The career diplomats who manage our Venezuela policy are convinced that criticizing Mr. Chavez “strengthens” or “provokes” him. They have tested this hypothesis as Mr. Chavez, undeterred, has undermined the regional consensus in favor of human rights and democracy and against drugs and terrorism. Likewise, he has forged an important alliance with Iran, climbed into bed with narcotraffickers and terrorists, armed his anti-democratic regime to the teeth and prepared to hold on indefinitely to absolute power. Diplomats can walk away from such blunders. Soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen cannot.
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