Chavez decree strengthens pro-government militias

[Bacchus39]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110323/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_venezuela_militias


CARACAS, Venezuela – New rules authorizing Venezuela's military to distribute weapons to pro-government militias took effect Tuesday, raising concern among critics who say the armed groups could be used by President Hugo Chavez to cement his hold on power.

Rocio San Miguel, an anti-Chavez activist who heads Citizen Control for Security, a non-governmental group that studies military-related issues, said the decree could allow Chavez to turn the militias into "the armed branch of the revolution."

Militiamen had previously been trained to use firearms, but were not issued weapons. They used firearms only in training exercises and military parades under the strict supervision of military officers.
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In December, a lame-duck congress dominated by Chavez's allies swiftly granted the president special legislative powers for 18 months, prompting an outcry from opposition politicians who were elected to the National Assembly three months earlier.

[naaman fletcher]

1. More and more like W

1. Outsource to china
2. go into debt
3. Be a gun nut...


There are some other similarities but I forget at the moment.

[joshcryer]

2. Disconcerting to say the least.