Venezuela Aff and Neg Updates - HSS 2013
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Negative
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“Say No”
( ) Venezuela will “say no” – public statements from Maduro confirm
El Universal ‘13 (El Universal is a major Venezuelan newspaper, headquartered in Caracas with an average daily circulation of about 150,000. – “Maduro:
Venezuela will have "zero tolerance" for aggressions of Washington” – July 20th
– http://english.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-
politica/130720/maduro-venezuela-will-have-zero-tolerance-for-aggressions-of-washingto)
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday described as "terminated" his government-initiated
talks with Barack Obama administration. He stressed he would implement a "zero tolerance"
policy for "aggressions" on Venezuela.¶ "My policy as president is zero tolerance for gringo
aggression against Venezuela. I am not going to stand any verbal aggression against
Venezuela, neither political nor diplomatic. Enough is enough! Stay away with your
empire. Do not mess any more with Venezuela," said Maduro during a ceremony of military promotions in
Cojedes state, central Venezuela.¶ The Venezuelan president also reiterated his rejection and condemnationof the statements issued by Samantha Power, the Washington ambassador nominee to the United Nations, on Venezuela.
"When she went to Congress, she went crazy and started to attack Venezuela just like that. She
started to say that she is going to the UN to monitor and make clear what the repression on political and civil institutions in Venezuela is, and
that she will address the lack of democracy in Venezuela."¶ Maduro mentioned a phone call US Secretary of State John
Kerry made to Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elías Jaua. According to Maduro, the
Venezuelan foreign minister warned the US top diplomat that Venezuela will not accept
any pressures in connection with Caracas' offer to grant asylum to former CIA agent Edward
Snowden, who is charged with leaking classified information on espionage programs.
( ) Venezuela won’t cave to US oil QPQ’s.
Lendman ‘13 Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed,
then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he
joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967. He remained there until retiring at year end 1999. Writing on major world and national
issues began in summer 2005. In early 2007, radio hosting followed. Lendman now hosts the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive
Radio Network three times weekly. Major world and national issues are discussed. Lendman is a 2008 Project Censored winner and 2011
Mexican Journalists Club international journalism award recipient. “Venezuela Bashing” – The People’s Voice – July 21st, 2013 –
http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2013/07/21/venezuela-bashing
Venezuela's oil reserves are the world's largest. At the same time, it requires refined oil imports. It lacks enough
domestic capacity.¶
It relies on around 500,000 barrels of gasoline monthly from America . It needsanother half million barrels to fuel power plants.¶ It imports about 350,000 barrels of MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether). It's a gasoline
additive for increase octane.¶ Kerry warned Jaua. Supplies will be halted if Snowden's given refuge
on Venezuelan territory.¶ Its Foreign Ministry so far hasn't commented. Don't expect Jaua and Maduro to
cave. It's not their style to do so. Chavez didn't. Nor will they.
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( ) Venezuela will say “no” – US Senate also demands a hardline.
Lendman ‘13 Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed,
then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he
joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967. He remained there until retiring at year end 1999. Writing on major world and national
issues began in summer 2005. In early 2007, radio hosting followed. Lendman now hosts the Progressive Radio News Hour on the ProgressiveRadio Network three times weekly. Major world and national issues are discussed. Lendman is a 2008 Project Censored winner and 2011
Mexican Journalists Club international journalism award recipient. “Venezuela Bashing” – The People’s Voice – July 21st, 2013 –
http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2013/07/21/venezuela-bashing
Maduro said Venezuela's "fascist right" applauded Powers' comments . So didsupportive Senate committee members.¶ On July 19, a Venezuelan Foreign
Ministry statement said:¶ "The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela hereby ends the process of finally
normalizing our diplomatic relations" with Washington.¶ In early June, efforts began to
do so. They were doomed to fail. America demands total subservience. Venezuela rejects bullying. It won't roll over irresponsibly.¶ It fiercely defends its sovereignty. Its independence
matters most.¶ In 2010, Venezuela and Washington suspended normal diplomatic relations. They haven't exchanged ambassadorssince then.
