Raúl Baduel

Infobox Military Person
name=Raúl Isaías Baduel


caption=
born= 6 July, 1955
died=
placeofbirth=Las Mercedes, Guárico
placeofdeath=
nickname=
allegiance=Venezuelan Armed Forces
branch=
serviceyears=1976-2007
rank=General in Chief
unit=
commands=Defense Minister
battles=
awards=
relations=
laterwork=

Raúl Isaías Baduel (born 6 July, 1955) is a Venezuelan politician, retired general, and former Defense Minister under President Hugo Chavez. He was instrumental in restoring Chavez to power after the 2002 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt. He became prominent internationally in November of 2007 when he publicly broke with Chavez and announced his opposition to the planned constitutional referendum that would have also widen Chavez' presidential powers.

Baduel attended the School of Americas, an officer training school for Latin American military officers run by the United States Army. [http://www.voltairenet.org/article30248.html]

In 2005, he accused the United States of waging a fourth generation war against the Venezuelan government in an attempt to undermine the socialism of the Bolivarian Revolution. [http://www.voltairenet.org/article30248.html]

References

* [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aSGA7wZkOIsI&refer=news Chavez Ex-Ally Baduel Rallies Opposition to Constitution Change] , by Matthew Walter, Bloomberg.com, November 15, 2007
* [http://www.voltairenet.org/article30248.html The role of mainstream media in military strategy - General Raul Baduel: The US are waging a 4th generation war against Venezuela] , Rosa Miriam Elizalde and Luis Báez, voltairenet.org. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/01/opinion/01baduel.html?n=Top/Opinion/Editorials%20and%20Op-Ed/Op-Ed/Contributors "Why I Parted Ways With Chávez" by Raúl Isaías Baduel, December 1, 2007 New York Times]