Abstract

Venezuela: The Gang's All Here!

The article looks at international relations with Venezuela in 2004. The minute some halfway decent government in Latin America begins to reverse the order of things and give the have-nots a break from the grind of poverty and wretchedness, the usual suspects in the United States rouse themselves from the slumber of indifference and start barking furiously about democratic norms. Here is the same show in Venezuela, pending the August 15 recall referendum of President Hugo Chávez. His government has actually delivered on some of its promises, with improved literacy rates and more students getting school meals. The economy is growing at close to 12 percent in 2004, and with world oil prices near $40 a barrel, the government has extra billions that it is using for social programs. So naturally the United States wants Chávez out.