Bin Laden and Chavez: With friends like these... .. .

[Dissident Heart]

Well, Bin Laden managed to include Noam Chomsky's name is his recent missive to the West describing Professor Chomsky as "among one of the most capable of those from your own side". Remember a year ago when Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez addressed the UN when he brought along a copy of Chomsky's Hegemony or Survival saying:Quote:it an "excellent book to help us understand what has been happening in the world throughout the 20th century," Mr. Chavez added, "I think that the first people who should read this book are our brothers and sisters in the United States, because their threat is right in their own house."Thoughts?

[JulianTheApostate]

Here's my opinion of Chavez. I like the fact that he's spending much of his nation's oil riches to improve the well-being of his poorest citizens. However, I condemn his suppression of civil liberties and his efforts to become ruler-for-life. In other words, his leftist beliefs don't bother me, but his abuse of power does.As another way of looking at things, George Bush and Hugo Chavez shared certain major faults: grabbing excess executive power and limiting the freedoms of their citizens. However, Bush is probably the worse of the two leaders, since he invaded Iraq and pursued economic policies that increase poverty.

[Dissident Heart]

In other words, his leftist beliefs don't bother me, but his abuse of power does...George Bush and Hugo Chavez share certain major faults: grabbing excess executive power and limiting the freedoms of their citizens.

Perhaps, no matter what your beliefs, the acquistion of power will trump your convictions? In other words, powerful roles diminish one's ability to embody ideals and principles...the most powerful positions thereby the most diminishing?

Those in positions of expansive leadership choose a script that will best animate/sedate their audience: any script will do, as long as it highlights the victim status of the audience, the ominous threat of a less-than human enemy, and the essential power of the leader to deliver the goods...restoration of dignity, position, safety and power to the audience.

I am deeply suspicious of mainstream analysis regarding Chavez, Ahmadinejad, even Bin Laden. Too often the supposedly independent minds of journalists and news writers mirrors and mimics whatever the Administration deems pertinent and true. When the State and Media scripts converge (no matter the subject) my skepticism flares up and looks for what is left out of the description and discussion.

What is almost always left out is our role in the current crises: the mistakes and crimes committed by the current and preceding Administrations (and the many arms of the globally expansive military industrial complex). Our side of the street is never examined. The felonies and flaws of our enemies distract us from our own...we are innocent victims forced to resort to violence by completely irrational madmen who threaten everything we hold dear.