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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001384 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2027 
TAGS: MARR PROV PREL VE
SUBJECT: THE MILITARY MOVES FURTHER RED 
 
REF: A. CARACAS 782 
     ¶B. CARACAS 732 
     ¶C. CARACAS 505 
     ¶D. CARACAS 424 
     ¶E. CARACAS 071 
 
CARACAS 00001384  001.3 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT R. DOWNES FOR 1.4 (D) 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (C)  The July 6 replacement of Defense Minister Raul 
Isaias Baduel with Gustavo Rangel Briceno does not bode well 
for the future of the Venezuelan Armed Forces (FAN).  Baduel, 
a long-time supporter of Chavez, was perhaps the last 
remaining cabinet member to make even mild statements 
contradicting Chavez' policies, particularly Chavez' efforts 
to further politicize the military.  This follows the 
dismissal of Presidential adviser Army General Alberto Muller 
Rojas who, while asserting that party politics was nothing 
new in the Venezuelan military, became too public in his 
disagreements with Baduel, and to a lesser extent with 
Chavez, harming Chavez' image.  Rangel, on the other hand, is 
in line with Chavez' more politically radical appointments, 
such as Foreign Minister Maduro and Vice President Jorge 
Rodriguez.  All three appear to unquestioningly and 
enthusiastically support Chavez' policies.  Rangel also 
appears to be the driving force for implementing, under 
Chavez' direction, the reserve forces, which Chavez created 
to partially counterbalance the traditional armed forces. 
Baduel's dismissal, particularly in such a low key manner, 
was due to politics and loyalty and not, as some have said, 
because of the nude photos of Baduel that had recently 
appeared on the internet.  End Summary. 
 
Chavez Focuses on Military 
-------------------------- 
¶2.  (C) Chavez focused additional attention in recent days on 
the FAN, partially to offset disquiet initiated by his 
introduction of the oath "Patria, Socialismo or Muerte!" (my 
country, socialism or death) into military daily life, and 
partially do to public disagreements among his senior 
military advisers.  On June 24, the 186th anniversary of the 
Battle of Carabobo, he announced a 30 percent pay raise for 
military personnel, including retirees.  Traditionally the 
Venezuelan military are shuffled around Venezuelan 
Independence Day on July 5th, although perhaps less so in 
recent years, when promotions and retirements are announced. 
This year the President announced over 3,300 military 
promotions, explicitly tying their promotions to their 
commitment to and fervor for the revolution. 
 
Baduel Dismissed 
---------------- 
¶3. (C)  Late on July 6, during a military graduation 
ceremony, in a rather low key manner, and oddly on Baduel's 
birthday, President Chavez announced the replacement of 
Defense Minister General Raul Baduel with the commander of 
the reserves, General Gustavo Rangel Briceno.  While the 
traditional time of the year for such a move, the manner was 
unusually low-key and caught many by surprise.  For example, 
Baduel's elevation to Minister was signaled at the 
anniversary of Carabobo in 2006 and then announced July 5, 
¶2006.  In this case the announcement was made late on Friday 
night after the normal news cycle, perhaps to minimize any 
potential negative reaction.  There was no prior indication 
that Rangel would move up at this time, in fact the rumor was 
that Baduel would be carried over at least until the end of 
the year.  In press interviews in the days after the 
announcement, both Baduel and Rangel indicated they were 
surprised by the announcement, with Rangel saying he had 
expected to head the reserves for another two years. 
 
¶4.  (C) Raul Isaias Baduel was a long time supporter of 
Chavez.  Born in 1955 in Guarico, Baduel was one of four 
co-founders of the Movimento Bolivariano Revolucionario 200 
and supported Chavez in his 1992 coup attempt.  Eleventh in 
his military academy class (1976), Baduel was also commander 
of the parachute brigade in April 2002 that was instrumental 
in returning Chavez to power.  Unlike his predecessor, Baduel 
at times spoke out at odds with the president's statements. 
Baduel and Chavez publicly disagreed over the politicization 
of the military during the Fall 2006 Presidential campaign. 
 
CARACAS 00001384  002.3 OF 002 
 
 
When Chavez said the FAN was rojo-rojito (red-red) like the 
state-owned energy company PdVSA, implying it embraced the 
revolution, Baduel publicly differed noting the Venezuelan 
constitution called for it to defend the country but to be 
politically neutral.  Following Chavez' institution of the 
new military oath, Baduel also raised mild public concerns 
with this approach. 
 
Agreement Not Enough 
-------------------- 
¶5.  (C) Baduel's replacement follows the dismissal of Army 
General Alberto Muller Rojas, a strong supporter of Chavez, 
who was called out of retirement in 2006 to advise the 
military.  He frequently appeared on government television 
providing ideological support for Chavez.  Muller Rojas was 
dismissed on the June 24 Carabobo anniversary following an 
interview with pro-government newspaper Ultimas Noticias.  In 
this and other statements he implied party politics were 
nothing new in the Venezuelan FAN.  He also too publicly 
disagreed with Baduel on policy matters, including over 
announcements of possible purchases of Russian submarines. 
(He also differed publicly with Chavez on the method and 
content of the submarine announcement, but not on the wisdom 
of the purchase.)  Muller Rojas was criticized by the 
opposition for his involvement while an active duty officer, 
in the organization of PSUV, Chavez' United Socialist Party 
of Venezuela.  (Comment:  Muller Rojas' public statements, at 
odds with Baduel created unnecessary public controversy. 
Chavez, under criticism for the closure of RCTV and internal 
dissension over the creation of PSUV, apparently decided he 
needed less public discussion on the military side.  He chose 
therefore to remove Muller Rojas and replace Baduel with 
someone who would unquestioningly and less vocally follow his 
directions. End comment.) 
 
Loyalty First 
------------- 
¶6. (C) New Minister of Defense Gustavo Reyes Rangel Briceno 
was born in Maracaibo on August 16, 1955 and finished seventh 
in his military academy class (1978), where he studied 
mechanical engineering.  He served as commander of the Fourth 
Army Division from September 2004 until 2005 when he became 
Army Inspector General.  In August 2006 he was named head of 
the Reserve and Mobilization Command.  In this capacity he 
became the driving force, under Chavez' guidance, behind the 
creation and expansion of the reserves. 
 
¶7. (C) Comment - While some are trying to link the retirement 
of Baduel to nude (and apparently authentic) pictures of the 
former Minister that hackers posted on government and other 
internet websites in recent weeks, it instead reflects 
Chavez' continued efforts to consolidate his control and 
stifle even the mildest discussion of his policies.  While 
Baduel's criticism of Chavez was measured, Chavez does not 
tolerate dissidence in any form.  Rojas Muller on the other 
hand brought additional attention to policy measures and made 
public internal disagreements putting Chavez in an 
unfavorable light. Rangel is more akin to other recent Chavez 
appointments, such as Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro and 
Vice President Jorge Rodriguez, both of whose predecessors at 
times disagreed publicly with Chavez and both of whom are 
unequivocal Chavez supporters.  The appointment also does not 
bode well for the FAN, which now will be lead by a strong 
supporter of (although no longer director for) expanding the 
reserves as both a counterbalance to and competitor for 
resources for the FAN. 
 
FRENCH