my knowledge, “evil dictator” Castro hasn’t invaded any Middle Eastern countries on a false pretext, having first bombed them with uranium-tipped shells.

   * The USA has indeed lost much of its moral authority through the use of extraordinary rendition, prison-without-tria etc. What an achievement to bring the USA down to the level of Islamofascists.

   * The hopes of anti-Castro activists are pinned on the mortality of one man but Cuba has continued to govern itself without Fidel since the end of July 2006. There has been no mass exodus, despite the provocative US “Wet Foot / Dry Foot” policy towards Cuban refugees (a privilege not extended to illegal immigrants from Haiti, Mexico or anywhere else).

   * Has the author ever visited Cuba personally? I have (March 2007) and in many respects, it works.

   * The article has not a single word about the US trade embargo against Cuba, which is about to be denounced (as it is every year) by the vast majority of UN member states apart from the USA and ITS lackies. If the USA is so principled, why doesn’t it have sanctions against China or Saudi Arabia? Answer: $$$$$$

   * The number of Iraqi war deaths 600,000 was at the lower end of the John Hopkins University estimate in late 2006. The upper end was 900,000. Since then, of course, more have died. The rate of attrition is higher than that caused by suicide bombers in vest bombs.

   * Until the USA sorts out its grossly partisan and hypocritical approach to the Israel / Palestine problem, there will always be political unrest in the Middle East.

   * There are many reasons why the invasion of Iraq has actually ASSISTED Iran! I would be happy to discuss….

2. Michael Kraft on September 26th, 2007 10:15 am

   And which of these things excuses Cuba?

   When the only chance for Exodus is crafting a homemade raft and risking life and capture = life prison what do you expect.

   In a year or two when the dictator is gone we will see tens of thousands of dry feet. And also, how many cases of people trying to sneak in are there?

   You will notice you are comparing totasl deaths and I state unarmed civilian deaths, two different things.

   Any US bombs going off in crowded markets as weekly events? Intended to kill shoppers or people in prayer?

   Also before bringing up “hey what about the war” argument, which is not relevent, dont assume I support it.

   “Evil dictator” hasnt the means to invade a cub scout meeting, he tried to acquire the means once in the form of russian nuclear weapons, but now that is the mistake he has paid for for 40 years isn’t it?

   And we can trade on not trade with whomever we choose, why are they not self sufficient? When do they need our trade, we dont need theirs.

   Remember he can end the embargo for his entire country instantly by just shelving his pride and ending his 40 year slave-plantation. Apparently the effects of the embargo are not important enough to stop being King?

   And sounds like a interesting vacation, I bet it does work for vacationing, I bet those forced to stay their could really benefit from a fully open tourism industry and a democratic/capitalistic system based on toruism. Maybe the death of a single man will let this prosperity reach millions currently being denied it.

   Any system you think looked pretty good while on vacation that is essentially ruled by one man into all facets of all peoples lives is flawed too deep to ever be exusable.

   Just my opinion, and the track record for communism as a whole is “0 for everything”.

3. Lawrence on September 27th, 2007 9:06 am

   That’s right mate, you keep listening to what your press and TV tell ya.

   “why are they not self sufficient?”

   haha good one becuase the US is completely self sufficiant and isn’t invading other nations for there oil…oh wait!

   “he tried to acquire the means once in the form of russian nuclear weapons”
   Tried? You had 180 of them pointed at you from Cuba. You really should have learnt this at school.

   Oh wait, I just checked the website name…that explains everything! I’m off!

4. Michael Kraft on September 27th, 2007 10:47 am

   “Tried? You had 180 of them pointed at you from Cuba. You really should have learnt this at school.”

   And it has been such a great decision for the people of Cuba for their “king for life” to have done this.

   Im going to bet the kids with no shoes living in the communist Utopia are really happy about Fidel’s need to have those missles.

