Robert Plant Appointed Venezuelan Defense Secretary

At this point, Hugo Chavez is just wasting money for the sake of wasting money.

Venezuela launched a Zeppelin on Thursday to patrol Caracas, seeking to fight crime in one of Latin America's most dangerous cities but also raising fears that President Hugo Chavez could be turning into Big Brother.

Around the hot-dog stalls of the run-down suburb where the airship took its first flight, most people felt the unmanned eye-in-the-sky could help counter routine hold-ups, shootings and carjackings.

"It is a necessity," said street vendor Pedro Marin when asked about the 15-meter helium-filled blimp that had been looming silently over his stall beside a busy highway.

Someone else has probably suggested it already, but Chavez is less likely to evolve into a new Fidel Castro than he is a new Rufus T. Firefly.

Comments

Thomas Paine's Goiter | April 20, 2007, 4:36pm | #

[godwin]Even Hitler never used zeppelins on his own people.[/godwin]

Lamar | April 20, 2007, 4:37pm | #

Perhaps it's just the Chums of Chance? Seriously, Chavez is wack.

crap-action-jackson | April 20, 2007, 4:41pm | #

It isn't a zeppelin unless it has a Rigid Superstructure. Otherwise it's just a blimp...

And yes, "Rigid Superstructure" would make a great name for a band.

de stijl | April 20, 2007, 4:48pm | #

This differs from CCTV surveillance how exactly?

crimethink | April 20, 2007, 4:49pm | #

Hilary Clinton in a suit and tie.

Umbriel | April 20, 2007, 4:51pm | #

I'll out-pedant crap-action-jackson by pointing out that a zeppelin has a rigid structural framework, not a superstructure. A superstructure is something that sits on top of something else, like on top of a ship.

The article does seem to have flubbed it, though. Chavez's toy looks to be properly called a blimp.

He's not listening. | April 20, 2007, 4:56pm | #

No amount of peans to leftist dictators disguised as lame Republican-baiting will make real your visions of surveillance blimps spotlighting boulevards lined with billboards of your giant head.

We are bored.

MattXIV | April 20, 2007, 4:58pm | #

de stijl,

It's more expensive.

Warren | April 20, 2007, 5:00pm | #

yeah, that's just your basic floating billboard. I remember like twenty years ago or so, Paris got an eye in the sky blimp. As always (and I do mean in always) the Parisians went completely ape over the idea of polluting the sky with the thing, until it had been in service for a while. Then of course, it was a treasured fixture of their beloved city. Anyone know if it's still in service?

mediageek | April 20, 2007, 5:23pm | #

2nd Best Headline of the day.

Mr. F. Le Mur | April 20, 2007, 5:41pm | #

It eez ballooon!

matt | April 20, 2007, 5:47pm | #

According to a friend of mine with connections in Ecuador, another way Chavez is tossing money away is by sending briefcases full of bills to agents of the new Ecuadorian president. Apparently people are starting to get really riled up about it.

TrickyVic | April 20, 2007, 5:51pm | #

Here in NYC we have the Met Life/NYPD spy blimp. But I haven't seen it in a while. Maybe we traded it to Chavez for some heating oil.

R C Dean | April 20, 2007, 6:00pm | #

raising fears that President Hugo Chavez could be turning into Big Brother.

This makes it sound like everything was just peachy until he launched the blimp.

Eric the .5b | April 20, 2007, 6:16pm | #

raising fears that President Hugo Chavez could be turning into Big Brother.

This makes it sound like everything was just peachy until he launched the blimp.

How's that? Of all the things Chavez is famous for, obsessive monitoring of the citizenry isn't one of them. He's been a run of the mill thuggish, corrupt socialist. Goon squads breaking up opposition rallies is more his style than surveillance.

Pointing out a weird change in tactics (or a stunt, to be truthful) isn't defending the guy.

Juan Arteaga | April 20, 2007, 6:19pm | #

According to a friend of mine with connections in Ecuador, another way Chavez is tossing money away is by sending briefcases full of bills to agents of the new Ecuadorian president.

Which is how Correa managed to kick out all the congressmen he didn't like, buy off their replacements and get away with it, since he also bought, fired or threatened all the offices that could help the fired congressmen.

Kwix | April 20, 2007, 6:31pm | #

Like that will stop any crimes. Hell you can see it from five miles away! Besides, from the bird's eye view, all them people look alike.

Wild Pegasus | April 20, 2007, 6:33pm | #

There's a strongman who's sure
All that glitters is gold
And he's buying a surveillance zeppelin.
When he gets there he knows,
If the stores are all closed,
He can blame the oppresive US.

Oooooooh, ooooooh

And he's buying a surveillance zeppelin.

- Josh

eugene | April 20, 2007, 7:23pm | #

In Soviet Venezuela, Robert Plant listens to YOU!

Matthew | April 20, 2007, 7:58pm | #

Ah, "Robert Plant" ? Zeppelin?! They rocked!

david | April 20, 2007, 8:08pm | #

Just don't call him an "upstart!"

Madog | April 20, 2007, 8:18pm | #

Hey, I thought dirigibles were a libertarian thing! Or are these just blimps? Blimps suck and if the commies want them that's fine.

brotherben | April 20, 2007, 11:17pm | #

I must say I am shocked and dismayed to find they have crime in Venezuela. Satan leading this country and all.And Chavez being God's second cousin, once removed. Now that I think of it,it is kinda queer having a city named "Caracas"

gesundheit

grumpy realist | April 20, 2007, 11:39pm | #

That comment about Rufus T. Firefly is SO spot on....

Karen | April 20, 2007, 11:39pm | #

My husband suggests a naming contest. He nominates "The Graft Zeppelin," while I suggest "The Jefe's Hindenburg." Any other nominations?

brotherben | April 20, 2007, 11:50pm | #

Eye caramba

Deus | April 21, 2007, 3:10am | #

Take a look at this character described by the BBC as "A supporter of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez". If anyone here has relatives in Caracas, I suggest the get their assets out before the country becomes the next Zimbabwe.

Trading Cards | April 21, 2007, 8:25am | #

I for one welcome our new, etc...

'The Graft Zeppelin'? Good one, Karen's husband.

BTW, 'Rigid Superstructure' is my porn name.

kevrob | April 22, 2007, 4:16am | #

¡Colonización en otros planetas!

Kevin

Herb | April 23, 2007, 7:24am | #

What Fish?

Pro Libertate | April 23, 2007, 11:21am | #

There's a jefe who's sure,
All that glitters is gold,
And he's buying a zeppelin to heaven.