Chavez’s doctor wants him to shut up too
Over the years, a lot of people have wanted Venezuela’s loquacious president Hugo Chavez to just be quiet for a minute. The King of Spain even said “shut up” to his face one time. Now, even Chavez’s own doctor wants him to pipe down. The president will not be silenced though: “I am a little ...
Over the years, a lot of people have wanted Venezuela's loquacious president Hugo Chavez to just be quiet for a minute. The King of Spain even said "shut up" to his face one time. Now, even Chavez's own doctor wants him to pipe down. The president will not be silenced though:
"I am a little affected by the intensive, continuous and permanent use of this cannon I've got here and the doctor has told me not to talk," Chavez said to audience laughter.
Over the years, a lot of people have wanted Venezuela’s loquacious president Hugo Chavez to just be quiet for a minute. The King of Spain even said “shut up” to his face one time. Now, even Chavez’s own doctor wants him to pipe down. The president will not be silenced though:
“I am a little affected by the intensive, continuous and permanent use of this cannon I’ve got here and the doctor has told me not to talk,” Chavez said to audience laughter.
Chavez immediately responded that silence was not the best medicine for him.
“I said ‘listen friend, do what you can but how am I going to follow this treatment?’ Three days without talking? I lasted one, not even one,” Chavez said at the start of a television show he presents every week.
Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images
Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating
More from Foreign Policy


Lessons for the Next War
Twelve experts weigh in on how to prevent, deter, and—if necessary—fight the next conflict.


It’s High Time to Prepare for Russia’s Collapse
Not planning for the possibility of disintegration betrays a dangerous lack of imagination.


Turkey Is Sending Cold War-Era Cluster Bombs to Ukraine
The artillery-fired cluster munitions could be lethal to Russian troops—and Ukrainian civilians.


Congrats, You’re a Member of Congress. Now Listen Up.
Some brief foreign-policy advice for the newest members of the U.S. legislature.