The American Spectator : Hugo the Magnificent

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Hugo the Magnificent

By George H. Wittman on 6.10.11 @ 6:07AM

What's up with the star of the anti-U.S. Hispanic world?

Burly, long-winded, egomaniacal Latin American dictators are hardly a new phenomenon. For some reason, however, they don't seem to be as friendly to the Americans as the left wing press has portrayed them. Hugo Chavez, who currently holds the record for listening to his own voice (8 hrs. in a radio speech in 2007), is now the star of the anti-U.S. Hispanic world.

According to such political experts as Sean Penn, Danny Glover and Oliver Stone, Chavez is the next Fidel Castro. Now that's a distinction with which there might be some Latin disagreement. The Venezuelan president has been encouraged by support from the equally self-adoring Persian, Ahmadinejad, and that carries more international weight than the Hollywood "intellectuals." Hugo Chavez really believes he is a genius, and he has many among his loyal lieutenants who attest (daily) to that fact.

But aside from the bombast and self-congratulations, Chavez is a hard worker. He appears at different times each week on both radio and TV. He has a daily schedule of military/security and economic meetings that is far greater than his current American counterpart. However, like so many politicians he enjoys contact with crowds, although security considerations have cut down on his ventures beyond his heavy protection detail. While enjoying the image of being a "man of the people," Chavez at the same time holds himself above the throng. Contradiction aside, that's Hugo.

He followed last year's visit by Vladimir Putin to Caracas and a much ballyhooed Russian offer to help in Venezuelan nuclear facility construction and a $2.2 billion loan to buy Russian fighter jets and other arms systems with the announcement this year that he plans to build a new American States bloc -- minus the U.S. and Canada. Chavez is a busy one indeed.

Chavez has enjoyed a reputation among his fellow Latin American leaders of a man who can and will spring forth with quotes from earlier revolutionary personalities from Trotsky to Bolivar, from Castro to Mandela. In such a fashion this military-trained politician believes he shows off his intellectual depth and educated talents. Reportedly, aged Fidel has been impressed by this self-professed prodigy -- Raul Castro far less so.

Even though Hugo Chavez believes he is unique, his studied artificiality is not unlike most dictatorial leaders. It would be a mistake, however, to put him down as a buffoon. He follows a tradition of most totalitarians in seeking to give the appearance of their commitment to the welfare of the people as the justification of their need to stay indefinitely in office. Another characteristic shared by Chavez with others of similar fascistic ilk is that they always appear to confuse centralizing government control with assuring social welfare and economic benefit.

By tying his interests and political self-justification to the stated historical positions of the great Venezuelan leader, Simon Bolivar, Chavez adorns himself with a mantle of irreproachable patriotism and selflessness. Daniel Ortega, the staunch leftist leader in Nicaragua, has played Chavez like a violin and as a result can get just about anything he wants from the Venezuelan. Not unsurprisingly, Ortega is reported to view his politically opportunistic comrade as his personal investment banker. Apparently Venezuelan oil riches go far to make up for socialist shortcomings.

Chavez has been broadening his network of Latin American contacts for some time. His intelligence apparat has had extensive and long-time collaboration with Colombia's major anti-government, drug trafficking guerrilla group, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). At the same time Hugo Chavez has encouraged a special friendship with Colombia's new president, Juan Manuel Sentos. Bogota, in turn, has just transferred one of its leading cocaine drug lords (Walid Makled, Venezuelan citizen of Syrian descent) to the care of the Venezuelan intelligence agency, Servicio Bolivariano de Inteligencia (SEBIN). This was in direct contravention of an extradition accord between Bogota and Washington -- to say nothing of the efforts to create a free trade agreement between the U.S. and Colombia.

Perhaps the most telling psychoanalysis of Hugo Chavez was indicated in a DEA e-mail intercept of a FARC operative in Caracas reporting to his Colombian handler. In commenting on the problem of making a deal with Chavez, the agent wrote: "He has an enormous muddle in his head that nobody understands." The frustration clearly implied in this comment mirrors a similar reaction among Chavez's fellow Latin American leaders.

The Venezuelan president's effort to build his ability to project military power is a matter of serious concern within the region. Even the Cubans have shown a wariness of the growth of Venezuelan financial and military strength. As one Latin American diplomatic source put it: "Raul Castro trusts Hugo Chavez about as much as he trusts any other ex-army officer Latin politician with dreams of grandeur." Perhaps Sean Penn should argue this out with Raul.

About the Author

George H. Wittman writes a weekly column on international affairs for The American Spectator online. He was the founding chairman of the National Institute for Public Policy.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (25) | Leave a comment

Paul| 6.10.11 @ 6:52AM

Someone who needs a visit from the SEALS, and if we are lucky, Sean Penn, Danny Glover and Oliver Stone will be there when the SEALS show up.

John Navratil| 6.10.11 @ 8:16AM

Paul,

You really must temper yourself. Just think of all the great movies we would miss.

