Conditions are fastly declining in Venezuela. Inflation is up, water and power supply are down, and Chavez is becoming more and more unpopular with his current rating falling below 50%.

Thus the Venezuela leader has a solution to all the problem inflicting his country. No, it will not mean proper investment in infastructure, or proper monetary policies. No such policies are dismissed by Chavez as evil capitalism.

Chavez is pulling a “Wag the Dog” facade a la Bill Clinton. The Venezuelan leader is telling his countrymen to prepare for war against Columbia. A war will help distract Venezuelans from their Chavez-caused problems and further increased the power of the autocratic and erratic Marxist leader.

War is the State - goes a famous saying. War often leads to an increased in executive power that is initially presented as temporary, but as Milton Friedman once stated: “There is nothing more permanent than a temporary government program.” [or something to that effect].

Columbia poses Venezuela no threat. The two nations have been at odds for a while because Chavez is funding the FARC - a radical, Marxist militia in Columbia. Chavez also allows the FARC to operate in Venezuelan territory where the Columbian military cannot attack them. In the last few months, both nations officially suspended trade (worth billions, and mostly from the Columbian side) after the right-wing Columbian government allowed the United States to lease several military bases in the country.

Chavez calling America an evil and imperial nation strongly resisted the US-Columbian action (which was also highly criticized by other more responsible regional leaders). The Columbia-Venezuela rift turned into a ceasation of trade. But that was it. Columbia did not threaten Venezuela and the U.S. military does not either, and it meant solely for joint anti-drug trade efforts. The bases do not in any way undermine Venezuelan interests. And even after the end of official trade (illegal, Mafia-led trade continues), the Columbia still maintained a respectful approach to Chavez.

But Chavez is always making noise. And as his popularity declines, he is using tensions with Columbia to rally his supporters, silence critics and obtain more power. Venezuela’s should see through Chavez’s insane rhetoric and recognize the consequences of war which would devastate the nation.

War is the State.