[JohnHuang2]

I wonder if Jimmy will have more success mediating talks with Hugo Chavez and Venezuelans calling for his head.

;^)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Venezuelan threats disturb U.S. - Carter reassessing his involvement*** WASHINGTON - The State Department on Thursday complained that a handful of U.S. diplomats and citizens have been mistreated by Venezuelan authorities and also warned opponents of populist President Hugo Chávez that it opposes any new effort to topple him during upcoming weekend protests.

A brief State Department note underscored that tensions between Chávez government authorities and U.S. citizens in Venezuela remain high. The U.S. Embassy in Caracas has issued a protest over ''threatening remarks made to a U.S. diplomat at Maiquetia International Airport by authorities there, as well as mistreatment of two U.S. diplomats and a U.S. citizen teacher by local Venezuelan authorities during a weekend fishing trip,'' the department statement said.***