Chávez's U.N. Gambit

October 16, 2006
The Wall Street Journal
Original Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116095915080793439.html

To understand why so many Americans dislike the U.N., consider that Venezuela, of all countries, stands a chance today of being elected by a vote of the General Assembly to one of the 10 non-permanent seats on the 15-member Security Council.
This is the same country whose megalomaniac ruler, Hugo Chávez, ranted against the U.S. last month to the laughter and applause of the assembled General Assembly grandees at Turtle Bay. His international initiatives this year have included warmer ties with North Korea and Iran, buying weapons from Russia and sowing revolution throughout Latin America.
Venezuela's competition for the Latin American two-year seat that opens next year is Guatemala, a democracy that has never had a seat on the Security Council and is active in peacekeeping in Haiti and Africa. Guatemala signaled its intention to seek this seat in 2002, only to watch as Mr. Chávez jumped in the race in 2005 to get a larger megaphone for his radical views. The Caracas strongman has since played his oil card around the world to buy support, and he has the backing of the world's club of dictators.
The world's democracies in North and Central America, Europe and Asia are lining up behind Guatemala. In Latin America, Colombia and Mexico are also backing Guatemala, while Argentina and Brazil are supporting Venezuela, perhaps out of misguided leftist solidarity. The left-of-center government in Chile is on the fence, no doubt alarmed by Mr. Chávez but also fearful of crossing him.
With a two-thirds majority required to declare a winner in a secret ballot, more than several rounds of voting are expected. If Mr. Chávez wins, we'll know that most U.N. members prefer anti-American posturing to a credible Security Council.