A video of the president's arrival early this morning is not yet available but his doctors stated that he walked into the hospital at San Martin in Caracas, strong and unassisted.

President Chávez made a triumphant return from Cuba at 2:30 a.m. this morning from Cuba after undergoing surgery and treatment in Havana for 2 months.

As he confidently left the presidential plane at Maiquetia smiling and asking "Where's the party?", he went on to thank his Cuban medical team, Fidel and Raul and the Venezuelan people for their support. Joking and laughing, he chided the Venezuelan opposition for their predictions that he would never return. Earlier he wrote in his Twitter account, "We have arrived again to the Venezuelan motherland, Thank you God. Thank you my beloved people. We will continue my treatment here... Onward toward victory always!! We will live and we will triumph!!" "

Venezuelans in Aragua, Carabobo, Mérida, Sucre, Campiña, Miranda, Falcón, Anzoátegui, Zulia and all across the country are celebrating his return this morning. Driving into Caracas today will not be easy as Plaza Bolivar is filled with smiling, cheering people holding up signs and singing "Chávez, Corazon de Mi Pais!" (Chávez, Heart of My Country!) and sending messages of love to the president. On VTV today, full coverage is given to the people in Plaza Bolivar and news of his return. (Watch the festivities on Live Venezuela Public Television today)

Opposition & Western Media's Denials of Chávez Recovery

It is appropriate to remember the dire and wishful predictions by the opposition and the western media that Chávez would never return from his treatment in Cuba this time.  For months, the opposition and capitalist media have argued that Chávez should be forced out of office because he has not been inside the country. They "kicked him when he was down" and even some prominent leftist writers and websites such as Noam Chomsky and Bill Van Auken of WSWS attacked him and his presidency during his illness. When the first photos of the president were released by the Venezuelan government 3 days ago, members of the opposition here falsely declared that they were fake photos.

When President Chávez appointed former Vice President Elías Jaua as Foreign Minister in January, the opposition media declared that Chávez didn't sign it - rather, that the government used an electronic signature. Vice President Nicolas Madura held up a document from the attempted coup in 2002 replying,

"Here, the only ones who have falsified a letter and a signature in Venezuela's history are the opposition sector, which falsified one of President Chávez s letters by claiming that he had resigned as president on April 11, 12 and 13, 2002 and then they falsified his signature."

Vice President Maduro continued,

"Well, I think that there are no sound reasons whatsoever to start a debate of this nature. President Chávez has given an order and has signed a decree, and the decree has been enacted exactly as hundreds of decrees are during a regular year. On the whole, they have attempted to introduce a subject in a debate that has no transcendence in the political life of Venezuela. In brief: it does not bring anything positive to the table. President Hugo Chávez, as the ruler of Venezuela, ordered that Elías Jaua was appointed; he signed the memorandum account; he signed the decree and the decree was then published; as simple as that; business as usual."

Three weeks ago, El Pais , a newspaper - Spain's largest - known for its attacks on Chávez showed its own "photoshopped" photo of Chávez lying unconscious in a hospital bed with tubes coming out of his nose and mouth. They later had to publish an apology for putting the falsified photograph on the front page of their newspaper.

On Caracas Chronicles, a well known Chávez-hating blog, Francisco Toro, wrote on December 7, "So Chávez’s wholesale disappearance for 3-weeks+ has finally convinced me: the guy’s probably dying now . There’s no other way to make sense of it." At that time, one market analyst sent a note to necrophiliac investors entitled, "Chávez Death, Succession and PDVSA Bonds."

We can expect the opposition and corporate media in general to continue to ramp up their graceless media war now that the president is back in the country.

A Physical and Political Victory

President Chávez' return to Venezuela today is a victory on several fronts. His valiant battle against cancer through 4 surgeries, chemo and radiotherapy since June 2011 is an example for all people afflicted with cancer. His most recent surgery was described as "complicated" and we watched as he fought his way back from respiratory complications, began physical therapy and recovered enough to return to the motherland appearing strong and confident. He will continue treatment at the military hospital in San Martin in Caracas for the present time as he fulfills his role as president.

The political victory of his return begins with the fact that he can now be sworn in as president in an inauguration which was postponed by the National Assembly. That was challenged by the opposition in the congress but the Supreme Court silenced them with their decision approving the postponement.

The president's return is also a testament to the excellence of the Cuban medical system. In June 2011 he went to Havana for surgery on what was thought to be an infection. It was then that a cancerous tumor was discovered and removed. The Cubans successfully performed two more surgeries and treating him with chemo and radiotherapy. Cuba is world-renowned as a leader in modern medicine with thousands of Cuban doctors and other medical professionals stationed in oppressed nations around the world, providing quality care to the poor. Just before President Chávez left Cuba, Fidel gave him a letter in which he wrote, "A long and agonising wait, as well as your astonishing capacity for physical resistance and the total dedication of a team of doctors…were necessary to achieve this objective.”

President Chávez has now cemented his October 7, 2012 re-election for another 6 year term and has once again "proved his mettle." He has responded to all the powerful domestic and international forces set against him with courage and dignity. It is well known among scientists that stress is a key factor in the incidence and recovery from cancer and Chávez has had his share thrown in his face. Through all the natural concerns about the Venezuelan people and the historic Bolivarian Revolution he hasn't flinched. With a face set like flint against the tide of opposition, sabotage, media war and deceptions and with a heart filled with compassion for all the oppressed in this weary world, President Chávez continues to define the true meaning of the terms, "Leadership," "Hero," and "Champion." He is unparalleled as a head of state, globally.

Viva Chávez ... Viva Bolívar ... Viva La Revolucion!