   I look forward to the freedom of press after his death so the people can then write the history books on the 40 years of nothing he has provided them with, so he could have his missles you are so proud of.

   I really enjoy all the people who live in the United States and talk about how awful it is and how great Communism is. The nation you ‘try’ to bash is the one that allows you to have an opinion.

   Cuba will accept you if you want to immigrate their, if you wish to put your actions where your mouth is.

   Communist lackies come to the US, speak their mind about how bad America is, then return to their country where there is no free speech, just presidents for life.

5. Richard Cheeseman on September 28th, 2007 8:52 am

   The interesting thing about this otherwise trite article is that the right-wing nationalist author is unable to deny that the US regime has killed a lot of innocent Iraqis and that it resorts to kidnapping, torture and secret prisons. That shows some honesty.

   Since the US leaders are criminals (kidnapping, torture, disappearances, aggressive war and mass murder ARE crimes) then why don’t conservative patriotic US Americans like Mr Kraft spend some effort to bring the criminal leaders of the Bush regime to justice through the quite well-developed US justice system? Sorting out their OWN country would seem to be far more their responsibility than deciding how Cubans should run THEIR country.

   If Mr Kraft is so keen on the US being an example to others, what is he doing to actually make it so?

6. Michael Kraft on September 28th, 2007 12:27 pm

   Mr. Cheeseman, you again deflect. There is nothing here stating the Us is innocent of all crimes, but the US is alos not the finger pointer in most cases with these incidents.

   Bush just says the names of cities and there is an uproaor, while on the left we get Chavez waiving a baseball bat in Argentina saying he will smash it through the Ribs of George Bush in front of a crowd paid to attend.

   So, nobody claims innocence just the hypocrisy of those who criticize Mr Bush while providing nothing but hate and poverty for their own countries.

   You like many other try to equate Bush to America.

   Bush is not America, so don’t lose track of the topic.

   But Fidel is Cuba until he dies, since all things on all levels belong to him. His poverty is the product of his ideas and actions, I look forward to celebrating in Hialeah when Cuban return to the ownership of Cuban people.

7. Michael Kraft on September 28th, 2007 12:37 pm

   and sir you need to distinguish “unable to deny that the US regime has unable to deny that the US regime has killed a lot of innocent Iraqis and that it resorts to kidnapping, torture and secret prisons. ”

   That we are in a time of war, all these things will do and should happen in a war. These things have hapened in every war in history.

   I would suggest you goto Michael Savage’s website and see the videos of our emeny Cutting the head off of civilian reporters while their hands are tied behind their back. You may feel less sympathy for those in “secret prison” when you see what they consider “normal interrogation”.

   “If Mr Kraft is so keen on the US being an example to others, what is he doing to actually make it so?”

   This statement I dont get, I am execising free speech in my country, I am paying taxes, I am voting for those that would defend our sovereignty,I am pushing for law enforcement, all things that I would consider an example.

   I am not sure what you think would be a good example.

   Perhaps a march with Cindy Sheehan calling the president a Nazi perhaps burn a flag or two?

   I hope your not one of those, you sounded so reasonible in your response.

8. Robert Annable on September 30th, 2007 8:48 am

   Mr. Kraft you are truly a “sick puppy”. You seem to be trying to out do the Miami cuban mafia. You talk about terrorism but neglect to mention the terrorism committed by the US government and the Miami Mafia against Cuba ie the Bay of Pigs,countless assassination attempts on Castro etc. Bosch and Posada live comfortably in Miami after blowing up a civilian air flight murdering 73.Having been to Cuba 3 times in the last few years it is clear to me that the Cuban people want little to do with the Cuban exiles.

9. Richard Cheeseman on September 30th, 2007 11:21 am

   The US regime (not Bush personally, he’s just a figurehead for the criminal gang of oil barons in power there) would set a better example if it didn’t launch wars of aggression which kill hundreds of thousands and drive literally millions from their homes, invade other countries, occupy them and appoint puppet governments over them, interfere in foreign elections and fund servile political parties, or kidnap, torture, detain without due process and disappear its opponents and suspected opponents. I’m sorry you don’t see that Mr Kraft.

