After the coup, the reckoning (Venezuela)***Latin American governments feared that Mr Chavez's overthrow would set a dreadful precedent in the region. They were behind the OAS's decision to convene a special session of its general assembly to discuss Venezuela on April 18th, something which the United States opposed, fearing it would give a platform to Mr Chavez. Ironically, the OAS's democratic charter, which requires it to intervene when democracy is threatened, was approved last year at the behest of the United States and despite dissent from Venezuela. The lesson for Mr Chavez is that he was saved not by Cuba's Fidel Castro, his best friend in the region, but by democracy, points out Mr Garrido.
Nobody has emerged from these events with much credit. They have cast a familiar shadow of political instability over Latin America-and given the no less familiar impression that the United States backs democracy in the region only if it is run by its friends. And while Mr Chavez has bobbed back, some Venezuelans believe his "revolution" has been mortally wounded. After all, many successful coups are preceded by botched attempts.***