Seeking United Latin America, Venezuela’s Chávez Is a Divider
As Venezuela’s president, Hugo Chávez, insinuates himself deeper in the politics of his region, something of a backlash is building among his neighbors. Mr. Chávez — stridently anti-American, leftist and never short on words — has cast himself as spokesman for a united Latin America free of Washington’s influence. He has backed Bolivia’s recent gas nationalization, set up his own Socialist trade bloc and jumped into the middle of disputes between his neighbors, even when no one has asked. Full Story