| Many critical lefties and assorted antigringans watch with rapt attention political developments in Latin America. Chavez is a strong leftist leader challenging US dominance who holds out hope for fellow-travellers who are always in the hunt for a leader to challenge US hegemony. Things in Venezuela, despite the Bolivarian ideals which supposedly inspire their paramilitary ruler and former coup leader, there are serious problems in the country (censorship, criminal expropriations, capital flight, drug trafficking... plus the problems Chavez brings on by courting Castro). In Brazil Lula is in trouble with the rampant corruption evident in his cabinet, will we ever get an accurate appraisal of the integrity in Chavez's cabinet? What are the changes such details will be disclosed relating to Castro's? |