October 17, 2005

Baffling Contradiction Chronicles

Not two weeks ago, Chavez brought the first summit of the fledgeling "South American Community" to the brink of failure because he objected to plans to advance integration on the basis of the existing Regional Trade Agreements, Mercosur and the Andean Community. Chavez called them failed neoliberal experiments and said those institutions need to disappear.

Yesterday, Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez announced Venezuelan will join the failed neoliberal experiment known as Mercosur.

Huh?!

It's not just that Chavez is ideologically opposed to these trade pacts, it's also that the Chavez government has a dismal record of non-implementation of the one agreement it is a part of - CAN.

Quien los entiende?