A nation at the crossroads of South America, the Caribbean, North America and Europe, Venezuela’s location is ideal. Borders? Long, scantly populated and porous. Financial system? Large and with easy-to-evade governmental controls. Telecommunications, ports and airports? The best that oil money can buy. U.S. influence? Nil. Corrupt politicians, cops, judges and military officers? Absolutely: Transparency International ranked Venezuela a shameful 162 out of 179 counties on its corruption perception index. Chavez’s demonstrated interest in confronting criminal networks during his eight years in power? Not much.
While this situation has so far been rather invisible to the rest of the world, it is patently clear to those in charge of fighting transnational crime. Anti-trafficking officials in Europe, the United States, Asia and other Latin American countries are paying unprecedented attention to Venezuela. These officials are not particularly interested in Venezuelan politics or in Chavez’s policies. All they care about is that the tentacles of these global criminal networks are spreading from Venezuela into their countries with enormous power and at great speed.
My only question is, how long is it going to take for Venezuela to hit rock bottom?
wonder what Chavez’s cut is and which Swiss bank is storing all his proceeds of crime.
Maybe Sean Penn can pay him another visit and ask.
Curios minds want to know ?
The LaTimes wrote this piece?? Just in the OP section, but still, thought everyone in the news business adores that twisted little tyrant.
Also hear they have a “remarkable” universal health care system, and of course to the UN, that makes them more civilized than the USA. /sarc.
Maybe someone should show some foresight and set up a fund that will allow us the resources to shoot all the homegrown lefties. You know, the ones that will undoubtedly be howling, screaming, whining and pleading to send help to Venezuela in the very near future. The reality hicks that will be blaming the U.S. and the whole of the Western World for there own blatant stupidity.
Getting rid of the socialists? Rather than shooting them I like this solution, take the safety labels off everything, that should solve the problem.
“My only question is, how long is it going to take for Venezuela to hit rock bottom?”
Beware communist dictator countries like Chavez in Venezuela and now possibly Putin in Russia that are flush with oil/ cash.
Money talks and any rogue state flush with oil and money can spell disaster for free and democratic nations by their subterfuge or dealing with terrorists.
Not an encouraging world scenario.
Western canadian said,
Getting rid of the socialists?
Rather than shooting them I like this solution, take the safety labels off everything,
that should solve the problem.
That is one of the best things I have read in months!
Thanks for the laugh, I needed to laugh!
The crossroads of Europe?!
hmmmmm deeply into state sponsored cocaine and slave trade..who needs oil?
Just think Panama and Noriega ………….
But it would be much sweeter if the Venzuelans took care of this tinpot dictator and commie thug all by themselves.
He’ll have enough to keep himself in power for a long time….think Ghadaffi…..
He will be a long term issue
Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI…….
…..Parallels are there but I don’t think Hugo is half as smart as Muammar.
As far as I know Qadhafi never pandered to simple criminals.
He certainly did play the role of provocateur and would be regional power broker and it looks as if Hugo is using the Libyan’s playbook as a guide to el-presidente for life status.
The big difference outside of intelligence and character (such as it is) … Venezuelans have a history of democracy and relative prosperity under a civil government.
Where Qadhafi’s Libya had none of that and he was able to bring order and a sense of national pride to the Lybians ….. Chavez has only empty promises of financial improvement for the ignorant and impoverished combined with the sure knowledge that they have been robbed to the educated and prosperous.
Qadhafi’s opposition consisted of rebel military staff who thought they might usurp him for their own ends, a few powerless supporters of the old and very corrupt regime that had been enabled by the UN as well as scattered groups of nomadic tribes without any other influence.
Hugo’s opposition consists of about 1/3 of the current population and likely more when the fruits of his governance become evident.
The honeymoon with neighboring states is not likely to last either.
If Hugo had come along in the 50’s or 60’s he would have been as good as Castro …. these are not the 1960’s anymore.
The likelyhood of Chavez being in power in Venezuela for more than the next couple of years is slim. IMO
Corrupt as the day is long – it’s no wonder left leaning liberal types love Chavez. Corrupt government is a liberal’s primary objective.
His oil production will start to fall, as the corruption takes hold, and the international companies bale out, as usual in all Socialist countries, shortages, food now, oil soon.
Maybe one of his ‘loyal; subjects will finally get to him, but of course everyone will blame the U.S. regardless who pops him off.
It just gets better every day 🙂
Wonder when he and Mugabe will form a UN delegation of corrupt whining failed Marxist states?
You’re dead on, Fred. The King of Spain just told this psycho-clown to shut up publicly while Hollywood’s lefty moonbats do photo-ops with him. What a despicable useless group of airheads.
I wonder if Cindy Sheehan, the lefty Chavez groupie girl, and her crowd has the capacity to reflect upon the fact that they won’t ever have to concern themselves about being shot, like the Venezuelan student last week, when they take their opposition to the streets.
Now hugo chevez is trying to compair himself to JESUS what a swaggering swell i mean thats the same thing that CHARLES MANSON did he convinced his followers he was christ hugo chavez is a dictator
Please, if you are good, caring people… go and find out what chavez is really trying to do… disagree with his tactics if you like but he is trying to help the impoverished in his country. That is good thing. Have some humanity!