Led by our Valiant Leader's example of hysterical descriptions as political style ("Axis of Evil", etc.), the beat goes on. It is hard to point the finger under these circumstances. Whether it results in world peace is another question.

When you say, it's politics, the term carries some serious weight in Venezuela. Why should a major oil supplier over the last 50 years still have the majority of its citizens living in poverty?

Because successive US-backed regimes (until Chavez) ignored the needs of the people. When you drive from the airport into Caracas, all the hillsides are lit up with bare lightbulbs illuminating the massive slums.

Chavez - born poor in the interior, and a mestizo - understands and communicates well with this massive poltical base. Once Chavez politically awakened and mobilized these masses, it really did change forever the political game in Venezuela.

The situation really IS more volatile and unpredictable than it was when the Rockefeller Bros. first bought their massive ranchlands in VZ. (Some British owned plantations have recently been expropriated.)

So, Western firms will have in future to be far more astute players than in the past. What I heard from Toddd Bruce impressed me. I think he has the goods to work in the new Venezuela.

Bruce is investing in the communities around the mine, building their support, and promising jobs - one thing which oil does not offer in quantity.

I have the feeling KRY will get its permits, but there is no way to know if it will be tomorrow or in one year. If a political tiff erupts (between forces no outsider will see) there will be delay. If not, we could all be smiling in October.

Down here in Florida, the only way you could get a line of 3 cars waiting to fill up at a Citgo station is with a hurricane watch.

Chavez's rants have definitely not been good for business at 7/11.

Craig -

To me boycotting CITGO is a bit like "freedom fries". We should have listened to Chirac!

I think Chavez was not "ranting" but providing comic relief. He IS a danger to US corporate interests, because his ideology is (naively) aimed at the poor of the Western Hemisphere. The US needs to listen to what he is saying - try reading Chomsky's book! - and to have a serious answer to these concerns.

The "Washington consensus" favoring privatization in Latin America in the 90's did NOT work. THAT's is what Chavez, Evo Morales in Bolivia, and Lula in Brazil are saying.

If the US corporate system only works for the US, it will face growing global opposition. BTW, that's the second front in the rebellion against US hegemony.

Jock,

Anyone who recommends Chomsky makes me laugh.

Invest in Venezuela. I'll get another laugh when Chavez expropriates your money.

Craig H, why would that make you laugh? Have you read Chomsky?

And tell us, how is Chavez going to expropriate "our" money?