If anyone has been paying attention, they might notice that our government is taking little notice of socialist regimes in South and Central America, at least by comparison to the Cold War period. Think about it. How much government hysteria have you seen so far about the Sandinista victory?

The big difference now is that the Soviets aren't starting construction on large military airstrips any more in communist nations in our hemisphere. I don't think most people realize how this changed things, particularly in places like Southeast Asia or even the Middle East.

The other guy left the chessboard, and the pieces are moving on their own, now.

There are some economic issues with Venezuela, since they do supply some of our oil, but you know what? There would be exactly the same economic issues if some El Presidente right-wing goon took over the country.

Despite Art's misapprehension that I'm calling for the B-2s to head south, the only reason I keep posting on Venezuela is to show the inevitability of the downward course nations take when they adopt these ideas, even ones with extensive resources and natural wealth.

In other words, it's an example to fans of leftist economic policies, not a call to arms.