Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is fond of belligerent outbursts against the United States. On Monday, he told U.S. officials to “go to hell, gringos” after a State Department spokesman expressed concern about his latest plan to rule by decree.
Given that the United States is the biggest buyer of Venezuelan oil and other petroleum products, such demagoguery seems surprising. But it’s not Chavez’s tirades that are troublesome. It is his increasingly autocratic style and new Middle East friendship that the United States ought to be scrutinizing.
Chavez is attempting to establish a socialist state. After being re-elected president of the oil-rich country last month, Chavez ordered the takeover of the electric and telecommunications industries. The state already controls the oil industry. Chavez seized the assets of foreign companies and said he would shut down the country’s oldest and largest television channel. He plans to curb the power of local leaders and eliminate the autonomy of the central bank.
Venezuela’s congress is expected to act next week on his request to expand presidential powers.
Even before this, Chavez had eliminated many human-rights protections. Sadly, it’s the people of Venezuela who stand to suffer most if investors and foreign companies pull out, as they almost certainly will if Chavez continues down his strongman path. The United States has issued a gentle statement saying that Chavez’s plans “have caused us some concern.” It may be necessary to voice some outrage, especially now that Chavez seems to be making dangerous friends.
Last week, for the second time in four months, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Chavez. The two announced a $2 billion fund to finance development projects. Not surprisingly, the deal raised suspicions about possible terrorist operations in South America – close to America’s back door. Already Ahmadinejad’s nuclear ambitions have upset the international community.
U.S. officials seem unsure how to deal with Chavez, who blames the U.S. for a 2002 coup attempt. So while U.S. officials decide what to do next, they need to move quickly to establish good relations with other Latin American leaders and expand trade and other agreements to counter Chavez. And we Americans would be well advised to wean ourselves off of foreign oil.
