The predictive nature of U.S.-Venezuela relations

U.S. government criticizes the Chavez regime in Venezuela. The Venezuelan government shoots back. (Sometimes it’s the other way around). Another government official replies and the opposite government responds to that. And so on, and so on.

Take the following example:

* Last month, U.S. drug czar John Walters blasted the “failure” of Venezuelan counternarcotics efforts for a reported increase in cocaine from that country.

* Venezuela’s government denied Walters’ allegations and threatened to boot the U.S. ambassador.

* Venezuelan authorities burned down over three tons of drugs last week yet Walters replied by criticizing them for “not doing a better job.”

* Chavez then denied that Venezuela has become a "paradise" for smugglers and Walters again responded by claiming that Venezuela’s drug policy is a "global threat" against Europe.

Earlier this week, the Transportation Security Administration advised travelers to avoid taking nonstop flights from Venezuela due to allegedly unsafe airport conditions. You can imagine what happened next:

Venezuela's aviation agency is criticizing a U.S. travel advisory informing travelers that the U.S. can't vouch for the security of flights departing Venezuela.

The National Civil Aviation Institute insists Venezuela's airports are in full compliance with international standards set by the U.N. agency overseeing civil aviation.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Image- washingtonpost.com
Sources- AP, Forbes, Jerusalem Post, Wall Street Journal, heraldnewsdaily.com