thinkaboutit

Oil: Our Biggest Ally

Reluctant as I am to find myself provoked to respond to a US-centric one-paragraph "article"; as a resident in South America, and no fan of Chavez, I understand the reasons for his democratic election. Whatever oil games Chavez might conspire to play, the US' democratically elected players are far more astute at the blood for oil game. Venezuelans know this from the US backed coup a couple of years back; Chileans know this from the CIA backed coup on 9/11/71, Argentina, Bolivia...

So while (temporary) low oil might effectively be a tax break for the rich; it may be a relief from the "oil curse". Using the term "dictators who dislike the US" seems antithetical to sensible discourse about geopolitics and the cause/effect of oil price.

Chavez's Empty Threats

OK, the outcome of the article is that Chavez iis bluffing, and yes it would seem so. However it is worth noting a couple of points - firstly Chavez is not a dictator, and secondy the reform was a suite of some 41 changes to the constitution, one of which pertained to possibility of re-election and a longer mandate.

I am not one to sing Chavez' praises, and am unsure if the article was tongue-in-cheek. My point is that if you're going to talk geopolitics you should look pragmatically at context. There is common misunderstanding and ignorance of the situation in Venezuela and South America in general, and the US plans for and intervention in that region.

Now as for snapping our fingers and have the rest of the world step in and increase production.....easier said.