( ) Will say “no” – recent statement locks Venezuela into rejection of US offers.
BBC News ‘13 “Venezuela 'ends' bid to restore full US ties” – July 20
th – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-23387807
Venezuela says it has "ended" steps towards restoring diplomatic ties with the US, after
comments by the woman nominated as the next envoy to the UN.¶ Samantha Power said this week she would seek to
combat what she called the "crackdown on civil society" in countries including Venezuela. ¶ She was speaking at a US Senate confirmation
hearing on Wednesday.¶ The remarks prompted an angry response from Venezuela's President NicolasMaduro.¶ "The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela hereby ends the process... of finally normalising our
diplomatic relations," said Venezuela's foreign ministry in a statement.¶ It objected to Ms Power's
"interventionist agenda", noting that her "disrespectful opinions" were later endorsed
by the state department, "contradicting in tone and in content" earlier statements by Secretary of State John Kerry.
( ) Venezuela will “say no” – they’ve publicly staked their credibility on rejecting offers
from the US.
Neuman ‘13 WILLIAM NEUMAN – New York Times Andes Region correspondent – “Venezuela Stops Efforts to Improve U.S. Relations” –
New York Times – July 20, 2013 – http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/world/americas/venezuela-stops-efforts-to-improve-
us-relations.html?_r=0
Venezuela announced late Friday that it was stopping the latest round of off-again-on-again efforts to
improve relations with the United States in reaction to comments by the Obama administration’s nominee
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for United Nations ambassador. ¶ The nominee, Samantha Power, speaking before a Senate committee on Wednesday, said part of her
role as ambassador would be to challenge a “crackdown on civil society” in several countries, including Venezuela. President Nicolás Maduro
had already lashed out on Thursday at Ms. Power for her remarks, and late on Friday the Foreign Ministry said it was terminating efforts to
improve relations with the United States. ¶ Those efforts had inched forward just last month after Secretary of State John Kerry publicly shook
hands with the Venezuelan foreign minister, Elías Jaua, during an international meeting in Guatemala — one of the highest-level meetings
between officials of the two countries in years.¶ Venezuela “will never accept interference of any kind in its
internal affairs,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that it “considered terminated theprocess begun in the conversations in Guatemala that had as their goal the
regularization of our diplomatic relations.”
( ) Power’s comments ruined US-Venezuelan ties – worst timing imaginable.
Khaleej Times ‘13 (Editorial Section – “Venezuela-US row” – 21 July 2013 – http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-
1.asp?xfile=/data/editorial/2013/July/editorial_July41.xml§ion=editorial)
WASHINGTON HAS unnecessarily picked up a quarrel with Caracas . The remarks of newly
designated ambassador to the United Nations that the US would seek to combat what she called the ‘crackdown’ on civil society in Venezuela
has raised a diplomatic storm.¶ Samantha Power, the versatile human rights activist who has worked extensively on
genocide, kicked the tin when she went on and on to castigate the neighbour in her
backyard in an attempt to please the august members of the Congress hearing her
confirmation bid. She shouldn’t have mentioned Venezuela in so many words and also at a time
when their bilateral relations are at their lowest ebb. Both the countries do not have diplomatic ties since they
de-marched their ambassadors in 2010. Moreover, the US posed itself on the wrong side when it criticised
the presidential elections in Venezuela after the death of Hugo Chavez and drew undue
condemnation. The last but not the least is the evolving Edward Snowden question, which is posing the biggest issue in their relations
with Caracas having extended asylum offer to the fugitive whistleblower. ¶ In such a scenario, Samantha could have done a better job by
utilising her talent in a secretive-cum-diplomatic manner, rather than drum-beating ethics before the US legislators. Her appointment to the
world body was a considerate decision by President Barack Obama and was meant to harness congeniality with her immediate neighbours in
the southern hemisphere. Samantha’s remarks have also torpedoed the goodwill gesture that
Secretary John Kerry wanted to promote by initiating a dialogue and hopefully moving on to receive each other’s
envoys. Samantha should come up with a damage control comment earnestly.
