Venezuela is becoming more antagonistic toward the US:

Venezuela sucks up to Iraq to limit crude oil production

porterwn@one.net), February 16, 2000

Answers

Sorry for the run on URLs. Links are:

Venz sucks up to Iraq to limit crude oil production

Venz increasing as preferred rout for drug traffic into USA

Stage set for military coup in Venz could affect oil exports to USA

-- Bill P (porterwn@one.net), February 16, 2000.

Thanks Bill! Here is the first paragraph of the "stage set" link:

Venezuela: The Return of the Coup Plotters 0234 GMT, 000216

Summary

For the first time in his nearly two-year old presidency, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has faced a serious challenge from within his own ranks. Three former military leaders recently accused the presidents government of corruption  only to recant the charges. But this small episode has potentially large consequences for the nation that is one of the top three suppliers of oil for the United States. The president has dissenters within his own ranks. And though dismissed for the time being, the charge of corruption is a time bomb for a populist whose claim to power is staked to the notion that he is an honest man.

-- Hokie (Hokie_@hotmail.com), February 16, 2000.

Most of our other suppliers are not all that friendly, either...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), February 17, 2000.