The US likes to keep its enemies list (and oil supplies) flowing.
From
Reuters
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday warned Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice not to "mess with" him days after Rice described Venezuela as a menace to regional democracy in the midst of tense diplomatic relations between the two countries.
"Don't mess with me Condoleezza. Don't mess with me, girl," Chavez said during his weekly Sunday broadcast, sarcastically offering her a kiss and jokingly referring to her as "Condolence."
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Venezuela, co-incidentally enough, supplies 1/5 of all the US's petroleum. Maybe our next little war will be in THIS hemisphere. Anyone want to lay the odds?