The Wire

Venezuelans go to the polls in a special recall election this weekend and the vote is expected to return controversial left wing leader Hugo Chavez. It’s something of a dilemma for the US which traditionally has used fair means and foul to make sure Latin American countries don’t end up with socialist governments. Chavez has the support of the poor in his country because of the social reforms he’s delivered, and he’s paid for those reforms with oil. That’s the same oil that the US relies on. Larry Birns from Washington think-tank the Centre for Hemispheric Affairs believes the US won’t be able to resist interfering if Chavez wins the vote.