Venezuela is desperately short of time and of engineers, doctors and leaders. We have

crumbling roads, failing schools and a collapsing medical system. The fastest way to

produce such talent is to use the armed services to train people. The Navy will have

to explain to pirates that they should relocate because Venezuela is going to have safe

seas, professionally managed multi-modal seaports and appropriate exploration of

offshore resources. As any major marine country knows, littoral areas have to be

defended. In our case, that means leading an international venture to construct and

maintain a network of tsunami warning buoys. Likewise, the Air Force will take

responsibility for airports with particular attention to being able to react rapidly to

disasters here and abroad. For the Army one might think building clinics and schools,

repairing roads and bridges, and training professional police would be more than

sufficient. I am afraid that the situation is so desperate that is not the case. Yes, the

Army can quickly train paramedics and construction platoons. While this is a huge

contribution, it will not be enough to save Venezuela, which is what our soldiers and

our leaders have all sworn to do.