   Now that the US regime has the blood of a million dead Iraqis on its hands in a war/massacre that’s still going on, it’s hard to take seriously US-nationalist moral indignation at OTHER countries for far less serious offences. Justifying US official crimes by pointing out that Al Qaeda terrorists also commit crimes doesn’t impress either. Is Osama bin Laden really the moral example you want your leaders to live up to?

10. Michael Kraft on September 30th, 2007 6:27 pm

    See you just proved the biggest fault with one party communist systems.

    Casto lackies need to understand that “the party” and “Fidel” are not cuba, people who oppose and await his death are just as much Cuban as he is.

    Im reminded of recent episodes where his lapdog Chavez called all opposition traitors.

    So he said 38% of the country are traitors because they dont agree with him.

    38% who are more true Venezuela than he is.

    See one party dictators pretend that if you dont agree than you dont count.

    Miami Cuban Exiles have just as much claim to Cuba as the dictator that drove them out in fear. Wearing a red tshirt doesnt make you more important despite what one party communist types are told.

    They promise to “return the power to the poor people”, but leave out the part about “only if you do what you are told”.

    We will see what Raoul does, perhaps he will put his people ahead of his ego, I have heard it is promising that he will.

    Once the wall falls in Cuba, we will hear what the people really think.

11. Robert Clark on October 9th, 2007 5:41 pm

    Michael -

    Just checking: did you receive my response to your original article and follow-up comment dated 26/9/07? I thought I made some sensible points that merited publication.

    I still hope that we can have a good-going discussion…..

    My own blogspot,

    http://robertgordonclark.com/

    is open to conservatives and liberals alike. ALL opinions welcome.

    Best regards,

    Robert

12. Michael Kraft on October 11th, 2007 9:35 am

    I dont recall Robert, but unless there is profanity or completely off topic or on a tangent, I wouldnt have removed it. We get alot of “bush is a nazi” tangents to just about any topic we discuss, and other than those and the normal batch of leftist chavez lovers hurling profanity I don’t ever omit posts. I apologize if it didnt make it online for whatever reason.

    I am not a blind supporter of the war, I don’t oppose it blindly either. It is a shame we are involved in it, but I also know we are not instigators nor opposed to peace. In short, I dont think we disagree enough to have removed anything, and I hope visitors here take time to read your point of view on your blog as well.

    Best regards

13. Robert Clark on October 24th, 2007 5:32 pm

    Hello again Michael!

    I can assure you that my last response wasn’t profane (that isn’t my style). Nor was I completely off-topic therefore I suppose my IT skills (or lack thereof) let me down again when I pressed “Submit Comment”!

    You make a number of claims about Cuba, Venezuela and Iraq, most of them without supporting evidence, and you neatly dodge the points that I raised in my posting dated 26th September. “Leftist Chavez lovers” (sic) such as myself and Richard Cheeseman wonder why the USA thinks it has the RIGHT to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. You seem to regard such interference as completely natural? Any comment?

    Regarding Cuba: all I can say is that ordinary and otherwise sensible Americans seem to lose the plot and slaver like Pavlov’s dogs whenever the words “Fidel Castro” are uttered. You already admitted that the military threat of Cuba is non-existent therefore continuation of the US embargo can only be for political reasons, namely, to punish a sovereign state that doesn’t tow the line. But will the US embargo be lifted now that Cuba has oilfields?

    The notion that the Cuban system (with all its shortcomings) depends on the survival of one solitary octogenerian is comforting for the Miami Vice squad but it’s an assumption that’s looking increasingly threadbare with each passing month since July 2006. You personalise the whole scenario as evil, stubborn Castro vs the USA but Cuban nationalism is strong - study the history of the Spanish-American War and its aftermath and you will understand why. Even better, go there and see that nationalism for yourself - the tourism sector is ALREADY free and open - that is, if you can get the requisite permission slip from your paternalistic federal government.

