You wrote in post 1082:
Russia has a long history of throwing its weight in its neighborhood, going back well before the USSR even. They are an ambitious nation, always have been.
Looks like a criticism to me
Well it isn't. You've been told that repeatedly. It's merely an observation, and one which you have not in any way contested. What, precisely, is wrong with making factual observations? On what basis is that objectionable? The only people I know who object to factual observations on any grounds other than them being factually incorrect (which is not your objection) are ideologues.
As you wrote that he is an " aspiring dictator ".
While, Chavez, while a populist leader, has never said that he wants or aspire to take away free elections, so far.
Why would he say it, even if he wants to? He wouldn't, so the lack of him saying so doesn't indicate anything. Besides which, you are
again trying to contest my evaluation of Chavez, but that is irrelevant to the question of whether or not I should be criticising him, given that I
do have a different evaluation of him than you. You have given me absolutely no grounds on which to refrain from criticism given my evaluation. Your entire argument essentially boils down to (and this is a paraphrase, not a quote) 'because I object to Bush, you're not allowed to object to Chavez'.
Also, I invited you to look at what your own president is doing, before criticizing foreign leaders.
And once again, you are assuming that because I have not come to the same conclusions you have, I must not have done such an evaluation. But you are wrong,
again. This is the second time I've corrected you, and you repeating your statement a third time will not make it any less false. But I expect you will repeat it yet again anyways, with no more evidence or support than the first two times.
I have replied to this in the quote above.
No, you didn't. All you did is repeat an accusation. That's not a reply.
