The new regime unleashed a brutal period of not only Chilean politics but also of Latin American history in the 20th century.

Another coup was due in the South American landmass in the unipolar world. This time it was destined for Venezuela where a business elite supported by the CIA and the corrupt politicians who were unable to stomach the rule by popular and charismatic politician Hugo Chavez executed a bloody coup in April, 2002.

Chavez had popularized his rule by dint of a radical agenda whereby he wanted to use Venezuela’s huge oil wealth for the benefit of the poor who constitute the majority of the country’s population. His opposition bore with his policies for the initial moments of his rule.

But when the dynamic President tried to restructure the state-run PDVSA or Petroleos de Venezuela that would have made it answerable to the State and the people, his opponents caved in to the temptation of the coup which took place in April 2002.
The Bush administration came out in support of the coup ... Chavez had antagonized the Bush regime by questioning the anti-terror strategy of the US and had traveled all over the world striking friendship with anti-US players including Saddam Hussein.

But there is another facet of the anti-Venezuelan sentiments of the Bush administration. Caracas happens to be the fourth largest oil-producer of the world and the state-owned PDVSA earns US$9 billion which accounts for 15% of the oil imported by the US.

Chavez also enraged Bush and Co. by openly praising Cuban President Fidel Castro, who has himself weathered a forty year-long campaign by the US to dislodge the communist rule from Havana.

On the other hand Chavez had struck an accord with Saddam Hussein who had similarly committed a grievous crime by shifting his oil transactions from US dollars to the newly introduced Euros by the end of 2001.

Venezuela was seen helping the alternate power structure in the world oil market.

By shifting his oil deals to Euros, Saddam Hussein had committed the sin that he paid for with the invasion of his country.
Chavez also gained a bit of a similar reputation by siding with the Baathist government in Baghdad ... he was being seen as a man responsible for promoting the volatility in the global oil market which ideally for the US should have maintained a very low range. Chavez was not in a mood to push global oil prices back to its old bracket or pre-$30 age. He saw instability in oil prices necessary for global economic equity.

During the recent visit to Delhi, Chavez spelled out some of his ideas to the gathered journalists ... he said that the era of cheap oil was now behind in the curve of movement of the world economy. “The world could actually forget about the old prices." The temperamental movements in the price curve of the oil market, was indicative of the adjustments taking place in the price range.

“There was little reason to panic over the rising oil prices.”

He felt the world should stop worrying about “‘high’ oil prices and get used to the new price structure,” he added.

This is not a happy note to the energy hungry US.

Chavez’ pronouncements in India also show that his plans for his people are not in line with the US policies for global domination.
Chavez’ attempts to nationalize oil and energy resources and the plans for establishment of a socially responsible government reminds the world of another event in a different region.

It was the Mossadeq government of Iran in 1953 which was toppled by a CIA-plotted coup when the charismatic leader nationalized the energy resources of Iran. The government was overthrown, making way for the return of the Shah’s pro-US government.

Instead of peaceful measures and reconciliatory moves towards Caracas, reports suggest, the US administration had set up special teams to dislodge the Chavez administration from its seat of power, that included even a possible plot to assassinate President Chavez himself.

Attending a press conference during his visit, Chavez stated that he himself was aware of the plans of his government to eliminate him and that it was plotted by the US government. He accused the US forces of using napalm and mustard gas in the campaign to rid Fallujah of Iraqi insurgents in late 2004.

The steps by Chavez to chart his own course for the development of the large pool of downtrodden people in Venezuela and the planned American sabotage of his domestic and the subsequent international implications in the world oil market show that international events eerily resemble the past deeds the world has witnessed.

While the US intensifies its involvement in the West Asian [Middle East] region, it is also trying to replicate successful past models of action into the present era to erect a world order to its advantage.