    Interesting to hear that you AREN’T a supporter of the Iraq war. That must make you part of a small minority in conservative circles? There are terrible events unfolding in Iraq which aren’t carried out BY Americans; all I’m saying is that Bush’s invasion of Iraq unleashed them, gave the Islamofascists a training ground etc. Also, I would like to make the point, again, that the USA could defuse a lot of tension in the Middle East by being more even-handed in its dealings with Israel and the Palestinians (instead of backing Israel so uncritically).

    Finally, bear in mind that the Iraq war quadrupled the price of oil: nice for Iran and Venezuela. Was that part of Bush’s game plan?

    Best regards,

    Robert

14. Michael Kraft on October 25th, 2007 1:17 am

    Sir, I appreciate your refined post.

    Firstly, the oil price rising si not thanks to the leftist dictators that have seized it and closed up all free business in that sector.

    Oil production is greatly reduced in Venezuela since 2002.

    Quality of life has not improved in Venezuela. Crime is the highest in the Continent….Violence, Food shortages, Unemplyment and inflation are the highest in decades.

    All this is happening while they have 4 times the oil revenue.

    Meanwhile the Dictator and his family have become quite rich. brother is Secrtary of education, father a mayor….etc.

    My expertize is Venezuela, i will not argue Cuba without time to read on specific points.

    I will send you to the ONLY MEDIUM for news not completely controlled by the government in Venezuela, which is blogs of residents.

    Danielle-venezuela.com
    vcrisis.com

    See what is really happeneing, and will never get on the government run TV stations.

    I was watching Globovision yesterday, which is the only non-government Tv station left in the entire country.

    A large group of Chavez supporting congress members had defected with the message that Chavez’s new change of the consstitution is illegal and only to take total control of the country forever.

    They all wore RED still but were speaking againsthim for the first time ever.

    THE TV station then had to stop broadcasting to show a CHAVEZ event.

    THE LAW in venezuela says ALL TV AND RADIO must show him whenever he wants to speak.
    This is a fact.

    JUST like in Orwell’s 1984?

    So they had to cut off the congress members showing how he is seizing total control and how they ont want to support him any longer.

    Chavez’s voice came on the screen 9with a oicture) and said in Spanish.

    “i am watching you, you dont think i see what you are saying”

    On all channels and radio he threatens the congress members for speaking out against hi new law changes.

    Venezuela is a pure dictatorship. if you dont see that then you are not watching the actual events.

15. Robert Clark on October 27th, 2007 9:47 am

    Hello again, Michael, and thanks for responding so quickly.

    Let’s talk about Venezuela’s oil first, because, as we all know, that’s what the US government is mainly interested in. What other conclusion can we draw, considering that the USA sit by and did nothing when the oil-rich Venezuelan elite (pre-Chavez) allowed massive inequality to develop amidst plenty? 80% living in poverty etc? Nowadays, as Greg Palast has indicated, if the OPEC oil price (for valuation purposes) is set at a higher level (closer to reality), much of Venezuela’s Orinoco Basin reserves become viable and Venezuela, not Saudi Arabia, becomes the largest oil producer in the world. Who’d have thought?!

    I agree that Venezuelan production volumes are down but that’s what happens when you sack key staff (as well as inept management), as Chavez did during the politically-motivated strike of late 2002. As with most oil states (with the possible exception of Norway), Venezuela remains dependent on foreign technology and skilled labour; what’s changed is the terms of trade. Chavez has squeezed the multinationals by forcing them to pay more to extract oil. It’s called “resource nationalism” and Venezuela isn’t the only country to take advantage. The difference between Venezuela and (say) Iraq is that a lot of the oil money is being spent on public projects that benefit the locals. Don’t just take my word for it - business magazines such as The Economist and The Financial Times (the UK equivalent of the Wall Street Journal) have regularly pilloried Chavez for “wasting” billions. I know: it’s my day-to-day job to read those papers!

