UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001594

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA
AMEMBASSY FOR PAO, IO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO CI VE PREL
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION -


On July 27, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record
"El Mercurio" (circ. 116,807) carried an editorial
"Chavista Agitation." Quote:

"Hugo Chavez is trying to expand his "Bolivarian
Revolution" beyond Venezuela's borders...by trying to
impose his leadership on other Latin American leaders--
except Lula da Silva in Brazil and Fidel Castro, whom he
has called `brothers'--and by supporting indigenous
communities on the continent that promote armed
struggle.... The main target of Chavez' international
attack is the U.S. government, which he defies with his
oil policy and by proclaiming that his armed forces are
anti-imperialist and anti-colonialist.... He accompanies
this belligerence with a massive weapons purchase, the
creation of a `Territorial Guard' formed of armed
civilians...plans to expand the military reserves to two
million...and by announcing the expropriation of over one
thousand private companies.... To this he adds the
strengthening of the agrarian reform...and the reform of
Central Bank laws to permit access to USD six billion of
international reserves."

KELLY