It is testament to how much Latin America has changed politically over the past several years that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez not only criticizes U.S. military policy in the region but now actively seeks to form a new defense force designed to counteract the colossus of the north. Recently, Chávez invited Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega to join him on his weekly TV show, Aló, Presidente! Turning to his friend and ally, Chávez remarked that Latin American countries which formed part of ALBA (or Bolivarian Alternative for The Americas) "should set up a joint defense strategy, and integrate our armed forces and intelligence servicesbecause the enemy is the same: the United States empire." Chávez, who is known for his bravado and rhetorical flair, then added, "Whoever takes on one of us will have to take on everyone, because we will respond jointly."
ALBA is an initiative set up by Chávez to encourage greater solidarity and reciprocity amongst left leaning regimes throughout the region; its members include Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Dominica. In recent years, ALBA has served as a mechanism to enhance barter exchange between nations. For example, Venezuela has shipped oil to Cuba and in return receives thousands of Cuban health professionals who attened to the Venezuelan poor. Originally set up to upstage the Free Trade Area of The Americas sponsored by the Bush White House, ALBA also seeks greater cultural integration amongst Latin American countries (for more on this issue, see my recent piece "Hugo Chávez's Coca: It's the Real Thing," February 7, 2008). Now, Chávez seems intent on expanding ALBA's scope to the military realm as well.
The Bonapartist's Capitalist Army
fred bergen 20 weeks 4 days 3 hours 58 min ago
Hugo Chávez's regime rests on the capitalist armed forces, which have repeatedly attacked the workers and peasants of the "Bolivarian" republic. Chávez's phony "socialism with the entrepreneurs" requires a capitalist state to suppress inevitable class struggle against the "socialist" bosses, and within this state apparatus lurk hundreds of potential future General Pinochets.
No political support to the bourgeois Chávez government!
Workers to power in Venezuela! Break with the "bolivarian" bourgeoisie, forge a revolutionary workers party!
Fred have you been in
rek2 20 weeks 3 days 12 hours 54 min ago
Fred have you been in Venezuela? even if what you say is true sounds to me
very sectarian and no solidarity at all with the PSV that is form of socialist groups from all over Venezuela the bolivarian revolution is not about Chavez even do the US media makes it look that way this was a fact when the same people that call themself chavistas decided that socialism was more important and not voted for his propositions in December.. what we must do is support the revolution and at the same time encorage the people to take control so the power is not all in one person this is why we need to support the PSV and not chavez.
The PSUV is Chávez's party
fred bergen 20 weeks 3 days 4 hours 2 min ago
The PSUV is a creation of the "Bolivarian" capitalist government and its bonapartist president for life, Hugo Chávez. It is as "socialist" as the social-democratic parties of capitalism in Europe. And the "socialists" who are grabbing its coattails are opportunists looking for handouts from Hugo, not proletarian revolutionaries.
The PSUV will be used to prevent workers from forming their own party, it is a capitalist state-party and an obstacle to revolution.
Im sorry but I disagree, I
rek2 20 weeks 2 days 11 hours 2 min ago
Im sorry but I disagree, I have comrades in Venezuela, Argentina and in Spain where I am from that I talk to and I am a member that supports whats happening in South America now and they are one of the most revolutionary people I have ever meet. Is also funny that people in the US will critic the bolivarian revolution or Cuba when in the US most us call socialist or communist or even anarchist groups have always let capitalism win when they had the chance to take over in many times because sectarianism so my point is to how can we critic international attempts when here we do nothing at all mayor after 1975 in revolutionary change?... the liberals have brainswash the radical left with they non-violence and stand in a corner with a sign liberal green peace mentality that only benefits the state and the upper class..I am not saying to get violent but the working class has never won anything by not disrupting everyday bussines and put them against thew wall.. lol wait I think i'm getting way out of topic. anyways less agree to disagree ;-)
Viva el Che!