I certainly agree with you, the guy's a hoodlum and bully, an egocentric mess who has himself confused with his job. He thinks it's all about him.

Not only that, he doesn't seem to have the most rudimentary administrative skills. I doubt anyone could prove to be a good administrator under him and keep his/her job - that would threaten Chavez. Thank goodness he's still subject to the vote, for now anyway. He does seem to be on his way to being a total dictator.

Given that, I believe Chavez is better for the Venezuelan peasant than the oil companies he displaced. The oil companies concern for Venezuelans seemed on a par with Chavez' ability to deliver for them - almost nonexistent. Under Chavez there is some hope, anyway.

I think the Bush Administration is responsible for Venezuela turning to Russia for military ties and Russia's response. It looks as if the same mistakes which were made on Cuba are being made in the rest of Central and South America.

NATO's intrusion into the Russian sphere of influence absolutely begs for a response. What better than to create a military presence and influence close to the US? And the Bush isolation and hostility toward Columbia forces them to seek a major protector. It's a natural.

As far as the Bush hostility toward Chavez, one can safely surmise it's not because he's a bad leader and bully. Bush supports many, many of those people, occasionally "urging democratic reform". Bush explains that the US is more likely to have a positive influence if it has reasonable relations with those badguys than if it doesn't.

Which doesn't explain the reaction to the remaining nations. Must be an oil company thing.

Well, the Venezuelans deserve better. Chavez belongs in a motorcycle gang, not on the world stage.

Arf