Gustavo Coronel has written powerful, readable, interesting essay about all the new problems besetting Hugo Chavez – against all expectations. Chavez should have the wind at his back now that he’s consolidated power, but precisely the opposite has happened. It’s all falling apart on him, the center is not holding, which is exactly what happens when you declare war on the laws of human nature and economics, as Chavez has done. This may well be why Washington is being so quiet now – they’re going to let him do himself in, without their involvement. As Venezuela’s people are quietly regrouping in moves to somehow ease him out of his dictatorship, something Chavez must surely, deep down, know.

Read Gustavo’s brilliant and interesting essay here.