Venezuela leading way
Irish Independent 13 February 2006
Just last week, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld audaciously made a comparison between Adolf Hitler and Venezuela's current left-wing president, Hugo Chavez, mentioning that they were both elected by the people.
With Latin America very much an active politically radical volcano, Rumsfeld and the US administration are petrified by the likes of Chavez, who has prioritised the health and education of his people over the interests of transnational corporations.
Before Chavez's democratic rise to power in 1998, 80pc of oil-rich Venezuela's 24 million population lived in poverty.
Instead of acting like President Bush, who sends thousands of troops to be killed or maimed in Iraq, Chavez, under Plan Bolivar in 2000, sent troops to repair roads, schools and to construct health clinics whilst also distributing food.
The US government has also criticised an agreement between Chavez and Cuba which involves Cuban doctors treating Venezuela's previously neglected poor, and Cuban teachers teaching Venezuelans how to read and write.
Under Chavez, Venezuela aspires to be a healthy, educated and independent country not a fascist dictatorship which soaks countries in blood to capture their resources. Mr Rumsfeld, it is not Chavez who is the fascist.
Seán Ó Floinn
Reader's response
Irish Independent 21 February 2006
Venezuela leading way? With relation to Seán Ó Floinn's letter 'Venezuela leading way' on February 13, while the author is right to attack Rumsfeld's comments about Chavez, his praise of the Venezuelan president is flawed.
Chavez is not a fascist or a dictator but his presidency has been mired in incompetence and corruption.
Despite the extreme poverty rate of 86%, Chavez bought 100,000 assault rifles and Russian combat helicopters to protect against the non-existent threat of a US invasion.
His increasing paranoia has led to diplomatic isolation and the fermenting of relationships with some of the most repressive regimes in the world, Iran and Cuba being the most notable.
Corruption is a major problem in the country,with the Corruption Perceptions Index on 2005 giving Venezuela a rating of 2.5 out of 10, leaving Chavez's state more corrupt then the likes of Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan.
So while Chavez's attempts to improve his country's education and health infrastructure are to be admired, Chavez's reign of seven years has achieved only economic mishandling and political instability.
Chavez is simply another in a long line of charismatic but illiberal leaders that find acceptance from the world's 'liberals' because of his strict opposition to the American government and capitalism.
Fearghall Barry,
Castelmartyr,
Co Cork
My response
Irish Independent 9 March 2006
In response to Fearghal Barry's recent letter regarding Venezuela. He accuses Chavez of economic mishandling. However decades of economic neglect and recent employer lockouts have caused the real damage.
Chavez has succeeded in reducing unemployment, cancelling school fees, improving child nutrition and reducing infant mortality.
If this is 'corruption' then George W. Bush is a Christian!
How can Mr Barry be so naive in criticising the Venezuelans arming themselves against what he calls the "non-existent threat of US invasion"?
Call Chavez paranoid, but I think his military purchases are quite essential remembering what happened in Allende's Chile, Sandinista Nicaragua or the invasion of Guatemala. I would say there is quite a high chance of the US invading an oil rich country, wouldn't you?
Seán Ó Floinn
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