Venezuela faces civil war on road to democracy *** For his part, Chavez, after promising to moderate his polarizing rhetoric in April, has failed to create an atmosphere of reconciliation and dialogue. The opposition's obstinacy and coup-mongering, nevertheless, are an inexcusable war of attrition on weak democratic institutions. So should Chavez go? He is, after all, the democratically elected leader who has not breached the constitution. Crisis calls for immediate measures.
The Bush administration's public call for early presidential elections bolstered the opposition, agitated the president and indirectly undermined a pro-government but moderate representative's constitutional amendment proposal for early elections. Chavez is loath to appear in concert with a U.S. policy torn between oil interests and a thinly veiled preference for regime change. The recalcitrant opposition refuses to wait for August, when a binding referendum on Chavez's rule can be held. So again Venezuela faces civil war or dialogue. With hesitant and muted diplomacy from the United States and fruitless mediation efforts led by the Organization of American States, the former is more likely. ***
Negotiations in Venezuela*** The Bolivarian Revolution that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez pledged to launch has boomeranged. After recovering from a short-lived McCoup in April, Mr. Chavez has faced escalating opposition. On Saturday, more than 1 million demonstrators rallied against Mr. Chavez, and an ongoing oil strike, which began Dec. 2, has paralyzed the country financially. Earlier this month, three anti-Chavez protesters were shot dead by government loyalists. If a deal isn't reached soon between Mr. Chavez and the discontented, the political future of Venezuela will be decided on the streets ? and blood-drenched streets they could be. The question remains, then, how should the United States weigh in? Venezuela is, particularly now, central to U.S. interests, since it is the world's fifth-largest oil producer and supplies America with 14 percent of its imported oil. Crude oil futures have risen past the psychologically significant $30 level, primarily as a result of the turmoil in Venezuela.***