Why U.S. should be wary of Venezuela

President Barack Obama offended many when he established more normal relations with Cuba, even as the Castro brothers cling to power. So far, most Americans appear supportive of his initiative, recognizing the current policies have done little to undermine the Castros or help the Cuban people. Now the president is looking farther south, to Venezuela, but Americans may be less likely to favor normalizing relations with a nation whose leftist leaders seemed to have picked up the baton from Cuba as the most vociferous critics of the United States. While Cuba is taking at least small steps toward allowing private property rights and freedom of speech, Venezuela shows scant signs of enlightenment. What U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said during the flag-raising ceremony at the reopened U.S. Embassy earlier this month in Cuba should also apply to Venezuela. More…