    You talk about censorship, repression etc but you must remember the Caracazo riots of 1989 (inspired by an IMF austerity programme), which resulted in 3,000+ civilian deaths? Imagine the outcry in the US media if that had happened under Chavez! Of course, some of the Venezuelan right continue to insist that Chavez IS a killer, which damages their credibility. You must also remember, as a long-term observer of Venezuela, the censorship of newspapers, well into the 1980s, when large sections of the printed page would be “blacked out”?

    And I have to disagree that Chavez has a monopoly of information and propaganda. Much of the private media (including newspapers) remains implacably and noisily anti-Chavez. RCTV was particularly naughty because it openly incited uprising and distorted the news during the abortive coup of April 2002. I suggest that you get your hands on the Irish documentary “The Revolution Will not Be Televised”. The camera doesn’t lie!

    Michael - how long would a US media outlet retain its broadcasting licence if it called for the assassination of the elected head of state, the President? 5 years, as in the case of RCTV in Chavez’s “dicatatorship”? Or 5 minutes?

    Chavez’s rule has its faults, of course. I agree that he needs to get a grip on domestic crime and corruption (a longstanding issue in Venezuela, of course). And his verbosity isn’t that appealing (although many enjoy his irreverence and colloquialisms). But recognise the good side, too - a lot of money is diverted to local level, with local councils deciding how the money should be spent. Poverty levels are edging downwards, after years of stagnation. Above all, dicators don’t get elected, reelected and endorsed in referenda - time and time again, as Chavez has.

    What Venezuela needs most is a period of stability, with both the left and right CALMING DOWN! The whole atmosphere is ridiculous passionate, partisan and hysterical! Plus, it would help if the USA would butt out. Chavez will still depend on the USA as a key market for its oil, whatever his talk about Bolivarian Revolution.

    Here’s a good website for an open-minded (and by no means uncritical) view of the remarkable recent history and current affairs of Venezuela:-

    http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/

    Plus my own humble blogspot:-

    http://robertgordonclark.com/

    Thanks and regards,

    Robert

16. Michael Kraft on October 28th, 2007 2:15 am

    Sir, i am familiar with:
    “The Revolution Will not Be Televised”. The camera doesn’t lie!

    The Camera does lie if editted enough.

    You assert that prioductioh is down because the people he fired were incompetemt?

    A sily claim. I gave room and board for 1 month to a petro engineer here on assylum he was there the day the military took over. The military is running the petro and the engineers thrown on the streets.

    now 5 years later still learning how to run a business and ripe with corruption.

    When soldier try to do a free market engineering job you get low production levels.

    The politically motivated strike followed by politically motivated firings?

    How about when he painted the enitre petro plant red with his slogans on it during the “fair” election? hows that play into democracy?

    How about putting his campaign slogans on police cars and city buses? hows that fit into the democracy?

    How about 22-1 advantage of TV airtime paid for with Venezuelan money during the campaign…hows that fit into democracy?

    How about the famous speech from the Head of the PDVSA threatenin to fire emplyees who dont support Chavez? Caught on video…….during the elction campaign?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I925uJ9U48

    RCTV you speak of, thats funny. Dont believe the fake conspiracy that Chavez claims. He claims assination attempts by the CIA every week.

    The supreme court not only did what Chavez told them and closed RCTV illegally. But the then ruled that RCTV has to give all its TV equiptment to Chavez as a penalty?

    What kind of democracy is this? The supreme court orders them to surrender allt heir provate property to Chavez so he can use it to broadcast pro-chavez messages.

    Did you watch the first 2 minutes of TVes braidcast?

    I watched it live.

    It started by showing illamges of the owner of RCTV and said on the screen he was corrupt and a thief.

