Bono And The Power-Hungry Tyrant

Even though he’s not shy about voicing his opinions on a world that allows so much hunger and suffering, Irish rock star Bono seems to have got dragged into his latest political row without even realizing it.

“Mercenaries 2: World in Flames,” a new computer game based on a fictional invasion of Venezuela, has caused such a fuss in South America that the makers are already mounting an apologetic defense of the content.

Bono has been sucked into it as much as Pandemic Studios. The Los Angeles-based manufacturer that produced “Mercenaries 2” has received a US$300 million investment from the private equity firm the U2 frontman co-founded.

The idea behind the videogame is that the player takes part in an invasion of Venezuela in a bid to overthrow a “power-hungry tyrant” who has seized control of the country and its oil.

The only order the mercenary’s given is: “If you see it you can buy it, steal it, or blow the living crap out of it.”

In Venezuela, political supporters of President Hugo Chavez have reacted angrily to news of the game – reportedly due for release next year – and called for it to be banned.

Gabriela Ramirez, a member of the National Assembly, said it incorrectly portrayed Chavez as a tyrant and Venezuela as a country on the verge of chaos.

“It sends a message to Americans, ‘You have a danger next door, here in Latin America, and action must be taken.’ It’s a justification for an imperialist aggression,” she explained.

No one from Bono’s Elevation Investment or from Pandemic Studios – one of the world’s largest independent games producers – was available for comment, according to the Associated Press.

However, on an online games forum, Scott Walker, the chief designer for the game, claimed one of the key reasons for choosing Venezuela was because it’s a “a fascinating and colourful country, full of wonderful architecture, geography and culture.”

He described the game as “fictional entertainment” and said the story, characters and setting of the game should in no way be construed as negative toward the current Venezuelan government or the people of the country.

Pandemic Studios has a reputation for the realism of its games. It has also produced Full Spectrum Warrior, a game that was initially made for the U.S. Army to train soldiers in urban warfare techniques.

Earlier this year, President Chavez started recruiting and training a people’s militia to help lead a “war of resistance” against what he claims was the threat of an invasion by the U.S. The U.S. has repeatedly denied the allegation.

Chavez, who was first elected in 1998, survived a short-lived coup in 2002. He’s accused the U.S. of giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to his political opponents, including those who were involved in the coup.

Many Venezuelans feel his presidency has seen improvements in literacy and health care and a reduction in poverty.

– John Gammon