Have read a few comments along this line in other North American blogs about Chavez in Venezuela, repeating the mainstream North American media line. Here in Spain they [blogs/big media] take a generally a different view. After all, Venezuela has switched large military contract from US to Spanish (among other) purchases. I have a few Venezuelan friends, well off children from both the "exiled" PDVSA workers, that vehemently hate Chavez, to Venezuelans who came to Spain hoping for a better life and now have hopes for the future of their country, and support the current Venezuelan government.

I'd like to make a few quick points and back them up with some highly recommended reference reading:
- The US maintains eight oil refineries owned by US corporations in Venezuela. They don't pay taxes, nor employ Venezuelans. They pay 1% or less royalty agreement to Venezuela under a 60-year old contract, which Venezuela wishes to break (of course).

- Dictator? I recommend the reading searching out some balanced impartial non-mainstream media references. For a quick start see latest election "Recall vote of 2004" and "Carter center" references under [1] below.
- The current Venezuelan government has done more to improve the social equity for the ordinary Venezuelan than any previous government, applauded as a perfect example by a wide variety of poverty fighting organisations. Has reduced inflation significantly,... the list of improvements for the ordinarily Venezuelan is large. Detailed references [1]
- The US has taken a clear policy of intimidating, consulting and aiding with military dictators to overthrow, had senators make threats and calls to assassinate leaders like Chavez of the fairly elected (see carter center reference mentioned above) Venezuelan government. Including large build up of military ships offshore during the recent Bush visit, no doubt for muscle flexing effect to help encourage the negotiations. (timeline and references [2])

Taking a broader view, people who have had decades of poverty with a minority very rich elite, naturally vote and willingly wish to go harder left to resolve the extreme right situation that they were suffering under. One historical case point of many that could be chosen, Spain. After the assassination of the dictator Franco, Spain went to what was then the political extreme left (Socialist Party of Spain PSOE). Its taken three decades of peace before the political parties now appear to be meeting slowly in the middle with their policies, alternating with right (Popular Party PP) and left, like a swinging pendulum as the more extreme policies continue to cancel themselves out over the decades until their is little difference between the parties (Like Australia). Spain has a 500-foot-high monument to Franco and the very wealthy upper class of the country still are very bitter about the loss of their dictator that afforded them so many benefits, as could be seen with exactly who was with the outcry against the recent removal of a small monument to Franco in Madrid by the recently re-elected left (PSOE).

This historical example has repeated itself over and over, and is playing out now in Venezuela. Unfortunately for Venezuela, what is good for the future grown and reconciliation of its country and people, is most certainly not good for North America re: oil. Approximately 15% of US oil comes from Venezuela at a cost of less than 1% of its value... that's a big birthday cake. So now that the Venezuelan government has begun to voice its peoples discontent against the situation and flex its little muscles to take hard line measure to rectify the situation. As a result and of no surprise, its quite clear to the impartial outsider that the very same well oiled machine that is talked about frequently in this blog is now being used to promote discontent and war against Venezuela instead. Much like it does for the latest stock that needs to be distributed by Wall St and Co. Same media machine, same players, same manipulate the eyeballs tactics, only its a slightly bigger game and this time innocent people die, not just lose their retirement funds. No, much better for North America that a dictator is installed against the Venezuelan peoples wishes that keeps that oil flowing at existing rates. Better than a government showing clear history of changing things for the better for population (according to independent international aid organisations [1]).

So the steps are simple:

1) Demonize one man - make him simple to hate.
2) Use the media machine to discredit/ignore/mis-inform North Americans over his legal right to power and widespread support of the people. Amplify the injustices and bloody noses received by the ousted ruling wealthy so they look like helpless poor victims (that happen to be wealthy) of a vicious dictator that dearly needs military help to return to the old days of glory.
3) Fund and support all would be Military dictators/terrorist groups willing to step up to take the country over whatever the majority of the people actually want, while guaranteeing to continue North American access to oil at existing "negotiated" contracts (something about stability for foreign investors I think it's been called?).
4) When all else fails, Invade with troops.

Unfortunately for Texas, the American people are a little sick and tired of invading countries against international law for the sake of oil, as per step 4. Mainly due to the objection that its beginning to cost too much taxpayers money more than anything else. So perhaps the world must wait a little first...

The Stelco situation pales to laughable insignificance when compared to the pre-Chavez treatment of Venezuela at the hands of North American interests. Imagine 8 Stelcos running what is the main source of income of Canada. Stolen and run by foreigners, no tax, no rent and Canada gets 1% of the proceeds. The 9th company being controlled be established "goverment" with strong military roots, support of all the wealthy ruling elite, and so vested interest in maintaining the status quo. Inflation is running at 40%, wide spread poverty and land laws that look more like the medieval feudal system... and the situation continues for decades. You need a hard man to do a hard job and not mind making a few bloody noses in the process, to get Canada out of that one and put it on the track to reform that will take decades.

It will be no surprise that within minutes any new terrorist bomb attack in North America, regardless of evidence or who may be the real culprit, the first words floating across the CNN channel will be Hugo Chavez, beating up that now familiar war drum in the same manner as the Sold to You" drum goes. From reference [1]: "Western mainstream news media have reported that Chávez is a confrontational ideologue[79] who willingly harbors, funds, and trains terrorists in Venezuela and insurgents abroad.". I wonder if North America also received news that Venezuela was the first one to offer large amounts of aid and further discounted heating oil in the wake of Hurricane Wilma? Probably not; that's not in-line with step 1.