Yesterday, 34 Heads of State convened their Fourth Summit of the Americas in Argentina amidst street riots that made a mockery of their diplomatic agenda. Because news of what little progress they make towards creating a Free Trade Area of the Americas will be rendered mute, if not moot, by the raucous and violent anti-American, anti-Bush and anti-free trade demonstrations that dominated media coverage of the summit.
But if most Heads of State were frustrated by this rabble-rousing turn of events, the riots were entirely consistent with the agenda of at least one of them: namely, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. After all, Chavez declared before arriving in Argentina that he did not agree with the American mandated political reforms and free trade objectives on the official agenda. In fact, his agenda was diametrically opposed to them. Moreover, Chavez seems to have convinced himself that democracy and free trade are the arsenals of war by other means, which have been concocted by President Bush to enslave the poor people of the Americas and, more specifically, which are aimed to assassinate him. And, he is determined to do everything in his oil rich and increasingly demagogic power to defend himself (and the Americas) against his own delusional perceptions.
Upon arriving in Argentina, the first order of business for Hugo Chavez was to incite a stadium filled with anti-Bush protesters to go into the streets and demonstrate that anarchy is a Latin American virtue and democracy an American vice
Upon arriving in Argentina, the first order of business for George Bush was to plead for the spread of democracy and free trade throughout the Americas….Oh, and for the exoneration of his political aide Karl Rove
Alas, the incendiary rhetoric of Hugo Chavez carried the day and the protesters rioted
…and rioted
and rioted – all in a futile and self-destructive effort to “Stop Bush” from imposing the universal values of democracy and free trade on his Latin American neighbours.
Meanwhile, in an egregious breach of diplomatic protocol, Chavez shocked even his socialist allies amongst the Heads of State by spewing the same anti-Bush rhetoric to President Bush’s face that he vented to work the stadium crowds into a crazed and rampaging mob
But, evidently, the only rise Chavez got out of Bush was this appropriately confident look of “You may be loco, but ya really don’t wanna to mess with me hombre…”
Note: Chavez is a skilled politician and an even more effective rabble-rouser. But he undermines his potential as a worthy hemispheric foe to President Bush (and the legitimate economic reforms he proposes) by fomenting anti-Bush street riots and cheerleading anti-Bush stadium rallies. Because sympathetic Heads of State will soon realise what, alas, Argentine President Nestor Kirchner knows all too well today: Namely, that inviting Chavez to one’s country to incite mob violence that leads to the destruction of local businesses is no substitute for engaging Bush in negotiations to improve political and economic relations with the United States.
Moreover, these leaders know that Chavez is not credible in blaming Bush for imposing the values of democracy and free trade throughout the Americas. Because they are acutely aware that these values were, in fact, introduced to Latin America by Ronald Reagan; that they were then implemented – in their first phase via NAFTA by Bill Clinton; that they are now being furthered by Bush; and that they, most assuredly, shall be furthered even more by whoever succeeds him as President of the United States – even if that is Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Endnote: In addition to apologising to fellow Heads of State for hijacking their summit, I hope Chavez also has the decency to write President Kirchner a cheque to cover the cost of repairing the damage caused by his rampaging “revolutionaries”.
¡Ay Caramba!
News and Politics
Worst Weather Ever says
i agree and disagree with you here. First, Chavez does have a good message to bring with him, that the free trade agreement is anti-worker. no one would agre with that. Second, he doe snot promote anarchy, he promotes socialism, MUCH different, and need to be noted. Third, i agree that once the protests turned violent his credibility gets shot, but i disagree that he shouldnt have met with them. Furthermore, his anti-W rhetoric is what has brought him to the national stage, and he uses it to contrast his alternative views. usaully I think it works brilliantly.
Anonymous says
worst weather ever
I suggest you read ALH’s articles on Chavez. I think you’ll find you have no disagreement at all.
Besides, he did not say Chavez shouldnt have met the protesters. It was what he said and how he conducted himself there that incited the crowds to riot. He showed bad judgement because the riots stole his thunder and made his long awaited confrontation with Bush anticlimatic.
Anonymous says
this was a great opportunity to have a debate of wealth redistribution and social policies that deal with poverty. chavez blew it.
Anonymous says
Rabble-rousing is surely right up your alley.
Why should you disapprove?
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.