The Book
In praise of Blogging the Revolution
“Caracas Chronicles has been an indispensable source of lucidity and perspective in these turbulent times in Venezuela. Toro and Nagel have been right on target, without pretending to be ludicrously impartial; they have been able to rise above polarization, trying hard to make sense of an often implausible reality. Blogging the Revolution shows them at their best. If you are not already a fan, you will become one.”
- Francisco J. Monaldi, RFK Visiting Professor at Harvard Kennedy School and Director, Center on Energy at IESA in Caracas.Recent Comments
NET on Reading the god-given tea… Canucklehead on Diosdado IS chavismo Joe Schmoe on Diosdado IS chavismo billl bass on Reading the god-given tea… feathers on Diosdado IS chavismo Canucklehead on Diosdado IS chavismo Boludo Tejano on Diosdado IS chavismo Pandita on Reading the god-given tea… Faust on THIS is why chavismo can… Faust on THIS is why chavismo can… Popular Now
-
Category Archives: Military
More goons, please
Violence in Caracas reached new highs in April, and the numbers so far from May aren’t much better. Given this scenario, Nicolás Maduro announced this week that the Armed Forces would participate in a special security plan. In his words, … Continue reading
Posted in Military, Nicolas Maduro, Society, Violence
34 Comments
The tweets are God-given
What was Diosdado Cabello saying with these tweets? Was he interpreting the unease with which the military received these “results”? Was he undermining the weak Maduro? The floor is open for wild speculation.
Posted in Diosdado Cabello, Military
22 Comments
PSUV’s Mobilization Not So Militarized After All
So, that Analisis24.com story on PSUV’s voter mobilization plans stuck on my mind. At the end of the story, the site – which seems to have cornered the market for juicy government leaks to the point of allegedly being firewalled … Continue reading
Posted in Chavismo, Military, Politics, Presidential Election
Tagged Mobilization, PSUV
223 Comments
How can people this inept win? By militarizing the mobilization effort, that’s how!
For those of you keeping score at home, this is what Campaign 2013 is about according to Planet Maduro: The hateful opposition deserves our vengeance, love is the greatest form of socialist resolve, with Maduro peace will be assured, we … Continue reading
Posted in Military, Nicolas Maduro, Politics, Presidential Election
101 Comments
Preparing for the wrong conflict
The new Defense Minister Diego Molero Bellavia visited this week the new missile complex of Paraguaná (located near the Josefa Camejo Airport) and told reporters it will be ready in 2013. The new base, armed with the Russian S-125 Neva/Pechorawill … Continue reading
Posted in In Other News, Military, Violence
7 Comments
Things to do in Miraflores before leaving for surgery
Before his departure to Cuba, the comandante presidente finally swore in the new Defense Minister Admiral Diego Molero Bellavia late Sunday night. The official ceremony was delayed for weeks and ended up being more intimate than the usual military tradition. … Continue reading
Posted in In Other News, Military, Politics, The Economy
46 Comments
Where’s Waldo? (Hint: Not in Brazil)
The point of my “Where’s Waldo?” posts, which I started a few weeks back, was to keep track of Hugo Chávez’s increasingly rare public appearances. These posts, however, are no fun if the President simply vanishes. As of today, Hugo … Continue reading
Posted in Chavez cancer, International, Military, Nicolas Maduro
33 Comments
Twenty years of that
Few people alive in Venezuela twenty years ago will forget November 27th, 1992. That day, we woke up to another coup d’etat attempt, only this one was happening right above our rooftops. Watching this video, I have to wonder – … Continue reading
Posted in Military
31 Comments
Another one for the “Where’s Waldo?” files
The new Defense Minister, Admiral Diego Molero Bellavia was named fifteen days ago via phone call, after his predecessor Henry Rangel Silva was sent to Trujillo. He’s still waiting for his official swearing-in ceremony in Fuerte Tiuna, but that’s on … Continue reading
Posted in In Other News, Military, Politics
6 Comments
New budget = New military toys
The Chavernment presented this week its blueprint for the 2013 National Budget, which includes a huge total: 396.406 Millions of Bs. (33% higher than its predecessor). FONDEN and the other parallel funds will have no problem, as the price of … Continue reading
Posted in Military, The Economy
10 Comments
El honor no se divisa
On one of my recent trips to Caracas, my bags took about two hours to get from the plane to the baggage belt. I asked the folks from the airline about it, and they simply shrugged, saying, “the National Guard … Continue reading
Posted in Military
46 Comments
Psych-ops
In an interesting press conference today, Henrique Capriles said, among other things, that he has already selected a Minister of Defense, but he won’t say his name because … he is an active General! Talk about psyching out your opponents … Continue reading
Posted in Military
71 Comments
Just 3.5% in kickbacks?! Man, those Navantia guys are tough…
What does it say about Venezuela that when I read this story about Spanish shipbuilder Navantia paying €42 million in kickbacks for the contract to build those eight Venezuelan navy ships (one of which, alas, already ran aground off the … Continue reading
Dragunovs in Hell
According to one press report, inmates involved in last weekend’s Yare I riot had at least 100 assault rifles (!!), an M60 machine gun (500 rounds per minute to you and me), a number of grenades, some plastic explosives and several Dragunov sniper rifles. How … Continue reading
Bolivarian Navy’s mysterious accident
The Brazilian press is reporting that this Venezuelan Navy ship ran aground near the port of Fortaleza last Friday. The PC-22 patrol vessel “Warao” was about to take part in joint exercises with the Brazilian Navy. Another Venezuelan patrol vessel, the PC-24 “Kariña” … Continue reading
Posted in In Other News, International, Military
