The only way is up

by Ben Whitford

A similarly cautious approach is likely when it comes to Venezuela. When Hugo Chávez this week welcomed Obama's "grand triumph" and declared himself open to meeting the president-elect to forge a "constructive bilateral agenda", the Obama camp issued a terse statement noting that relations between Washington and Caracas "will not improve unless Venezuela respects democracy and the rule of law." That caution is probably well-founded: while the end of the Maletagate trial and of the Bush era brings real hope for an easing of tensions between Venezuela and the US, Chávez may well continue to retreat into anti-Americanism when confronted with political crises. With regional elections looming and domestic tensions running high, it's far from clear whether Chávez's affection for Obama will last beyond inauguration day.