The real problem here is that Chavez is making socialism, and thus the editors of the LA Times, look bad. People are supposed to embrace socialism like the people embrace Jesus--as a matter of love and spiritual epiphany. The whole secret police thing is a real embarrassment and thus requires spin-control. George W. Bush wasn't doing anything anyways, so he might as well take the fall for the soon-to-be-unemployed elites at the LA Times.

Ironically, Chavez himself seems to have realized that he needs to impose socialist totalitarianism under the cover of democracy. His National Intelligence and Counter-intelligence Law has generated a great deal of fear and strengthen the hands of the opposition. With an election coming up, Chavez thought discretion the better part of valor and rescinded the law.

That little action is more than a little problematic for the Times editor's theory about Chavez' paranoia. Did the imperialist threat suddenly disappear? Chavez is doing a lot of backpedalling these days--encouraging FARC, the Columbian terror group he had been supporting with hundreds of millions of dollars and safe havens in Venezuela, to "give up", release their hostages, lay down their arms and negotiate peace with the Colombia government.

Let me characterize the situation a little differently--Chavez' paranoia comes less from his worries about what the U.S. might do, than from the cold reality that he is losing his grip on power. The United States can't manufacture opposition in Venezuela--it can only support what already exists. That opposition exists because and not in spite of his socialist--read totalitarian political philosophy. Unable to create true prosperity and social peace by robbing Ricardo to pay Paulo, Chavez has resorted to oppression, manufacturing outside threats and destabilizing his more democratic and economically prosperous neighbors. As history has demonstrated repeatedly--this just makes it worse.

El lider now faces a situation in which he has talked loudly and carried a small stick and must now back down--further weakening his position and emboldening his enemies. I agree with the Times on one thing--the U.S. should resolve to do nothing--Chavez is doing fine all by himself, just like the failing LA Times.