When it comes to corruption the US is a rank amateur compared to much of the world, and South/Central America in particular. Chavez is up for re-election in 2006. Assuming that the elections are held (and are fair, not a good assumption probably) then Venezuelans can remove Chavez from power. Evidently many Venezuelans already "blame" US "imperialisn" for many of its woes. That they might do so if the US does not intervene would be contradictory, but not surprising.