Is it because of the oil?

Following the lead of Putin’s strange behavior and Mahmoud A.’s uninterrupted stand-up appearances all over the world, Hugo Chavez enters the scene as a competitor.

“Israel has gone mad,” Chavez said. “They are massacring children, and no one knows how many are buried,” he added, accusing Israel of being guilty of a “new Holocaust” and the “terrorist” U.S. government of complicity.

It is not that the text above is startingly original or that the character in question could surprise anyone by his eccentric behavior. The mere fact of Comical Hugo’s sudden interest in Middle Eastern affairs is surprising. But then, the same article explains the background:

Chavez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have pledged to support one another in disputes with Washington. Ahmadinejad has drawn international condemnation with calls for Israel to be wiped off the map.

Now it is much clearer. After all, tell me who your friends are…
Of course, it is difficult to impossible to top that Mahmoud’s green glow, but one can try, can’t one?

In any case, his act beats our foreign ministry mealy-mouthed diplomatic lingo hands down:

Israel’s Foreign Ministry rebuffed Chavez’s statements on Monday. “Unfortunately, he (Chavez) is not known for his objectivity when it comes to the Middle East conflict,” said ministry spokesman Mark Regev. “He has embraced the regional leaders who have called for the destruction of the Jewish state and I think there is a serious question as to his judgment when it comes to Middle East issues.”

His judgment? My hamster has more judgment in his sleep than Comical Hugo ever dreamed about. And I don’t even have a hamster.

I am almost sure there is a link between having lots of oil and mental instability. These three examples prove that point to my satisfaction.

Cross-posted on SimplyJews