Right On The Right

There have been quite a few stories running over the past week or so about Hugo Chavez gearing up for war in South America. The good news today, is that the thug is backing down, probably because the prospect of cruise missiles crashing into Caracas got to his head. Brazil wasn't too happy about Chavez's decisions either. The toning down, via FOX News:

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Heated accusatiosn broke out Friday at a Latin American summit over a border crisis between Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, but the crisis appears to be over after the three countries' presidents exchanged handshakes.

FOX News' Adam Housley, reporting from the summit in the Dominican Republic, said the three leaders declared the standoff over and called for peace.

The longer we witness his thuggery, the more it appears that Chavez is all bluster and no substance. He's unwilling to go to war, which is a very good thing for the rest of us, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't take him seriously. He's still a neo-socialist thug.

The situation in South America has been escalating ever since Colombia took out some FARC rebels and Hugo Chavez pushed the continent to the brink of war. Apparently, a laptop was found that had solid evidence that an alliance has been made between Chavez and the drug-traffickers, and also included some interesting information about the race for President. Stop the ACLU has some interesting excerpts:

A laptop computer captured in the possession of a slain Colombian revolutionary provides tangible evidence Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is aiding the narco-rebels and that they see more help coming next year if Barack Obama becomes president.

The laptop was seized Saturday after a raid by Colombian government forces on commandos of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. Some 23 rebels were killed in the raid, including Raul Reyes, their leader. The files on the computer provide details and context to what the Colombian government claims is Chavez’s effort to subvert the U.S. ally.

...“Uribe will become more isolated, together with his boss from the North,” a clear reference to President Bush, whose government provides Colombia with some $600 million a year in military aid.

Writing two days before his death, Reyes tells his secretariat comrades that “the gringos,” working through Ecuador’s government, are interested “in talking to us on various issues.”

“They say the new president of their country will be (Barack) Obama,” noting that Obama rejects both the Bush administration’s free trade agreement with Colombia and the current military aid program.

Is this enough information to make actual links between the terrorists of FARC and Barack Obama? It doesn't appear so, but it does send a sign that these rebels are actively cheering for an Obama Presidency. Support from terrorist groups should force Americans to take a second look at Barack Obama, and hopefully reject him.

Enter a new flurry of tags above to describe where one of the world's next war may be. Hugo Chavez is proving his radicalism by sending troops to the Colombian border, to protest the elimination of a leader of the terrorist group FARC. He's of course making it a him vs. America issue. According to FOX News, the potential conflict is expanding:

CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez ordered tanks and thousands of troops on Sunday to the border with Colombia, accusing it of pushing South America to the brink of war by killing a top rebel leader on Ecuadorean soil.

Denouncing Colombia's slaying of the rebel commander in a cross-border raid into Ecuador, Chavez said Venezuela will respond militarily if Colombia violates its border. He ordered Venezuela's embassy in Bogota closed.

Ecuador's president, Rafael Correa, also ordered troops to the Colombian border, withdrew his government's ambassador from Bogota and ordered Colombia's top diplomat expelled.

FARC is a drug-trafficking, murdering terrorist group. Hugo Chavez is a democracy-despising murdering thug. It's a match made in heaven. The Colombian government is a democratically elected government with the backing of the United States. Enter the Chavez propaganda machine:

"Mr. Defense Minister, move 10 battalions to the border with Colombia for me, immediately — tank battalions. Deploy the air force," Chavez said during his weekly TV and radio program. "We don't want war, but we aren't going to permit the U.S. empire, which is the master (of Colombia) ... to come divide us."

Simply put, I believe this is all for show, but a bunch of socialist tyrants sending troops to the borders of a U.S. ally should not be taken lightly. If Chavez wants to play this game, he needs not to object when a flurry of U.S. cruise missiles come crashing into government and military facilities in and around Caracas. Have we heard anything but silence from the United Nations on this issue?

Bump to the Top: Venezuela News & Views is liveblogging election results in Venezuela. It appears that if the anti-Chavez faction won, Chavez is going to steal it anyways. Stay tuned over there to get the latest.

Today the country of Venezuela votes to accept dictatorship or Democracy, and we can all hope it's a fair election. No word yet on our supposed coup. Michelle Malkin has some news on Hugo's power-grab, including poll numbers, a report from inside Venezuela, and the latest wire report:

President Hugo Chavez would take on expanded powers and no longer face term limits under sweeping constitutional changes being considered by Venezuelans Sunday in a contentious vote that has raised tensions in South America’s top oil exporter.

An emboldened opposition and recent violent clashes involving protesters point to a potentially volatile dispute if the vote is close, as some pollsters predict.

Lines snaked outside polling stations as voting began. Voters were awakened in Caracas by fireworks exploding in the pre-dawn sky and reveille blaring from speakers mounted on cruising trucks.

“This is transcendental day for Venezuela,” voter Raul Perez said, without revealing whether he was voting “yes” or “no.”

A yes vote means that Chavez will have no term limits, expanded executive authorities (some of which will help him shut down opposition), and an extended term from 6 to 7 years. A yes vote will basically set Chavez on a path to lifelong power. All eyes on Venezuela...