Hugo Chavez, unwitting friend to America
Juan Forero has a story in the New York Times about how Latin American countries are starting to rebel against a loudmouthed bully — and we’re not talking about the United States here: As Venezuela’s president, Hugo Ch?vez, insinuates himself deeper in the politics of his region, something of a backlash is building among his ...
Juan Forero has a story in the New York Times about how Latin American countries are starting to rebel against a loudmouthed bully -- and we're not talking about the United States here: As Venezuela's president, Hugo Ch?vez, insinuates himself deeper in the politics of his region, something of a backlash is building among his neighbors. Mr. Ch?vez ? stridently anti-American, leftist and never short on words ? has cast himself as spokesman for a united Latin America free of Washington's influence. He has backed Bolivia's recent gas nationalization, set up his own Socialist trade bloc and jumped into the middle of disputes between his neighbors, even when no one has asked. Some nations are beginning to take umbrage. The mere association with Mr. Ch?vez has helped reverse the leads of presidential candidates in Mexico and Peru. Officials from Mexico to Nicaragua, Peru and Brazil have expressed rising impatience at what they see as Mr. Ch?vez's meddling and grandstanding, often at their expense. Read the whole thing. The Economist has more on Chavez's meddling in Peru: According to the pollsters most Peruvians dislike Mr Ch?vez and his meddling. One poll, by Apoyo, found that only 17% had a positive view of him, and 75% disapproved of his comments. Only 23% approved of Mr Morales, and 61% objected to his calling Peru's outgoing president, Alejandro Toledo, a ?traitor? for signing a free-trade agreement with the United States. Both articles suggest that Mr. Ch?vez shows no sign of stopping his self-defeating behavior. As a citizen of the United States, I, for one, would like to thank Mr. Chavez for his antics -- keep it up, Hugo!!
Juan Forero has a story in the New York Times about how Latin American countries are starting to rebel against a loudmouthed bully — and we’re not talking about the United States here:
As Venezuela’s president, Hugo Ch?vez, insinuates himself deeper in the politics of his region, something of a backlash is building among his neighbors. Mr. Ch?vez ? stridently anti-American, leftist and never short on words ? has cast himself as spokesman for a united Latin America free of Washington’s influence. He has backed Bolivia’s recent gas nationalization, set up his own Socialist trade bloc and jumped into the middle of disputes between his neighbors, even when no one has asked. Some nations are beginning to take umbrage. The mere association with Mr. Ch?vez has helped reverse the leads of presidential candidates in Mexico and Peru. Officials from Mexico to Nicaragua, Peru and Brazil have expressed rising impatience at what they see as Mr. Ch?vez’s meddling and grandstanding, often at their expense.
Read the whole thing. The Economist has more on Chavez’s meddling in Peru:
According to the pollsters most Peruvians dislike Mr Ch?vez and his meddling. One poll, by Apoyo, found that only 17% had a positive view of him, and 75% disapproved of his comments. Only 23% approved of Mr Morales, and 61% objected to his calling Peru’s outgoing president, Alejandro Toledo, a ?traitor? for signing a free-trade agreement with the United States.
Both articles suggest that Mr. Ch?vez shows no sign of stopping his self-defeating behavior. As a citizen of the United States, I, for one, would like to thank Mr. Chavez for his antics — keep it up, Hugo!!
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner
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