A Distinction That Is, In Fact, a Difference

I have always viewed the military in Latin America with trepidation, notwithstanding the fact that Mercia's family has several graduates of Agulhas Negras, Brazil's equivalent to West Point. Latin America's history is littered with caudillos and coups, inevitably to the detriment of civil society.

I do not believe that, with a few notable exceptions, Latin America needs a significant military presence. Spending on the military reduces available funds for infrastructure, education and other programs that are necessary for development.

So, despite the give and take tugging between the US and Venezuela that permeates this article in Tuesday's New York Times, I find a great deal of comfort with this paragraph:

But Mr. Chávez may have overplayed his hand by suggesting the creation of a NATO-like alliance and a common Mercosur army. That proposal was not well received in the four original member countries, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, all of which endured military dictatorships in the 1970’s that committed major rights violations, and Mr. Vázquez said in the interview that the idea did not interest him.

This is what may be Chavez's Achille's heel that many of his fans on the left seem loathe to acknowledge: at his heart he's a military man and as such never had to suffer under the oppressive military dictatorships that so many of his fellow presidents did. I'm not surprised that his suggestion was poorly received and I wouldn't be surprised if that is an understatement.

Comments

[luke]

I agree. Costa Rica and Panama have abolished their militaries without noticeable detriment ...

[wronski]

Patience with Chavez is wearing a bit thin in the region (except in Bolivia, it seems). In Brazil he is somewhat of a liability to Lula (but not a millstone-around-the-neck as he was for Obrador, since this time he decided not to endorse anyone openly).

Lula also has been somewhat cooler towards Chavez lately, likely because he sees Chavez as trying to usurp a regional leadership role Lula feels is rightfully his.

Venezuela's arms buying spree is not yet seen as threatening (maybe in Colombia), but I think it is a colossal waste of money. They don't seem to serve any strategic purpose other than further inflating Chavez's ego (who seems to think he is some sort of diplmatic heavyweight). Unless of course one believes either that the 'the yanks are coming' or that Venezula has expansionist plans. There are plenty of conspirazoids followers of both theories, though.

[]s Bruno
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