José Alberto López Rafaschieri and Luis Alberto López Rafaschieri
www.morochos.net
Chavez names new Defense Minister a man that is being accused by Washington, since 2008, of aiding drug traffickers and arming rebels in neighboring Colombia, a decision that have implications in the domestic politics and in the international sphere.
In this occasion, our interest will be the external side of the designation of General Henry Rangel Silva as Defense Ministry, particularly in the USA-Venezuela relations.
The United States spent millions of dollars, annually, combating illegal drug production and guerrillas in Colombia, two linked issues. Part of this war is the identification of region's government officials that support the groups involved in these criminal activities, and according to the U.S. intelligence services, the mentioned Venezuelan general is one of them.
In that context, if the Venezuelan government names Defense Minister the same man accused by Washington as enemy of its cause in Colombia, the obvious reading is that Chavez have the intention of disrupting the relations with the White House.
Hypothetically, how we would understand the designation of a Defense Minister in Canada accused to be an al-Qaeda collaborator? As an act of hostility against USA that will affect the bilateral relations, without doubts. Why would it be different with Venezuela?
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