Didn't they just suspend regulations on emergency payments to Cuba (from exile cubans with family at home)? Don't worry Pabst - this time instead of having them hang out on South Beach, mariel boatlift ][ will be heading to Aventura. You don't mind, right?
Chavez is playing with fire. It's one thing to come talk smack about the US in the media. Bush will look the other way on that stuff. It's a totally different ball of wax to start doing joint military exercises with the Russians in our back yard. It's not that difficult for the US to bring down a crappy government in S. America. I would imagine there are lots of people in Venezuela that would love to do our dirrty work for us with a little funding.
This is not a new idea for the US either. Chavez probably thinks he can get away with it with the election so close at hand.
Nope nothing happened, only a conspiracy theory, probably made up by chavez himself. http://politica.eluniversal.com/2008/09/12/pol_art_an-crea-comision-esp_1043333.shtml
Chavez is just trying to jawbone up the price. It is getting too low for his comfort, and with the recent walkout of the Saudis from the OPEC meeting only underscores the panic some people are feeling and what they would resort to do.