(Este post está en español aquí)
According to a formerly influential Chavista theorist Heinz Dieterich, Washington is planning to “checkmate” Chavez and his revolution in 2010. Dieterich who has been critical lately of the revolution, but is no longer heard as much, has been saying this for over a year and continues to expand his theory as events develop.
According to Dieterich, the checkmate plan includes:
-Military coup against Chavez in Honduras (Jeez…)
-Lula and Mercosur are now on the side of the US
-Use Colombia to militarily weaken and attack Venezuela
Dieterich now says that what happened in Honduras is the second “military coup” against Chavez, the difference being that this one will weaken Chavez and lead him to an electoral defeat in 2010.
According to Dieterich, even Chavez’ “intellectuals” are telling the Venezuelan President that his model is incapable of stopping the advance of this “imperialist and oligarchic” project.
Dieterich says that the worsening of the President’s international position, the Uribe military advance, the incontrolable inflation and dysfunctional economic policy, the opposition electoral block which has 40% of the population and the media power of the “right” present the needed framework so that all conditions are there for the 2010 defeat.
Well, it would seem to me that just with the dysfunctional economy and 40% of the population, the stage would be set for a Chavez defeat, but somehow these guys always see a conspiracy somewhere (or want to blame it on something else) The problem is that this type of criticism is not taken well by Chavismo. Chavez already criticized the “intellectuals” that Dieterich refers to in his article and looking through the pages of aporrea to see if the original article was there, I only found an article in which the author wonders why Dieterich decided to start attacking Chavez and the revolution.
Dieterich closes by saying that just like in 2002 the Captain of the ship no longer wants to see the tip of the iceberg…
The Devil's Excrement 
July 28, 2009 at 1:45 am
It seems to me the most effective action that the US could take is to start weaning itself away from Venezuelan oil. The details of how this could be achieved I would leave to the experts, but there surely is a way. Pressure of various kinds could be put on Citgo. It should be started now while prices are relatively low, and Chavez is still dependent on US refineries for his heavy crude. it might not be pain-free for the US in the short term, but its long -term benefits could be incalculable.
July 26, 2009 at 9:24 am
The preceeding editorial marks a milestone for US-Venezuela relations. Can reality trump Chavez’ oil power? It’s all a matter of priorities for the US… note how others (DPRK, Iran) are ratcheting up a notch. Chavez does say the truth when he’s not lying for a clash with the US is inevitable and Chavez is soley to blame.
July 26, 2009 at 9:19 am
From delusional Dietrich to harsh reality:
http://www.ibdeditorial.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=333327767981821
July 25, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Chavez’s biggest enemy is Chavez! Or if not Chavez then the guy who is telling him to destroy PdVSA and squander the money on everything but improving Venezuela! You could not ask for a better sabatour. The US response, just a more LatAm politic than most are use to. No more of that cowboy crap.
July 25, 2009 at 10:22 pm
… Lula and Mercosur are now on the side of the US“
Someone please tell Mr Dieterich, Lula is only faking he sides with US. He is just like any other leftist. His talk is smooth until the time will come…
July 25, 2009 at 9:19 pm
WOW! FANTASTIC!
July 25, 2009 at 9:10 pm
No only that, but this is a follow up to Bush’s plan, which is being continued by Obama, hard to believe no?
July 25, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Implicit in the Dietrich’s analysis is the fact that Obama’s administration (read Hillary) had YET decided AND PLANNED the chavez’s end.
And at the same moment, that JUST USA can liberate us from chavez.
Not sure about both, but interesting questions, isn’t?
July 25, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Well thats strange. I am an American who gets the feeling that Obama emulates Chavez, his first instinct is leftist too. He took sides against Honduras when it removed its corrupt President, just as Chavez did.
But these people always nee enemies to distract the population from whats really going on. Don’t notice the food shortage, look at big bad America. Don’t wonder about the lack of jobs, blame those dastardly opposition leaders. Don’t look at whats happening with the state oil company and banks, look at the terrible threatening nation of Colombia.
Never mind that Colombia has no tanks, we will double ours.