John Navratil| 6.10.11 @ 8:16AM

Paul,

You really must temper yourself. Just think of all the great movies we would miss.

alice moore| 6.10.11 @ 5:47PM

You forgot to mention Michael Moore, Jane Fonda, and the Dixie Chicks

Timothy L. Pennell| 6.10.11 @ 8:12AM

Long Winded and Egomaniacal? Listens to his own Speeches? Sean Penn, Danny Glover, and Oliver Stone? He really believes he's a Genius, and he has many among his loyal Lieutenants who attest to that on a daily basis?
While enjoying the image of being 'A Man of the People', he holds himself above the throng?
Does this sound like anyone we know? Anyone in THIS Country?
Even though he believes that he is Unique, his studied artificiality is not unlike most Dictatorial Leaders.
Anyone? The only difference i can see, in this article, between the Extra Chromosomed Hugo Chavez, and the Indonesian Muslim in our Oval Office, is that OUR DICTATOR thinks that EVERYBODY loves the sound of his voice. So much so, that he gives out IPODS with him making speeches, as GIFTS.
That's what NARCISSISTS do, I guess.

Pecos Pete| 6.10.11 @ 9:26AM

Tim: Agreed! Just change "Hugo" to Obama in the article.

Pelligrino| 6.10.11 @ 11:27AM

Tim and Pecos Pete, I also agree. Both the Latin Mister Machismo and the Hawaiian Druggie know the same about many subjects. They share many likes and dislikes. Their snake-oil, deceit-filled smiles are identical.

I wonder if we'll ever get the Obummer in a baseball radio announcer's booth? Remember Obummer at the Washington Nationals when he was asked about what stood out for him in Chicago White Sox lore? (a fraud unveiled)

My lead-in isn't working. But I think the best analysis (one of the best) on Venezuela's plight comes from Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillén.

Lots of Venezuelans in America. Ought to get them to construct an article for American Spectator. Their views would be more surgically direct, more scathing, much better reading. And...they would not be praiseworthy of a US president (the guy now in the Oval Office) who plays cutsie, footsie with Hugo.

TURK| 6.10.11 @ 8:28AM

Where oh where are all of the leftist crepes that show up on this site when America has a positive column written of it(like Monaays patriotic D-Day piece)? Do the reptiles excell at negativism, or are they empty on praise for this communist genius?

Occam's Tool| 6.13.11 @ 4:06PM

Dear Turk,

I like the use of "crepes'---something small and edible that no self-respecting man would want to run across.

Petronius| 6.10.11 @ 10:39AM

So when is the Hollywood Left gonna do more than just grandstand and make Hugo an honorary Democrat?

Goatlocker| 6.11.11 @ 11:28AM

Honorary? I think he qualifies as a full-fledged Democrat. Possibly even more left-leaning and whacked-out than Debbie Wasserman-Schultz!

Al Adab| 6.10.11 @ 11:21AM

Yeah but, The President of the U. S. seems to think this is an admirable guy; one worth supporting and emulating.

WillofLa| 6.10.11 @ 2:07PM

I hate this Marxist puke. Why is he still alive? About the same reason why Bill Ayer's is still alive? They're not worth killing and the trouble it would cause, even though it deserves a medal being given for the act. People would rather try to build a opposition to tyranny politically so that if that time comes that they can take the country back it will be with a much stronger support system rather than the vacume that would be left if he was asassinated. Possibly someone worse would take his place and really make it hard to take over later. I'm sure there are many people who'd like to see him dead, just like there are those in this country who desperately need a bullet, but it would be worse it something like that happened right now. Too bad.

rongordo| 6.10.11 @ 3:50PM

Isn't Sean Penn seeing Scarlet Johanssen now? She had already become a zero after singing in that Obama is the world video, but Jeez... now she's sub-prime!

Occam's Tool| 6.13.11 @ 4:06PM

She broke up with him. (Why do I know this?)

nister| 6.10.11 @ 10:37PM

Read the article, read the comments..you people remind me of caravan dogs, barking fitfully at the passing parade.

Bob K.| 6.11.11 @ 12:02AM

Of course Raul Castro doesn't trust him. Castro is a caucasian of Spanish ancestry. Most of the people who have ruled and who still run South America and Central America are 100% caucasians of Iberian ancestry. Many of them have a heritage that goes back to the conquistadors. None of them trust people with mixed heritage like Hugo Chavez. People like him are threats to their power and wealth.

This is something that is never mentioned by our political class and I include journalists like Mr. Wittman in that class.

These hispanics of 100% European Spanish ancestry can come into the USA and go right to the head of the Affirmative Action line. They and their skills in exploitation are needed to continue exploiting the uneducated non caucasian spanish speaking immigrants our ruling class is allowing to flood into the country in order to lower our wage base and living standards.

Mark MacDonald| 6.11.11 @ 1:05PM

This would all be hilarious were it not so tragic. Chavez is building a personal army and at the same time flushing his nation's economy down the toilet. More repression in Ven. seems inevitable.

RWinks| 6.11.11 @ 1:39PM

What gets me is the way Hugo uses Venezuelan oil money (which belongs to the people of Venezuela) as his personal piggy bank. Not a peep from all the left-wing champions of the people. They even cheered when he gave cheap oil to Massachusetts even though the people of Venezuela to whom the oil belonged are far poorer.

Just imagine the wailing if an eevvilll corporation were doing the same....Taking oil and money from the national oil company and giving it to their friends in Cuba, Bolivia and Nicaragua. The Left's ability to arouse disgust is infinite.

weddingdresses| 6.13.11 @ 2:49AM

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tanstaafl| 6.13.11 @ 8:44AM

Oogoe holds weekly public meetings with his underlings, various cabinet officers etc. during which he verbally excoriates anyone he decrees has fallen short of his duties to the burgeoning communist state.

Another technique of intimidation and a power holding device typical of dictators.

How anyone can label this bombastic little twerp "intelligent" is beyond me.