Hugo Chavez addressed Venezuelans in his annual report to the Venezuelan Parliament last week in a speech that underlined the clear the choice the country faces in October’s Presidential election.

The social achievements of the past decade and ongoing plans to develop social inclusion were the clear dividing lines between the progressive movements untied behind President Chavez and a right-wing opposition committed to a return to the free-market policies that failed Venezuelans for decades.

By Mark Weisbrot

It has become common for political commentary in the U.S. to describe the Republican primary election as the “silly season,” as the candidates pander to the party’s far-right base with proposals and rhetoric that will be dropped in the general election.  But unfortunately the “silly season” is not only a climate problem on the Republican side. As I noted in this space two weeks ago, the Obama administration has moved us closer to military confrontation with Iran, partly as a result of Republican pressure— although the administration has apparently been getting nervous about being dragged into a war by an Israeli military strike. But there are other areas where cranking up hostilities for electoral purposes is without political risk.  Venezuela is one.