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Snowden won’t end up in Venezuela
Snowden won’t go to Venezuela – and the Cap K people are overly-optimistic about
Venezuela.
Free Venezuela ‘13 Internally quoting Peter Wilson of Foreign Policy magazine who has lived in Venezuela for 21 years – Free Venezuela is coordinated by Diego
Arria is a distinguished Venezuelan political analyst and former diplomat. As the permanent representative of Venezuela to the United Nations
in New York from 1991-93, he served as President of the UN Security Council. Arria later served as Special Adviser to the former UN Secretary
General, Kofi Annan. Diego has been a Visiting Diplomatic Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a Visiting Scholar at Columbia
University. He serves on the Board of Directors of the UN’s International Peace Academy and on the Advisory Board of the International Crisis
Group. Is Maduro Serious About Snowden? – http://freevenezuelanow.org/is-maduro-serious-about-snowden/
Chief among those countries is Venezuela. Maduro has offered Snowden asylum, but is he serious? As the New York
Times points out:¶ But for all the bluster, it is possible that no government in the region is really eager to see Mr.
Snowden land in its country. None of the countries that have offered him asylum have
said they would be willing to go fetch him.¶ Meanwhile, Peter Wilson in Foreign Policy provides a
welcome reality check on life in Venezuela for Snowden and his supporters on the infantile
left:¶ The economy is gutted. The government has expropriated dozens of private companies whose production always seems
to fall after their seizure. Today, while walking in my neighborhood, I saw long lines of people
stretching out of a government-owned supermarket. They were waiting to buy cooking oil, sugar, chicken — simple
staple goods. Food shortages are common. Pack a comfortable pair of shoes if you want to buy coffee, meat, flour,
cornmeal, or pasta.¶ Buy a health insurance policy. Although the government and Sean Penn like
to claim that all Venezuelans have free access to health care, that’s a farce. At the health
center in my little village outside Caracas, the sick are advised to bring their own thermometers .
The clinic doesn’t have any. Medications? Forget it — they have none. Patients are sent to nearbyprivate pharmacies for even minor medications. And the hospitals are even worse. One of my friends broke
his leg in two places, and I took him to the state hospital here. The doctor told us that his leg would have
to be reset with pins. My neighbor said, “Do it.” The doctor laughed and told us we had misunderstood. The hospital had
no pins; we would have to buy them at a hefty sum in Caracas…¶ It’s true that many
Venezuelans here admire you for blowing the whistle on clandestine U.S. espionage
programs. But think twice before pulling a stunt like that here . We have our own version of the
surveillance state, but the government’s opponents say that it’s more typically Cuban “advisors” who are listening in on calls through the state
telephone company and the armed forces…¶ You’ll do fine down here, Señor Snowden, and hundreds of
thousands of Venezuelans support you and your crusade. But many more down here wonder
why you would ever want to come to a country that constantly violates the veryprinciples you’re fighting for.
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Snowden not b/c of Maduro’s standing
( ) Maduro did *not* offer asylum to shore-up domestic standing.
Mallett-Outtrim ‘13 Ryan Mallett-Outtrim; writer for Merida News Organization; “Venezuela's Maduro and His Motivations to Take in Snowden: The Wall Street
Journal Misses the Mark” – Venezuelanalysis.com, July 12th 2013 – http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/9847
In the wake of President Nicolas Maduro's offer of asylum to Edward Snowden, there has been a
renewed wave of criticism of the Venezuelan government. There has been some good commentary, and plenty of the usual
misinformation.¶ The Wall Street Journal kicked things off on 7 July, with Mary Anastasia O'Grady arguing that by offering to take in
Snowden, Maduro means to send “a message of his loyalty to Iran”. Why Maduro's decision is all about boosting relations with Iran is anyone's
guess, especially given the waning strategic significance of Iran to Venezuela. In any case, things go downhill from there. ¶ It's the
economy...or is it?¶ O'Grady states that, the “offer of refuge to Mr. Snowden is most easily
explained as an attempt to distract Venezuelans from the increasingly difficult daily economic
grind and get them to rally around the flag by putting a thumb in Uncle Sam's eye .Ӧ But why would Maduro want to distract Venezuelans from the economy ?Maduro's offer of asylum to Snowden came just before the central bank released its monthly report on inflation. After a rough first
quarter for the Venezuelan economy, things seem to be looking up. Along with recording a reduction
in scarcity of consumer goods, the report also provides some positive signs that the inflationary spike of recent months may finally be passing.
