Venezuela assumes emergncy powers

Keeping eyes on crude oil price and availability?

-- Bill P (porterwn@one.net), August 16, 1999

Answers

[Last paragraph:] Despite Chavez's insistence that he is carrying out a "peaceful and democratic revolution," investment in Venezuela has virtually dried up since he took office six months ago as investors complain of his lack of economic policy direction and nervously eye the ongoing constitutional debate.

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So, with less than 5 months remaining in 1999, the world's 3rd largest oil producing nation decides to take 6 months to rewrite its government's constitution? Lovely. Talk about great moments in bad timing!

-- M.C. Hicks (mhicks@greenwich.com), August 16, 1999.

What is it about Latin America that allows traitors to live and eventually gain control?? Notice that this Chavez guy lead a 'failed' coup attempt...I guess if you are a leftist traitor in Latin America, you are forgiven...(except for Peru!).

-- K. Stevens (kstevens@It's ALL going away in January.com), August 16, 1999.

K. Stevens,

Geopolitics is an even more underhanded game than politics locally (USA). A word that one must truly grasp to even begin to understand it is "puppet". I could go on and on with example's but to sum it up in a word-- Noriega(sp).

-- CygnusXI (noburnt@toast.net), August 16, 1999.

Interesting analysis, CygnusXI. I would have thought our gummint would prefer a right-wing puppet, along the lines of Marcos. Wasn't Noriega the same? This Chavez guy is radical and left-leaning. Since Venezuela sends us about 20% of our oil and seems to be heading down a radical path, what are the odds we might engage in drastic governmental change down there, a la the CIA? I suppose there are a few left in the agency who can still shoot straight, and none of them can abide a leftist. It would play in some circles as "in our national interest".

Chile and Allende come to mind . . .

-- Margaret (cynic@here-we-go-again.eww), August 16, 1999.

Heard on the grapevine that He4s (Chavez) planning to change the Jan 1 2000 rollover date for a few months after his new Constitution comes in to effect in Jan. 2000. Crazy Guy that Chavez. Seems he4s not sure about Y2K.

-- Mayra (safe@home.com), August 16, 1999.

Anybody else notice the sudden increase in laundries in Caracus.

How far is it from Panama to the oil fields in Mexico?

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), August 17, 1999.