Chávez’s Threats of War

It seems inconceivable – but it is true- the way in which Venezuelan dictator, Ltd. Col. Hugo Chávez, expresses himself in terms of his challenge and threats against Colombia. Likewise, also in a direct way he addresses the United States of America and even President Barack Obama. He has called upon his “fellow soldiers” publicly, in a way totally incompatible with the military and political history of the world, to tell them in front of TV cameras and of numerous followers seated listening to him that they must prepare for war with Colombia and even with the United States.

What is happening repeatedly, although it has the insolent characteristics of international political blunders, must be seriously considered by the governments of the world and by the U.N. Security Council which the Colombian government is officially approaching. This is not the first time in history that defiance and insanities of this nature have unleashed a war or huge conflict because they were not addressed in time. Proportions considered, it must be remembered that World War II happened because of the madness and foolishness of Adolf Hitler which at first was considered to be inconceivable, but that brought about a terrible universal hecatomb. The initial indifference toward Hitler’s attitude, because it was deemed incompatible with the physical and political realities of the world, reached the extreme of causing a huge war, unprecedented in the history of the world.

So many are the provocations of the Venezuelan ruler, that no matter how incompatible they might seem with reality, they should not go unnoticed and, therefore, should be seriously considered by the nations of the free world, especially by the republics of the inter-American system. And the complaint that the government of Colombia is presenting before the OAS and the U.N. Security Council should be considered seriously and immediately. Perhaps Chávez makes these threats believing that the international organizations will stop him. But if those organizations do not act, there is a risk that he might consider that he has to do something and he might start a war within the scope allowed by the circumstances. Afterwards, we might see an international reaction, but the initial harm – albeit not permanent – would already be done.