How gratifying it is to hear that Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chávez has fallen out with Noam Chomsky, arch-propagandist of the crypto-Islamic leftist global elite.

Chomsky, previously a supporter of the rabble-rousing coup-leader, has given an interview accusing Chávez of amassing power in his own hands, intimidating the judiciary, and making an assault on Venezuelan democracy (whatever the heck that is).

Noam and Hugo sitting in a tree... T-I-F-F-I-N-G

This denunciation comes at a particularly difficult time for Chávez whom – it was revealed this week – has just had a cancerous tumor removed by his Communist buddies in Cuba.

The rift in the Chávez-Chomskyite axis has interesting possibilities for those of us in Washington who favor a return to a more robust engagement with our less-developed Hispanic neighbors.

Could it be that, having finally seen through the “progressive” credentials of his erstwhile hero, the biggest critic of America’s role in the western hemisphere will now experience a change of heart?

For all his past insults to the country and beliefs I love, I would be glad to have him on board.

True, Lt Colonel Chávez has brutalized and imprisoned his opponents, socialized large swathes of Venezuelan industry, and incited global revolt against America’s benevolent oversight.

But now that Chomsky no longer has his hooks in him, is it too much to hope that Chávez will live up to his underlying potential, and become exactly the kind of no-nonsense and proactive Latin leader that we used to have in the good old days, before Carter and Clinton wimped out on our Manifest Destiny?

Pick up the phone, Hugo. It’s time you came in from the cold.

As for you, Chomsky, somewhere out there is an ice-pick with your name on it.

Just sayin’!

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There’s been a lot of talk lately about how new internet-based technologies are about to put paid to a golden age of reporting and commentary. The tech gurus would have us believe that old-school, experienced craftsmen will soon be dinosaurs, rendered irrelevant by the rise of interactive social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn and Twitter.

Not so fast, my online Friends (and Followers). Your pokes and your hashtags may rule the roost at present, but social networks and citizen journalism are no replacement for old-fashioned, high-quality content generated in-house by dedicated full-timers. Which is why I firmly believe that, whatever the New York Times et al may tell you, blogging still reigns supreme.

Unsinkable, like Das Boot

You know me by now, dear readers: I don’t like to boast. But I was there at the start of the new millennium, in the heady dawn of the web-log revolution, one of a new breed of wide-eyed dreamers who dared to hope that we could take on and defeat the monolithic might of the discredited, liberal, dead-tree print media. We fought, and we won. All over the world, newspapers are closing down, one by one, as right-thinking people realize that anyone with a smart phone and a lick of common sense is better than the slouching, boozed-up “news-gatherers” who hold themselves out as the “gatekeepers” and “watchdogs” of “fact”. I mean, puh-leeze!

Now it seems that Rupert Murdoch, a man whom I have long admired, is finally coming around to my way of thinking. Taking the initiative, he has just proactively closed down the News of the World, a 168 year-old British-based tabloid: no doubt he will build on this promising start and purge his portfolio of further newspapers, probably in order of seniority. Next to go, the Times of London! One hopes its bastard New York offspring won’t be far behind!

Rupert Murdoch: Visionary, leader, entertainer and friend

The fact is that to a clear-eyed visionary like Mr Murdoch, this “phone-hacking” fuss is not a crisis, but an opportunity. While the Manchester Guardian was stirring everyone up with its hysterical blather about victims of crime and terror and their so-called right to privacy (maybe if we all had a bit less privacy, there wouldn’t be any crime or terror: ever think of that, victims?)  Mr Murdoch was craftily offloading his Myspace social network onto a pelvis-thrusting filth-merchant named Justin Timberlake. Good on yer, Rupe, mate! You know a dead dingo when you see one, and how to flog it!

Mr Murdoch is clearly convinced, like myself, that social networks and newspapers will soon be equally obsolete, thrust to the margins of public discourse by a rejuvenated phalanx of taut, penetrating blogs such as the one you see before you.

Now, I’ve had my problems with News Corp – as you will recall, I was recently “done over” (as I believe they say in Wapping) by one of its scurrilous London tabloids. Nevertheless, I feel in my heart that the architect of Fox News is a man of principle and of honor, and for this he will surely be rewarded, in this world and the next. The only way for you to go now is up, Mr Murdoch, and I’d love to come along for the ride! I hear you’ve lost a few good people lately, but if you ever need a new friend or, say, a consultant, you know where to find me (hint: www.blow-back.net!). Because you know darn well that I, Flint Driscoll, will always have your back!

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Sad to say, dear readers, I may be out of touch for a week or two. I’ve had an e-mail from some friends of friends in Afghanistan, local freedom fighters who are promising me exclusive access on an embed mission across the frontier into the Tribal Regions of Pakistan (whoops! shouldn’t have said that!) I was a bit suspicious at first, but their e-mail mentioned a few mutual friends in the CIA, so I guess they  check out okay. Also, they’ve promised to reimburse me for my travel expenses – these blogs don’t come for free, brother – which proves they are serious people.

Anyhoo, I may be out of coverage for a few days of the trip, so I can’t promise to be able to offer my usual five star online commentary, 24-7. While I’m away the site administrator, Cass Umtak, will be fielding any enquiries etc, so please don’t be shy about getting in touch. Because blow-back.net never sleeps!

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