Tall & Rich

Raul Baduel, Hugo Chavez’ former Defense Minister and friend issued a warning to the world about Chavez’ intentions on Globovision, the remaining independent Venezuelan broadcaster. The warning was translated on El Universal;

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is looking for an international conflict in an attempt at refreshing popularity and postpone local elections next November, said former Defense Minister, General Raúl Baduel.

“What happens in Bolivia is the Bolivians’ own business,” the ex senior officer told private news TV channel Globivisión, and added that the agreements entered into by Bolivia and Venezuela involve the military only in activities tied to development instead of belligerent operations.

Chávez repeated on Thursday that he would not remain “arm crossed if the empire and its tokens” succeed in dividing Bolivia and held responsibility in advance for any future meddling in the Bolivian internal affairs.

No one knows Chavez better than Baduel, who can be personally credited with Chavez’ constitutional referendum failing and probably prevented Chavez from seizing the government and establishing a dictatorship after the referendum failed. After a string of failures as an international power broker using Venezuela’s petro-cash and piling up caches of weapons using Venezuela’s petro-cash, Chavez’ ego needs a coupla victories.