Chavez Prepares for War with Colombia
The words from George Orwell’s 1984 echo amongst us. Although the new title is based on a time 25 years later, we have in Venezuela a new book being written. Unfortunately this time; it is fact, not fiction.
The title is 2009, by Hugo Chavez. The dates are different, but the words sound the same: “War is peace – Freedom is Slavery – Ignorance is strength.”
To sustain his dictatorship, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has his own “perpetual wars” which target the United States and now includes neighboring Colombia. He has said the best way to avoid war was to prepare for it.
According to the BBC, Venezuela blames the tension with its neighbor on closer military ties between Colombia and the US.
Chavez has urged his armed forces to be prepared for possible war with Colombia amid growing diplomatic and border tensions. He has ordered 15,000 troops to the border, citing increased violence by Colombian paramilitary groups.
“Let’s not waste a day on our main aim: to prepare for war and to help the people prepare for war, because it is everyone’s responsibility,” Mr Chavez said using his own version of “newspeak” during his TV and radio show Alo, Presidente.
In response to these provocations, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said his government would seek help from the UN Security Council and also the Organization of American States.
“Colombia has not made nor will it make any bellicose move toward the international community, even less so toward fellow Latin American nations,” he said.