Trying to distract the electorate right as the economy starts showing signs of
improvement seems like a questionable decision. Moreover, Maduro has pledged to continue the popular
policies of his predecessor. Pointing this out is becoming a frustratingly tedious affair, but there is amble evidence that
poverty nosedived over the last decade, while household consumption skyrocketed.
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Great card for Neolib K vs. Venezuela Affs
( ) Venezuelan poverty rates decline – proves lack of need for Western neo-lib.
Mallett-Outtrim ‘13 Ryan Mallett-Outtrim; writer for Merida News Organization; this article is internally refuting a piece by Mary Anastasia O'Grady that was
written in the Wall Street Journal – “Venezuela's Maduro and His Motivations to Take in Snowden: The Wall Street Journal Misses the Mark” –
Venezuelanalysis.com, July 12th 2013 – http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/9847
But why would Maduro want to distract Venezuelans from the economy? Maduro's offer of asylum to Snowden came just before the central
bank released its monthly report on inflation. After a rough first quarter for the Venezuelan economy, things seem to be looking up. Along with
recording a reduction in scarcity of consumer goods, the report also provides some positive signs that the
inflationary spike of recent months may finally be passing . Trying to distract the electorate right as the
economy starts showing signs of improvement seems like a questionable decision. Moreover, Maduro has pledged to continue the popular
policies of his predecessor. Pointing this out is becoming a frustratingly tedious affair, but there is amble evidence that
poverty nosedived over the last decade, while household consumption skyrocketed.¶
O'Grady rightly argues, “In a free society with competitive elections, economic chaos generally prompts a government response designedto mitigate hardship”, but incorrectly asserts that “Venezuela needs liberalization”. Since most international
observers view Venezuela's elections as free and fair (though Carter Centre's preliminary report on the 14 April elections indicates that there is
plenty of room for improvement), the government's recent efforts to mitigate hardships of the
people make sense. Some recent efforts to reduce hardship that O'Grady may be interested in include the
granting of new disability benefits to 120,000 Venezuelans last month, renewed investment
in a “miracle” eye surgery program that provides free care to the poor from across Latin
America, wage increases and other new rights for workers, cracking down on
government corruption, speaking directly to the people, passing new gun control legislation that calls on arms manufacturers to
compensate victims, dramatically reducing homicides in the capital, more wage increases and of course
being recognised for making “exceptional progress” in reducing malnutrition. And that's just what's been happening during the last few economically strained months. Furthermore, O'Grady seems
to ignore the fact that the “remarkable reduction in poverty” noted by the CEPR's Mark Weisbrot over the last
decade occurred largely due to massive state investment in welfare (read more here). This happened
in the same period that Venezuela “achieved high rates of economic growth”, according to the World Bank. Maybe Venezuelaisn't doing too bad without WSJ-style liberalism after all.
