Monday, October 17, 2005
False legitimacy
For those who believe that Hugo Chavez is merely a misunderstood populist, this photograph strikes me as evidence against him. Here is Chavez joyfully embracing Robert Mugabe, one of the most reprehensible people in the world still charged with actually running a country. If Chavez wants to be taken seriously by the serious countries of the world, he should stop embracing the world's leading dirtbags. But perhaps he feels he has some spare legitimacy to spread around -- Mugabe certainly needs all he can get. In any case, Chavez obviously -- and unfortunately correctly -- believes that his supporters will only love him all the more for his endorsement of Mugabe.The occasion for this lovefest is, of course, a United Nations event, specifically the 60th anniversary celebrations of the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome. Robert Mugabe, whose agricultural policies are starving his own people, is using the opportunity of the United Nations food organization anniversary celebrations to attack the United States:
Mugabe denounced U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair as 'unholy men' on Monday, comparing them to fascist leaders trying to dominate the world.
Of course, Mugabe says this sort of nonsense all the time, but he only gets worldwide press coverage when the United Nations gives him a stage from which to yell. If the United Nations was a force for good in the world, its Food and Agriculture Organization would attack Mugabe rather than giving him a megaphone.
UPDATE: Little Green Footballs has more, including a link to the full BBC story on Mugabe's speech, for which he received an ovation.
2 Comments:
By 
, at
Tue Oct 18, 08:30:00 AM:
Two tyrants who deserve each other - Mugabe and Chavez.
By 
Fausta, at
Thu Oct 20, 03:59:00 PM:
I predicted last month that Mugabe will be retiring to Cuba -- since he predicted he'll retire in 2008.
If Castro's not around by then, it'll be Venezuela for Robert.