    It then showed people in all red shirts raking leaves and praising Chavez.

    Two minutes after seizing a private station he started pumping out propaganda in its pure form.

    Sir, if you think Venezuela is doing anything but serving Chavez’s ego….then you are mistaken.

17. Michael Kraft on October 28th, 2007 2:19 am

    And sir, I would not cal anything like http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/ news or facts. The banners in the bottom left feature a number of government run sites and the logo has Chavez in it.

    Chavistas need to discern that Chavez is not Venezuela, although he likes to pretend that he is.

    So again I hope everyone watches the head of the the government oil company threatening the jobs of employees if they dont support the leader, and not government funded news sites.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I925uJ9U48

18. Michael Kraft on October 28th, 2007 2:22 am

    Robert remember this is the person you are siding with. Once upon a time there were people that thought Hitler had a great revolution of change as well, back when he was setting up his ‘one-party system’.

    
    ““The United States empire is on its way down and it will be finished in the near future, inshallah,”

    “Death to US imperialism!”

    “US blood will spill if they invade Cuba”

    
    - Hugo Chavez

    ^ This is the person who views you wish to share. An embarrassment to his country.

19. Michael Kraft on October 28th, 2007 2:30 am

    “dicators don’t get elected, reelected and endorsed in referenda - time and time again, as Chavez has.”

    You have shown you dont not watch the events with this statement. Even the Socialist Party from spain as one of the election observers called the election unfair. So Chavez bashed him.

    The PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE LAST ELECTION, is now Chavez’s vice president.

    WTF is that? the person whos job was to monitor and regulate the election process becomes the candidates Vice president.

    Yeah those elections were fair.
    You dont see any conflict of interest there?

    Perhaps you saw on TV the election centers being reopened after closing time by the soldiers? So the voters in all red could go in?
    I did.

    While outside the election observers were not aloud to enter. It was on Globovision all over the world.

    maybe you saw the 1.2 million that marched for Rosales when the next day about 400K marched for Chavez in Caracas?

    Refer to the onslaught of cheating I mention above, or just rewing old Globovision video of the soldiers throwing candy food and beer to the crowd to get people to attend his rallies.

    Chavez WILL NEVER cure poverty or ignorance because he needs them both to exist.

    Remember how Rosales was told by the government he couldn’t have any Helicopters at the rally that would get arial photos.

    Then Chavez has a minture helicopter with camera built in flying over the rally to take pictures?

    Pictures of more supporters than he ever had at any rally ever. And Rosales didnt get the benefit of giving money and food to the poor to attend his rallies. Nor did he use CITY BUSES to bring supporters in like Chavez.

    Who paid for all that ‘fair’ campaigning?

    Any of this ring a bell?

20. Michael Kraft on October 28th, 2007 2:36 am

    I would hope Robert that as an american? you would see the hatred your hero shows towards our country. I would think you would put socialism aside and plainly see a man who wants to be our enemy.

    Dont pretend he hates G. Bush, he clearly hates America, he wants to hate America, he wants to hate all gringos as per any of his speeches.

    You have a strange taste in Patriotism.

    If you are not American….then I retract that.

21. Robert Clark on October 28th, 2007 8:52 am

    Michael -

    Wow! That’s a lot of comment / response for me to chew over! Where to begin…..?!

    Well, let me start by saying that I’m Scottish, not American. Based in London, Great Britain, working in the private sector. Yep - I’m not American. “Guilty as charged!”

    In penning this, I fully appreciate that nothing I can ever say will persuade you that Chavez isn’t the horn-tailed Lucifer portrayed by the mainstream and independent US media. Did I say “independent”? It seems to me that the US media is extraordinarily servile to US government diktat - no censorship required; it’s seemingly voluntary! Where were the critical voices in the run-up to the WMDs-based war against Iraq, for example? Chavez-bashers need a sense of perspective: Bush invaded Iraq, started a war that’s killed tens of thousands and further destabilised the Middle East; Chavez has upset a few million opposition supporters and their backers in the US government; if Chavez was pro-US government we would hardly ever hear about him. He would be like Uribe in Colombia - head of the local branch office of USA Inc.

