Venezuela after Chavez: What comes next?
Since 1999, the Venezuelan people have suffered under an oppressive, neosocialist dictatorship that disregarded human rights, the rule of law and freedom of the press. For 14 years, Hugo Chavez trampled over democratic order, jailed political prisoners and oppressed the Venezuelan people. Chavez reportedly accumulated vast amounts of wealth estimated in the billions while Venezuelans suffered from high inflation and joblessness, rampant food shortages and a private sector that is threatened at every turn.
Venezuela is a pivotal national security interest for the United States. It is one of the largest foreign suppliers of crude oil to the United States and is a strategic foothold that continues to pose a threat to our interests in the region.… Seguir leyendo »