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02/18/2006:

"Bolivarian Revolution Marches Forward, ‘Untelevised’"

...To minimize or omit the historical significance of February 4th 1992 by the mainstream media inhibits a broader understanding of this large-scale mobilization of the Venezuelan people. Chavez was a young paratrooper when he led the failed but popular ‘Bolivarian Movement’ military rebellion on February 4, 1992. He served two years in prison before rising to political power on a promise to better the lives of the impoverished majority.

Chavez was then described as “a type of Saddam Hussein, not bright but very determined, a "Rambo” among “anachronistic nationalists with fascist tendencies and no defined ideology,” according to retired General Carlos Julio Penaloza, the army's former commander general until June 1991(IPS, Feb 5th, 1993). Later, the BBC would characterize Chavez and the Bolivarian movement with the label that would stick, that of their having “ultra-leftist leanings.”

Although the trajectory of Chavez’s political endeavors was hindered, it would only be for a short period:

“Comrades: unfortunately, for the moment, the objectives that we had set ourselves have not been achieved in the capital…those of us here in Caracas have not been able to seize power,” said Chavez on National television after surrendering. It is also apposite to mention the words of Vice President Vincent Rangel, who marched alongside the people and would precede Chavez with a short and inspirational speech on February 4th, 2006.

Striking a prophetic chord, in 1992 Rangel defended the actions of Chavez and his young Bolivarian Movement, "This crisis should not be considered over because the uprising has been crushed. To think that way would be an illusion," wrote El Diario de Caracas, quoting Rangel - cited in AP, February 5th, 1992, 'Coup Struck a Chord in Economically Ailing Venezuela'

It was on this historic day that the Bolivarian Revolution was sparked and has since resulted in over a dozen popular democratic ratifications of the Movement. The Presidential elections scheduled for late 2006 will only be the latest in a long process of popular consolidation of the Revolution, the thing that the NED and its State Department overseers fear the most: the ever-looming threat of a good example.
zmag.org