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Cuba's Stealthy Special Forces*** Nowhere has this worked out better than in Venezuela, where the largest Medical Brigade (over a thousand personnel) is providing medical care, and political indoctrination, to those Venezuelans who need it most. But the current president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, has most of the population trying to get him thrown out of office. When Chavez was elected in 1999, he promised a revolutionary program to clean up the corrupt and inefficient practices that had long hampered the economy's growth. Chavez was revolutionary all right, but he trashed the economy, using it more for patronage than any of his predecessors. A compelling speaker, Chavez also stirred up class war, telling poor Venezuelans that all their problems could be blamed on the rich. Three years ago, Chavez made a deal with Cuba to supply cut rate oil (worth half a billion dollars a year at market rates.) Cuba paid for little of the oil, now owes nearly $800 million and is not expected to ever pay the debt (mainly because Cuba simply hasn't got the cash.) In addition to the medical brigade, Cuba has sent military, police, political and media advisors to help Chavez out. Who says dictators (even elected ones) don't have friends?***

Venezuela and Cuba set to bolster economic ties [Full Text] HAVANA : Venezuela is looking at options to further economic ties with Cuba which includes the possible purchase of an oil refinery and opening a bank branch in Havana to expand trade.

The new Venezuelan ambassador Adan Chavez, the elder brother of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said at his first news conference in Havana that he had come to strengthen economic and ideological ties between the two political allies.

Chavez said the purchase of the unfinished Soviet-built oil refinery in Cienfuegos was being studied as part of an oil supply agreement signed in October 2000 under which Venezuela ships Cuba 53,000 barrels a day on generous terms.

Venezuela 's state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) has for several years been considering involvement in the Cuban refinery built with outdated Soviet technology.

The ambassador denied reports that Venezuela was sending Cuba more oil than stipulated, and said Cuban payments of its oil debt were on schedule. "We are not giving the oil away...there are no problems. Everything is flowing as established in the agreement," he said.

Venezuela also plans to open an office of its export finance bank, Banco de Comercio Exterior, in Havana , he said. He revealed Cuba will help Venezuela build low cost housing and will also build a plant to produce medicine in Venezuela .

Cuban sugar industry technicians have helped Venezuela restart abandoned refineries and build a new one the state of Barinas, Chavez said.

Cuban has sent 12,000 doctors, teachers and sports instructors to Venezuela , raising concerns among opponents of the Venezuelan president that he is seeking to establish Cuban-style communism in the oil-producing nation.

The ambassador said the social programs manned by Cubans have produced tangible results: more than eight million people have received medical attention and one million illiterate Venezuelans have learned to read.[End]