If I was certain the Hugo Chavez had sufficient command of idiomatic English, I would believe that he as having us on.
While accusing America of planning an invasion, he must, of necessity, also announce the readying of Venezuelan forces.
No one, not even Chavez, expects to win in a face-to-face confrontation with American firepower, but like Iraq with the Americans and Afghanistan with the Russians, he can deny them the comfort of their spoils.
Chavez will first try opposition in the court of public opinion. It did not help Saddam, but this is Chavez, and perhaps the America public will refuse to go to that well a second time.
Next, Chavez must try alliance with some country, like China, whose backing (either overtly of covertly) would spoil the American game, although it might also tie Chavez’s hands to stop the institution of all the reforms he was trying to put in place.
Finally, there is War.
After losing the initial battle, if Chavez permits his soldiers to be lost in such a foolish gesture, both Chavez and his people will need to draw upon the long South American history of fighting a jungle resistance. America will have entered into another quagmire engagement, and it could be a long time before any party profits.
So, that is why I wonder if Chavez has a sufficiently idiomatic understanding of the English language to set up such a cheeky story, or whether circumstances have conspired to created it for him.
You see, I can’t help but notice that if it comes to war, the American soldiers sent to into Venezuela by George Washington Bush will eventually come into contact with a Venezuelan reserve led by a 44-year-old mother of six, who just happens to be named Mrs. Moron.
It has lost its own checks and balances. Part of the problem of being a "want more" society.