    By the way, there WERE outside observers at the various Chavez election and referenda victories. The EU, the Carter Center, even the Washington-based OAS gave the elections a clean bill of health. Next time, those observers should be assigned to Florida and Ohio, amongst other states, to avoid the “spoiled votes” shenanigans that made US elections a laughing stock in 2000 and 2004.

    To the USA, the world says: “Physician heal thyself!”

    And what’s wrong with keeping polling stations open so that people can vote? Isn’t that the general idea? Of course, in Florida 2000, the cut-off of the recount was arbitrary but don’t judge all countries by the same abysmal standards.

    I don’t expect that you have had time to read through the entire archives of the website that I suggested, and to be honest it would be unfair to ask you to, but believe me there is criticism of Chavez therein:-

    http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/

    BTW is it so unusual that a website about Venezuelan politics should have a photo of Chavez in its logo (alongside Bolivar and A.N. Other?)? I wouldn’t think that a US website was biased just because Dubya appeared on the front page! It wouldn’t put me off - in fact, it would draw me in, like a moth to a flame, to see whether he’d mangled the English language again! I enjoy a good laugh. Don’t we all?! You must admit, Bush has committed quite a few howlers in his time. To be fair, some of his jokes have been self-deprecating, but then again, he can afford to laugh because he is personally untouchable - a prosperous and safe retirement beckons.

    Chavez, on the other hand, is a hunted man - to remove him permanently, there are basically two options:- 1.) lower world oil prices (unattractive); or 2.) kill him. Which is easier?

    Are you seriously suggesting that the US government wouldn’t consider killing its rivals? What about Ecuador’s Jaime Roldos, Panama’s Omar Torrijos? We aren’t talking ancient history; that was the Reagan era.

    Regarding Chavista manipulation of the news, again, a sense of perspective is required. I don’t condone the Chavez style - as I said previously, I’m unenthusiastic about his verbose style, which is unsympathetic towards the needs (eg toilet!) of his captive live audience! And I’m sure that some Chavistas have abused their power and intimidated opposition supporters (and vice versa). Corruption IS a serious problem that needs to be dealt with.
    Plus, it’s a hysterical atmosphere and they ALL need to calm down a bit / a lot!

    But most of the news manipulation is anti-government. And the anti-Chavez movement is backed by the US taxpayer-backed National Endowment for Democracy. Would the USA tolerate outside interference in its domestic politics? So why is it OK for the USA to intefere in Venezuela? Where was the US government / NED support for the Chavistas? Surely they should support BOTH sides to promote or “endow” democracy? It’s not as if the opposition are short of cash!

    Or do you think that it’s right that the USA should be able to meddle but not vice versa?

    “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” showed how the rightwing media (including Globovision and RCTV) edited and twisted the news both before and during the coup. No fancy editing or explanation was required; the unexpurgated clips spoke for themselves. What about the sequence purporting to show Chavez supporters firing at an opposition crowd below, when in reality the street below was EMPTY and the shots were being fired AT the Chavez supporters?! How could the Irish documentary film-makers “edit” the breakfast TV show broadcast the day after the coup, when various opposition figures patted each other on the back and thanked the broadcaster, saying “We couldn’t have done it without you!” How could the documentary-makers “edit” the crowds who massed outside Miraflores Palace and shouted for Chavez’s return (despite the news blackout)? How could they “edit” the look of fear on the ridiculous posturing Richard Gere-lookalike admiral in his white suit as he peeked round the corner of the curtain at the angry crowds outside the palace?!

    RCTV wasn’t closed “illegally” - it lost its licence when it came up for renewal. The charter requires broadcasters to be “fair and balanced” (!) - it’s fairly obvious that RCTV was anything but.

