Stephen Lendman: Chavez, Visionary Leader Extraordinaire!

He and Castro matter most. They don't come any better. They transformed their countries responsibly. Doing so made the impossible possible. They did it against long odds. They won the hearts and minds. Castro did it his way. Chavez chose a Venezuelan model. He envisioned socialism for the 21st century. He wanted it based on solidarity, fraternity, love, justice, liberty and equality. He wanted it built bottom up. He deplored top down. Popular protagonism over bureaucracy was policy. He abhorred neoliberal harshness. He called it incompatible with democracy. He wanted another way. His legacy reflects his accomplishments. Eva Golinger knew Chavez. She called him a grandiose visionary dream maker. Venezuelans loved him, so did millions worldwide. They did so for good reason: He cared, He made a difference. His achievements are remarkable. They can't be ignored. He was honest, said Golinger. His roots were humble, since he grew up in a mud hut, selling candies on streets. He did so to earn money for his family. He dreamed of building a strong, sovereign nation, independent of foreign influence. He dreamed of improving the lives of his people. He wanted poverty eradicated, for a better life for Venezuelans, and called it the good life. He made dreams come true, achieving remarkable changes. They are more than just numbers: He transformed one of Latin America's most unequal countries into its most equitable. At the same time, he achieved impressive economic growth, in 14 years. He spoke truth to power, since it matters, and he cared about Venezuela's most disadvantaged, lifting them from poverty, providing education, healthcare, affordable food, housing, and hope. At the same time, he recognized the rights of the disabled, of indigenous people, all genders and sexualities, breaking down the barriers of racism and classism, and declared himself a socialist feminist. He not only made his own dreams come true, but he inspired as all to achieve our fullest potential. I am just a soldier, he said. America wanted him dead. Bush failed several times to remove him, while Obama tried to kill him. Toppling foreign leaders by coups or assassination is US policy. William Blum has done some of the best research, including his book "Rogue State" They are must reading. He documented dozens of successful and failed post WW II US interventions, including toppling Iran's Mohammad Mossaddegh in 1953, the CIA's first successful coup. Ousting Guatemala's Jacobo Arbenz in 1954, failing to kill China's Chou En Lai in 1955, failing to kill Fidel Castro, failing to kill France's Charles de Gaulle, plotting Gaddafi's assassination for decades, and very likely killing Chavez.