Whilst many people around the world may be critical of the USA's interference in other countries, Chavez is in no position to criticise: he has been interfering in the affairs of neighbouring Columbia for years. The latest proof is that weapons seized from FARC by the Columbian military have been identified by their Swedish manufacturer as having been supplied to Venezeula. Whether his impact on his own country in the long term is good or bad remains to be seen but I don't trust anyone who wants to be president for life.

JG, I very much disagree. Chavez is actually one of the few people on this planet whom I give every right to criticize. He has been taken prisoner in his own presidential office, taken down to the basement, and about to be killed. The aborted coup failed, and he was rescued. Very few people have any doubts about the origin of money and the logistics being provided to the coup leaders. As for the neighboring Columbia, I would not exactly go to its rescue. The leadership of the country is responsible for death squads, and is until today partaking in the lucrative drug industry. Having eliminated Escobar, now the "elite" knows how to elegantly share the goodies of the trade. Our hipocritical "war on drugs" is in fact a war on anyone who would try to stop the drugs trade. There is no other explanation for the support of the current regime in Columbia. And what about FARC? FARC is the movement of the indegineous population, and the revolt agains the death squads brought about the insurrection in the country that is lasting for a very, very long time. FARC did more to erradicate drugs then all the US government non-existent efforts. The primary value we hold for Columbia is as our military outpost. Now, the new annoucement of a string of miliary bases to be built there has united the South Continent as never before. What is the purpose for turning Columbia into a gigantic armed arsenal? Who is the target? Why not let all the countries in the region struggle with their own economic problems, their deep seated social problems and the consequences of colonial politics that for centuries prevented the development of the entire region. How about just letting them have what they want... presidents, pharaos, kings or dukes for life. Their country, their business.

Hugo Chavez is a great leader!!! Such leaders will safe the world from colonialism!!!

JG, what are you talking about? The Columbian goverment is one of the most corrupts goverments on the planet, democracy does not exist in Columbia the currrent administration is lead by the mafia (Álvaro Uribe Velez number 82 on a list of 104 important people linked to the cocaine trade in Colombia) and based on trafficking of drugs, opposition almost does not exist in Columbia, not because its citizens like the goverment, it is just because anyone who dares to speak up or critizise its president or the govervent is automatically branded as a terrorist then tortured and put in jail for years. In Columbia exist many criminal and terrorist organizations many of them have been trained by Israel country that also supply weapons to kill civilians in Columbia.

Sorry to knock down the rating of the article, folks, but the it was so brief and superficial that it said nothing about this dynamic South American dictator/hero/astute politician (choose one, depending on your news media bias or class). I find him a delight to follow in depth from news sources that write that way.