Big surprise: we can add "hypocrite" to Chavez's many traits. However, it's gotta be tough saying No to the world's largest market, conveniently located just across a mild sea. Chavez is trying to shift Venezuela's focus towards Asia, but keeping the US out has to be like pushing back that sea with a shovel.

In the end, though, he's proving the old adage about capitalists selling you the rope to hang them: given Chavez's fiery rhetoric and warnings, American firms still selling wares better not cry foul if they end up nationalized, seized, or otherwise screwed.

Why should this surprise anyone? Chavez needs oil money to finance his schemes and the US needs inexpensive oil nearby.

Thank goodness we don't have a group of politically powerful Venezuelan exiles living and voting in a swing state that demand we keep a total embargo against Venezuela until Chavez leaves. That would be nuts... oh wait, that's our Cuba policy.

It is interesting that for many people who live in the USA it doesn't seem to be enough to consume 40% of the world's resources and dominate the planet militarily and economically (for the moment anyway). No, that isn't enough: we also can't accept that there might be anyone out there who doesn't think like us, doesn't act like us, may not (*gasp*) like us at all, and may take actions to protect his/their own interets /even if those actions are to the detriment of the United States and/or its very large political donors/ **double gasp**.

I am no fan of Chavez, but I find it vastly amusing how he manages to tie the US Radicals up in spittle-flecked fits whenever he wants to. I for one would love to see a live, no-questions-barred debate between Chavez and W Bush on national TV. Now THAT would be fun!

Cranky

The power of (free-ish) trade is quite prominent here. No matter how boorish and troubling making Mr. Chavez is, no matter how annoyed Washington gets with him, companies and the hundreds of thousands of people who buy from then and work for them,will continue to cemet cultural and economic ties as long as people want them. And, as the demand for greater interaction with the United States grows, we will see a demand for Mr. Chavez to change his tack, or be eventually removed (with or without Chinese support).

> And, as the demand for greater interaction
> with the United States grows, we will see a
> demand for Mr. Chavez to change his tack, or be
> eventually removed (with or without Chinese
> support).

Quite honestly I think it is more likely there will be a demand for the United States to change its tack, not the other way around. Venezula has the oil, after all (and the iron ore, which might be more important in the long run, but no one talks about that as it isn't sexy).

Cranky

Quite honestly I think it is more likely there will be a demand for the United States to change its tack, not the other way around.

It would be interesting if many people who live in Venezuela can't accept that there might be anyone out there who doesn't think like them, doesn't act like them, may not (*gasp*) like them at all, and may take actions to protect his/their own interests /even if those actions are to the detriment of Venezuela and/or its very large political donors/ **double gasp**.

bgates,
Two points: (1) I am not just speaking of Venezula (2) Venezula has the oil (and the iron ore); the United States does not.

Now, if you implying that the United States will take military action against Venezula, or take Pat Robertson's advice, perhaps you and your ilk could come right out and say so during the next US Presidential election campaign so the voters can think about it a bit.

Cranky

It is funny that the leftists love Chavez even though his oil give aways and other policies are taking money away from those who need it most, the poor in Venezuela.