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Quote by: rmnunez 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?

Inter change the names and you could be talking about bush's USA.

Venezuela's PDVSA opens office in China
...AFX News Limited ...08.22.2005, 02:10 PM

CARACAS (AFX) - Venezuela's state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA)has opened an office in Beijing to explore business opportunities in China, a company statement said. 'PDVSA China will evaluate opportunities in the region, inland and offshore, and will be a bastion for shoring up relations with new strategic partners,' Venezuelan Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez said after inaugurating the new office in Beijing, according to the statement. Venezuelan oil exports grew 560 pct between 2004 and 2005 to 68,800 barrels per day from 12,300 bpd, the statement said. PDVSA said exports to China could potentially reach 300,000 bpd, or 100 mln barrels per year. Venezuela's quota under OPEC is 3.1 mln bpd, with about half of that going to the US.