Chavez offers neighbours oil for local products - 22 Dec 07

[babykin8]

It's funny to read some of these comments now. I wonder how many of you that think that Chavez is a "freedom fighter" would say that (truthfully) now. especially the idiot that was "aligned" with him in the earlier post.

So uninformed...

[hmhbanal]

Chavez really hates Americans. He called them "Yankees" instead. It should be a formal speech. Sin verguenza.

[IceyPancho]

Hugo Chavez is not anti-American, he is against anglo-saxon hegemony. He's not against me, he's aligned with me.

[powerball08]

I admire hugo Chavez he is the greatest president in modern history. What would the world be like without him. He is kind as he is brillant.

[DonFamoso]

Long Live Don Simon Bolivar and Betances Puerto Rico should move towards our brothers and sisters in Latin America. We are part of Latin America!

[sgelles]

another great thing that chavez is doing is offering heating oil on the cheap to economically underprivileged u.s. families through citgo which is owned by the venezuelan government. how ironic is it that the wealthiest country in the world cannot adequately provide heating to its own citizens ?! how ironic that the poor of the richest country in the world must depend on the generosity of a developing foreign country for their heating?!

[bbproductionsLA]

I notice the rich don't like Chavez and the poor love him.

hmmmmm......

[Willboamos]

I see Al Jazeera is still the best shrill for Dictators and Jihadists

[geoffreyphilip]

Oh yeah, and they support terrorism too, big time.

[bbproductionsLA]

how? on educating people about reality?

I don't see this channel swaying anyone to this side or the other, but they do put light on topics that corrupt media conveniently ignore.

won't you tell me a channel less bias than Al Jazeera

[adeart7]

That's so stupid. I bet you were one of those who believed that Obama was a terrorist.

[kschumannjr]

Who would have thought Venezuela and Cuba would be the catalyst behind South America's financial and global ascent? Chavez should be commended, for he has single handedly shown every country that they need not wait for hand outs from America.

[ParsleyS0da]

Why are Castro and Chavez demonized by the West? I find it strange how these "evil" people have so much support...

[sgelles]

chavez isn't perfect but he is doing some very great things.

[Darwinek]

Support Hugo Chávez!

[mchigubu]

Excellent job Hugo Chavez! You are helping the poor, underclass, marginalized developing countries to help themselves. It is sad to see Haiti going through extreme poverty while situated in the backyard of a super power! Good job Hugo Chavez, keep helping the poor, and God will richly honor your kind heart! Please extend your help to Africa's poor! We need oil, NOT guns!

[msgg81]

Chaves is another scum like bush who is using oil to buy friends from third world countries.

So he is doing nothing great.

[dreamness1]

absolutely correct!

[codediporpal]

My, how things have changed.  If it were the 50's the US would crushed Chavez in a coup to denationalize the vast oil in Venezuela.

[skinnychef]

interesting point. why is he still sitting president when the school of the americas is cranking out trained assassins all the time? why is he "immune?"

[sgelles]

the u.s. has become increasingly weaker every year since 1975. it no longer has the power to topple its enemies in latin america although it has definitely tried. remember the failed coup against chavez in 2002? and you don't think the u.s. has a hand in what's happening in bolivia right now?

[jimmycater2]

He is not immune but he stoped sending his troops to the school of americas when he came to office and the ones that went there are now purged from the armed forces

[DoJaenin]

... it's not as if they haven't tried.

[RG415WBFAA]

Hugo Chavez is a socialist. He is not great, but he is great compared to President Bush.

[jimmycater2]

Chavez is great he exports Oli to thrid world countries for cheap while Bush exports daisy cutters and napam to kill innocent people in IRaq

[msgg81]

thats right

[mkspence]

The gringos are buying half of Venezuela's oil exports, which provides large amounts of foreign exchange.

The Venezuelan government can use its foreign earnings however it pleases, but if those earnings begin to decline, they may no longer be able to afford programs like these.

It's happened before to other OPEC nations over the past ~35 years; sudden spikes in income followed by long, deep troughs. Saudi Arabia, for example.

[paulb0188]

correct, however the infrastructure Venezuela is investing in will continue to pay off economically after they have been completed. Also, Venezuela unlike Saudi Arabia is making a real attempt at social development.

[IceyPancho]

Yes, this is why it is important for Venezuela to diversify its client base as well as their economy, which it is already doing. Before Hugo Chavez there were these kinds of attitudes: "Ten years from now, twenty years from now, you will see: oil will bring us ruin.' juan Pablo Perez Alfonso, former oil minister, from the Age of Turbulence by alan Greenspan.

Chavez has turned oil into a source of pride and transformation. Is it any wonder why he's won 3 elections quite handily?