Col. Hugo Chavez, who has been the elected president of Venezuela for several years, was just granted dictatorial powers by the nation's parliament. Go here for a Reuters article about this unfortunate retrogression.
It would appear that Chavez is getting his wish, becoming the next Fidel Castro. One wonders if this is the beginning of a new wave of junta rule; Chavez is much admired and emulated by Ortega of Nicaragua, Morales of Bolivia, and to some extent by Correa of Ecuador.
