Chavez is a natural born diplomat.

**Lord Consul** · September 16, 2008, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by Conor Foley, The Guardian

The crisis in Bolivia could be the first big test of the newly formed Union of Nations of South America (Unasul) which is convening an emergency meeting starting today in Chile. The meeting has been called by Chile's President Michelle Bachelet in a bid to defuse a dispute that has so far claimed 18 lives and threatens to tear apart the poorest country in Latin America.

[...]

Their protests have become increasingly violent and last Thursday, 16 Morales supporters were massacred when a lorry was ambushed, prompting the declaration of martial law the following day. Since then there have been more deaths, a bomb attack on a pipeline and widespread looting and destruction.

Morales also ordered the expulsion of the US ambassador to Bolivia, Philip Goldberg, whom he accused of "conspiring against democracy" and encouraging the separatists. Chávez expelled the US ambassador to Venezuela shortly afterwards, partly as a gesture of solidarity, but also because he claimed to have discovered independent evidence of a coup plot against him. "Go to hell a hundred times, ing Yankees … When there will be a new government in the United States, you will send an ambassador, a government that respects the people of Latin America," he said in a speech.

[...]

Chávez further upped the political ante by threatening military intervention in Bolivia if there was a coup attempt, which prompted a Bolivian general, Luis Trigo, to state that the army would not tolerate any foreign intervention from Chavez or any other country. Lula's call for dialogue and pointed reaffirmation that respecting Bolivia's sovereignty meant supporting its right to solve its own problems has also been seen as a rebuke to Chávez.

The attempts by Bachelet and Lula to resolve the Bolivian crisis through UNASUL will also be an important test of the effectiveness of the new body, which was formally signed into being at a meeting in Brasilia in May.
It integrates two existing customs unions; Mercosur and the Andean community, as part of a continuing process of South American integration modeled on the European Union. The dream of closer Latin American integration has long been an article of faith among the continent's left. Today's meeting will show whether they have the diplomatic skills necessary for the task.

Leaving aside the piece junk that is this UNASUL project (how can people even dream of a political union with such stable countries such as COLOMBIA, BOLIVIA and PERU, for godness sake!), Chavez has acted exactly as I think he would.

Although it wasn't very tactful of the DoS to appoint Philip Goldberg as the American Ambassator to Bolivia, since he's being accused of fostering seccesionist movements in Yugoslavia and Bolivia has a secessionist problem of its own to deal with, the Bolivian (and Venezuelan) decision to expel the US representatives in their countries was extremely unwise.

However, I'm satisfied that Chavez has acted exactly as I predicted he would. The Colonel has such lack of originality that most of his actions are predictable to the point of being ludicrous.

In the aforementioned UNASUL summit, he insisted that all countries present should make a joint declaration condemning US involvement in region - obviously, both Brazil and Chile rejected such crap.

**Platon** · September 16, 2008, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by Lord Consul

Leaving aside the piece junk that is this UNASUL project (how can people even dream of a political union with such stable countries such as COLOMBIA, BOLIVIA and PERU, for godness sake!), Chavez has acted exactly as I think he would.

Although it wasn't very tactful of the DoS to appoint Philip Goldberg as the American Ambassator to Bolivia, since he's being accused of fostering seccesionist movements in Yugoslavia and Bolivia has a secessionist problem of its own to deal with, the Bolivian (and Venezuelan) decision to expel the US representatives in their countries was extremely unwise.

However, I'm satisfied that Chavez has acted exactly as I predicted he would. The Colonel has such lack of originality that most of his actions are predictable to the point of being ludicrous.

In the aforementioned UNASUL summit, he insisted that all countries present should make a joint declaration condemning US involvement in region - obviously, both Brazil and Chile rejected such crap.

Go Hugo!!

**Panzerbear** · September 16, 2008, 10:24 PM

yes, South America needs to stop US from bullying and intefeering in their affairs.

[Eastern European sarcasm ftw]

**Platon** · September 16, 2008, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by .Czar

yes, South America needs to stop US from bullying and intefeering in their affairs...

But they need "a little help from their friends"

Bring over those missile ramps again plz!!

**Pious Agnost** · September 18, 2008, 05:03 AM

Man I love that Chavez guy

. But please tell me he has no actual control of any government, the man is a moron

**Perkele** · September 18, 2008, 05:11 AM

For a split second I was afraid someone actually thought he was a good diplomat. And Czar, I fail to see how Chavez doing more and mroe idiotic things is somehow a doing of USA.

**Delvecchio1975** · September 18, 2008, 05:14 AM

Chavez is an embarrassment to socialism (and I'm a socialist).

**Pious Agnost** · September 18, 2008, 05:22 AM

He's a brilliant diplomat, I mean he stopped the U.S in its tracks with his TWO Russian bombers, legend

. To the contrary, he got owned by the King(?) of Spain

**Viking Prince** · September 18, 2008, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by Delvecchio1975

Chavez is an embarrassment to socialism (and I'm a socialist).

Do not be embarrassed. CHavez is a populist in true South AMerican Tradition. The closeest USA has come may be Huey Long in Louisiana. Whatever Chavez calls himself does not make it so. He is a populist who likes the spotlight and the power and both for their own sakes.