[RedWhiteBlue]

Why did the anti-Chavez protesters leave their posts in the first place?????

Great question. I guess they assumed it was a "done deal" and that hugo was under lock and key. My guess is that, bolstered by their recent success, they will come back in greater numbers and they won't make the same mistake again. But then the military seems to be a big wild card, which leaves the possibility of civil war fairly high. As if these people don't have enough problems.

[WOSG]

i hope so, for the USA, this country has more oil than palestine. but sadly, if it falters, unless they come back with a general strike and make it stick, they will be back to square one. it might be a tad more important than powell meeting with arafat....