Stupid Is As Stupid Reveals

There's an old adage that I learned in the corporate world: keep your mouth shut -- never let them know how much of an idiot you are. As a result, in a demonstration of extreme "smartitude," I've tried to keep it shut when- and wherever possible.

The same applies to politics. The more you say, the more you will reveal your cards. The game of geopolitique is somewhat akin to poker -- try to keep your opponent guessing, don't clue him into the measly pair of threes you're riding by running yer trap.

Someone, apparently, forgot to explain the merit of this school of thought to Venezuela's president, Hugo Chavez. Yesterday, as reported at CNN.com, during a youth festival celebrating students across the world, he spoke out against the United States. He decried the US's theoretical plans to invade Venezuela, saying "If someday they get the crazy idea of coming to invade us, we'll make them bite the dust defending the freedom of our land." This, of course, coming from the leader of a Socialist nation, is especially optimistic... He also labeled the US the "most savage, cruel and murderous empire that has existed in the history of the world." Guess there's a shortage of accurate history books to go along with shortages of intelligence, freedom and reality as well.

He spoke during the opening ceremony of a world youth festival bringing together student delegations from across the world, convened under the slogan "Against Imperialism and War." In the past, most host countries have been anti-US, so it's no surprise that Chavez, who is a fountain of anti-US bile, was fervently critical of US actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Chavez, however, was supportive of the newly-elected Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. It is less than surprising Mr. Chavez is supportive of Iran, a country that has sponsored terrorism -- hijackings, bombings, kidnapping and assassinations -- in the name of peace and religion.

Which reminds me of another old adage I learned early on: freaks of the world unite.