    What some people have difficulty processing is that CHAVEZ WON! A majority of Venezuelans (roughly 60:40) SUPPORT HIM! Comparisons with Hitler are lazy and insulting to the real victims of Nazism (including one member of my family). Chavez is no racist; but SOME (not all) of his opponents are. He’s routinely mocked as a “monkey”! That says a lot about the mindset of SOME (not all) of his critics.

    On the dop in Venezuelan oil production since the sacking, please reread my original comments. I was AGREEING with you that part of the reason that production has fallen is that Chavez sacked technically-skilled workers as well as the management who had run it as a fiefdom. I think the correct expression to describe this own-goal is “throwing out the baby with the bathwater”. That’s why he NEEDS joint ventures with multinational oil majors: some communist, eh?!

    Michael - you talk about the conflation, by Chavistas, of Chavez and Venezuela. Then you contradict yourself by claiming that Chavez hates Americans. I don’t think Chavez hates Americans. He hates your government and its foreign policy. That alone doesn’t make him a bad man; the US government isn’t the same as the US people (those who still bother to vote seem to be finely divided between Democrats and Republicans). Chavez famously have cheap oil to the poor in US cities. What a propaganda coup but would he have done it if he “hated” Americans?

    Come on, Michael. Chavez may not be to your taste but there are REAL bad lads out there. Saudi Arabia, for example - a corrupt royal family, public executions, covert support for 9/11 fundamentalists…. and a hotline to the White House in times of crisis. Much worse than Chavez (no comparison, in fact): shouldn’t you, as a libertarian, be directing your fire towards the House of Saud?

    As I said, a sense of perspective is what’s needed. I just happen to believe that the USA has bigger and nastier enemies than Chavez, and that it should clean out its own stables before trying to sort out the world’s problems.

    http://robertgordonclark.com/

    Best regards,

    Robert

22. Michael Kraft on October 28th, 2007 2:17 pm

    Robert, you comments and qriting are tactful and learned, I am grateful for that.

    You have one misconception.

    There is almost no coverage of hugo chavez in the United States media, and I look hard for it.

    With all that goes on, almost never is he mentioned in the news anwhere.
    And before the “devil” speech, he was never spoken of anywhere.

    All information I have and news of the real truth of what goes on is direct from the horses mouths.

    I have a house guest right now, for the last 6 weeks, whos family holds a public offic in Margarita. If I hear of ‘proposals’ or the state of the streets then it is directly from people who know.

    I do not ever get any insight or news from US media, because there is none.

    And if I direct unfair attention towards the dictator in Veneuela and not other it is because as you can see I have regular houseguests and dinner with those who just left the budding communist state.

    ---

    Perhaps you heard of Chavez’s solution for the infaltion that is out of control?
    he is proposing to remove 3 ‘zeros’ from the money. So the 5000 bolivar bill says 5 on it.
    That way the ignorants that support him wont notice the worst inflation in the country’s history.

    Funny that when I type 5000 bolivar into google to get an image, it said 5000 bolivares = 2.3 dollars.

    That is not true. If you want an American Dollars in Venezuela you will have to pay 4000+ Bolivares for it.

    Unless you belong to the ‘one party’ where you can get entire suitcases full of black market Dollars.

    ---

    Chavez’s hatred is for America, and all Americans that believe in Democracy and capitalism.

    How many ‘men of the cloth’, bishops, caridinals, international right groups, observers and unbiased outsiders has he attacked in his daily rants?

    he hates anyone that opposes his one man rule, the entire fake revolution is for his personal ego and gain. That is the truth.

    I think perhaps you are getting too much news from Government run sites and British news sources that line up nicely with say Ken Livingston or the rising leftists on your side of the pond?

    There is no source more direct than i get here in my home.

leave your opinion on this subject
Or check out related stickers and shirts in the store.