Venezuela 12-2-2005

Venezuela’s Oil Deal With Mass. Draws Heat — “Venezuela is doing a good thing for people.” — As for the claims on the Wall Street Journal op-ed page that Chavez is a “dictator” and that the Massachusetts oil bargain “undermines . . . pressure on Mr. Chavez to behave more humanely…” I might suggest this article by Greg Palast for some background: Hugo Chavez is Crazy!
Residents Return to New Orleans Ninth Ward — Actually no. They just return for the day to grab whatever stuff they can. Sounds like this area is being written off.
Iraq issues travel ban for non-Iraqi Arabs — One of the first travellers to be barred? [A]n Associated Press correspondent of Egyptian nationality[.] — The ban is “open-ended.” —