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New takeout to Iran-Venezuela
( ) Hawks wrong about Iran-Venezuela – specifically indicts Noriega
Mallett-Outtrim ‘13 Ryan Mallett-Outtrim; writer for Merida News Organization; Venezuelanalysis.com, “Venezuela-Iran Relations: No Longer Imperilled by
Imperialism?” – June 30th 2013
Two events that defy hawk logic have taken place in the same month. First, on the 5th of June United States
secretary of state John Kerry met with Venezuela's foreign minister, Elias Jaua, and stated that he had agreed to pursue a more “positive
relationship” with Venezuela. Then, just weeks later, Iranians voted in a president who has openly argued
against nuclear proliferation.¶ What happened? Iran and Venezuela's amiable relationship of the
last decade was supposed to be the sum of all fears for Washington . Two “tyrants”, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
and Hugo Chavez, were accused of co-sponsoring all sorts of wild, fantastical plots by Washington's warmongers. But was the Iran-
Venezuela relationship ever about crushing the “free world” by assembling an unholy alliance ofdruglords, Islamists and socialists, or is there a slightly saner explanation?¶ The crazy brigade¶ It was just in March that
Roger Noriega delivered his red blooded testimony before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs that
alleged that Latin American drug traffickers, Hezbollah, Venezuela and Iran have all united in some kind of
convoluted plot that involves waging “asymmetrical warfare against U.S. security, interests and allies close to the
homeland”. Along with stating that “Hezbollah operatives and their radical anti-Semitic allies hold important senior positions in the Venezuelan
government”, Noriega also argued that Margarita Island is basically one big Hezbollah training camp (could put a slight dent in the
government's ambitions to develop the tourism sector) and that senior “chavista officials engage routinely in lucrative schemes involving
Hezbollah front companies, Colombian terrorist groups, narcotraffickers, Venezuelan financial institutions and even powerful state-run
entities”.¶ In short a unified front of Arabs, Iranians, terrorism, drugs and state run enterprises united against Washington. Noriega is far from a
lone voice warning against this rainbow of conservative fears. Vice president of the American Foreign Policy Council Ilan Berman has also
warned that a myriad of recent events ranging from toilet paper shortages in Venezuela to the Colombian peace process are all possibly playing
into the hands of a shadowy “network enabling Iran to carry out attacks in the region”. Last year, an opinion piece in the Miami Herald
penetrated to the core of this existential threat to the U.S.: the “most remarkable and dangerous foreign policy initiative of the [former] Chávezregime”, its positive relationship with Iran. The article continues by arguing that the threat of Iran and Venezuela cooperating to “smuggle a
nuclear weapon into the U.S...should not be dismissed lightly”.¶ The relationship between Caracas and Iran was a key consideration when
lawmakers passed the Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act of 2012 (CIWHA), which aims to “address Iran's growing hostile presence
and activity” in the region. Since CIWHA was passed, Venezuela's state arms manufacturer has been targeted by U.S. sanctions under the Iran,
North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA).¶ Perhaps the events of June will make some of the fear
brigade rethink the Iran-Venezuela relationship. After all, the relationship between the two
countries isn't quite as sinister as the likes of Noriega make it out to be. No, Iran and
Venezuela are not cooperating to nuke Miami, and PDVSA might not actually be a
Hezbollah front. The reality of the relationship is just as interesting, but it just doesn't read like an Ian
Fleming novel.
( ) Iran-Venezuela ties dwindling – not a security risk to the US.
Mallett-Outtrim ‘13 Ryan Mallett-Outtrim; writer for Merida News Organization; Venezuelanalysis.com, “Venezuela-Iran Relations: No Longer Imperilled by
Imperialism?” – June 30th 2013
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Does this mean the U.S. wont try to extinguish Venezuela-Iran relations in the future?¶ Not at all, though the focus will change. Unlike a decade
ago, the Iran-Venezuela bond is no longer mutually beneficial as a deterrence
strategy. While Venezuela still has plenty to gain from cooperation with Iran in areas like
agriculture and technology (Cavim's new Harpy is a great example of the latter), Venezuela probably wont see
deterrence dividends so much in the future . Between ALBA, PetroCaribe and Mercosur, Venezuela's
geopolitical significance has skyrocketed over the last decade, while the U.S.'s iron grip on the western
hemisphere is quickly becoming a bad memory. Iran, on the other hand, needs all the help it can get. If the
Western media is to be believed, sanctions are working exactly as intended; punishing the poor. Meanwhile, the Israeli noose is tightening, and
the U.S. propaganda machine keeps rolling on. As Hugo Chavez once said, “they accuse us of being a threat to the United States. They are the
threat, and not a hypothetical one but a real, proven one.Ӧ Given the dwindling security dividends Iran can
offer Venezuela, if Maduro continues to pursue close ties with Tehran, it will probably be with
the hope of ensuring that Iranians are never the victim of anything like the humanitarian disaster
unfolding in Syria. Nuking the U.S. mainland, or selling Caribbean holiday homes to Hezbollah
probably aren't too high on the agenda .
