Polemic and controversial Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has constantly been in the limelight over the past several years. As a man with obvious poor tact when it comes to speaking he often makes serious mistakes that have led to charges of anti-semitism. The people he has aligned himself with also aren't the best, from Mugabe to Ahmedinajad whose brutal murder based "reelection" he praised.
Chavez has even revisited the past, claiming that he thinks that Ugandan Dictator Idi Amin was probably a great nationalist and Carlos the Jackal the mastermind of the Munich Olympic Massacre was a freedom fighter. He hasn't been to kind to our president either, comparing him to Bush in his kindest moments.
Chavez has landed himself in more hot water today as he cut off all relations with neighboring Colombia after a putdown reminiscent of Obama's revelation of Iran's secret Nuclear Sites.
At a meeting of the Organization of American States the Colombian Government revelead aerial and sattelite photos of supposed terrorist camps operating in Venezuela, obtained with the help of United States intelligence.
Chavez who faces major economic issues both in the form of food shortagesand energy shortages, had already decided to cut off trade with its biggest partner following a dispute in 2008. The result has been nearly catastrophic for the small nation as it has had to import most of it's food via ship. Nonetheless Chavez has still been able to afford record arms purchases.
The refusal by Chavez to allow any kind of independent investigation into the now international accusation is a very big risk. Even President Obama can not deny the mounting evidence against Hugo's Regime.
Hugo Chavez would also face a major battle if he began the War he has constantly been threatening. His popularity and poll numbers are at rock bottom even amongst the poor and the military. And Venezuela's unexperienced force of 83,000 pales in the face of Colombia's 250,000 combat and jungle warfare experienced army. Even with all the advanced Russian technology the Venezuelan Army would face a tought battle.
Ultimately it looks like Chavez's influence is waning not only at home but internationally. As his popularity and rhetoric continue to fall on deaf ears, and as Oliver Stone's South of The Border bombs within his own nation it seems that all of Chavez friends are far too afraid of being labeled supporters of the FARC so they rather not back him up on this one.
