The Devil's Advocate

GETTING TIRED YET?

It's a good thing Venezuela's recently re-elected President Hugo Chavez is taking his lessons from Jesus Christ. He recently told reporters in Caracas that if "Jesus Christ talked to the devil. We can do it too."

President Chavez joins the list of OPEC members calling for a decrease in oil production as to increase its cost in the market. Since 1998 oil revenues have quadrupled for Venezuela and the windfall has encouraged a 9% yearly growth in GDP.

As we all know; what a President does domestically is only a part of how he/she is perceived. Foreign policy counts for a lot when it comes to a leader's political clout. President Chavez' recent shenanigans doesn't quite build his credibility with the international community. Unfortunately for Chavez the price of oil has been in a steady decline and futures indicate that same trend.

But haven't we seen this before? There is another group of populist leaders who have no qualms putting etiquette aside and attacking their perceived opponents. Despite sitting on gargantuan oil revenues Mr. Chavez should begin focusing on the monumental problems his country faces within its borders rather than the "devils" outside of it. It is true that other leaders from oil rich countries are a bit more subdued than Chavez. Save for Russia, they seem more content with reaping the benefits of winning the geographical lottery and exerting their influence in other ways.