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Affirmative
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“Say Yes”
Relations resilient- economic ties in the squo prove
Tengri News 7/25/13 [cites AFP, US still up for warming Venezuela ties after fresh row,
http://en.tengrinews.kz/politics_sub/US-still-up-for-warming-Venezuela-ties-after-fresh-row--21284/]The United States said Wednesday it is still open to improving ties with Venezuela after Caracas called
off the rapprochement, accusing Washington of meddling in its internal affairs , AFP reports. The two nations -- which were often at odds during
the 14-year rule of the recently deceased Hugo Chavez -- had hinted at warmer ties after a meeting of top diplomats last month. But then
Venezuela reacted angrily to a statement by Samantha Power -- tapped to be the next US ambassador to the United Nations -- who vowed to
stand up to "repressive regimes" and challenge the "crackdown on civil society being carried out in countries like Cuba, Iran, Russia, and
Venezuela." President Nicolas Maduro -- the handpicked successor to the leftist Chavez -- then accused Washington of meddling in Venezuela's
affairs, condemning its "imperialist attitude." Washington has yet to recognize Maduro's victory in a disputed April election to replace
Chavez. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Wednesday she was not aware of Maduro's comments, and she insisted the
United States was still committed to improving ties. "We obviously have not interjected into any election," she
said. "We are open to having a positive relationship with Venezuela moving forward . That's
what our focus is on, and we still are leaving the door open for that." During his 14 years in power Chavez railed against US
"imperialism" and cultivated close ties with Cuba, Iran and Syria. But despite the fact that Washington andCaracas have not exchanged ambassadors since 2010, oil-rich Venezuela still exports
some 900,000 barrels a day to the United States.
Relations will improve – inevitably instable
Neuman 7/20 – Reporter for NY Times (William, “Venezuela Stops Efforts to Improve US Relations”,
The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/world/americas/venezuela-stops-efforts-
to-improve-us-relations.html?_r=0)
In the Guatemala meeting, Mr. Kerry said he hoped the two countries could rapidly move
toward exchanging ambassadors again. But those talks never had time to gain traction. On July
12, Mr. Kerry telephoned Mr. Jaua to express concern over the asylum offer to Mr. Snowden.This is
not the first time that Venezuela has backed off the idea of renewed relations with the
United States. The two countries quietly began talks late last year aimed at improving
relations, although those ground to a halt after the health of Mr. Chávez, who had cancer, deteriorated
in December. After Mr. Chávez’s death in March, a State Department official said the United States
hoped that the election to replace him would meet democratic standards — prompting Mr. Jaua to
angrily announce that Venezuela was halting the talks between the two countries. Venezuelan
officials have repeatedly said relations with the United States should be conducted on a
basis of respect.
Relations can improve – oil ties key
Rutland Herald 4/22 – “Quit the Sniping”, Rutland Herald, July 22, 2013,
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20130722/OPINION04/707229967/1018/OPINION
Washington may appear understandably preoccupied with pending talks between Israel and
Palestine, the continued unrest in Egypt, the worsening situation in Syria and the sectarian violence in
Iraq, but clearly the state department also must deal with hostility from certain parts of Latin
America. One oddity: More than 100 players on America’s Major League Baseball teams are
natives of Venezuela, and their performances are closely watched by their friends,
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relatives and fans back home. And, unlike Cuban players, they didn’t have to defect to play
in the United States. They’re well paid in this country. Also, the United States is an important
customer for Venezuela’s major export, oil. The two nations can keep sniping at each
other, but they also need each other, and that fact may help save their relationship.