Publisher/editor Miguel Salazar has dedicated his weekly column to the situation inside the Bolivarian Armed Force (FAB). Salazar suggests that President Chavez make a surprise visit to some of the garrisons to see for himself the abandonment and indiscipline currently in force. There is a general malaise inside the FAB, the journalist states, for several reasons, such as a lack of equipment, shoes and uniforms in good condition, lack of transport and in border areas a lack of air cover in operations. In a hard-hitting editorial, Salazar confirms what he cites as an atmosphere of anarchy where many commanders have no troops to order since many soldiers go to the garrisons when they feel like it. Indiscipline has caused an increase in officers wanting to retire because of low salaries, working conditions and party political interference.Miguel Salazar also states that he has information that a recent aborted military revolt against President Chavez was headed by a woman naval (Armada) officer, a top air force (FAV) officer and a commander of armored unit.
Opening the International Tourist Fair Venezuela (Fitven 2008), President Chavez insists that tourism be considered an economic activity seeking to preserve ecological balance and the interests of the Venezuelan people. Chavez proclaims that Venezuela is " socializing tourism" and pushing not just for tourism of the elites but popular and social tourism. The President says it's in the government's interest to see millions of Venezuelans visiting the Orinoco and getting to know their own country.
Reflecting on the USA's economic and financial crisis, President Chavez quips that some models the US government is employing to rescue its financial sector show clear signs that it is on the road to Socialism. The President made the remark during the opening of the international tourist fair in Bolivar State. 10 years ago, Chavez recalls, the policy was to privatize everything and to keep the State at its minimum expression, whereas now the US State has had to come out to save private banks. "Comrade Bush has had to make decisions like Vladimir Lenin and everybody is asking whether the US is on the road to Socialism ... I have the answer, 'yes, sir!' ... one day the United States will go for Socialism ... I have no doubt about it."
Spokespersons for the government have called on opposition media not to make political capital out of the death of opposition student leader, Julio Soto in Maracaibo two days ago. National Assembly (AN) deputy, Mario Isea accuses the El Nacional broadsheet of promoting lies and slander against the State and its institutions. In the wake of Soto's death the broadsheet has splashed headlines stating that students and university authorities in Zulia and Tachira States accuse the national executive of fomenting a civil war in Venezuela. On reading further news inside the newspaper, Isea maintains, the headline is only the opinion of the Los Andres University Students Federation president and not university authorities.
Fellow AN deputy and journalist, Earle Herrera has criticized the opposition 24-hour TV news outlet, Globovision for "spreading lies against State institutions" after it accused the National Assembly of supposedly approving the territorial ordinance and administration law at the dead of midnight. Herrera points out that the law was passed at 7.30 on Tuesday night in the presence of the media and camera crews. The journalist says Globovision is using the strategy of spreading lies publicly and then trying to retract through interviews with some sources that it should have consulted beforehand. The journalist also slams the National College of Journalists (CNP) for failing to react to such practices and calls the CNP president a "flunky of Globovision."
Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro is currently in Paris where he is heading the second high-level meeting between France and Venezuela as well as a joint meeting of cultural, scientific and technological cooperation. According to an official press release, Venezuela seeks to strengthen bilateral relations with France, which he calls a strategic partner within the framework of cooperation, integration and multipolarity. Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe, Alejandro Fleming and French counterpart, Elizabeth Beton will preside over one of work sessions relating to political dialogue.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.
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