Clinton’s Diplomatic Disconnect on Venezuela

Ray Walser / July 06, 2010

Secretary of State Clinton’s congratulatory message to Venezuela on its independence day reflects the State Department’s continued inability to craft a coherent strategy for Venezuela. The friendly message claims ingenuously:

We [the U.S. and Venezuela] share a common history of emancipation and democratic aspiration.

Yet, in reality, it is hard to see how Venezuela—with its historic oscillations between political strongmen, oligarchic elites, and the current Bolivarian Revolution of President Hugo Chavez—compares with the course of liberty and democratic governance in the United States. The congratulatory note continues undeterred: (more…)