VENEZUELA: 06 Jan. UPDATE: Legislature Meets; Chavez Likes Idea Of New U.S. Ambassador Nominee.

AP/ M.HERALD/ IAN JAMES /

    President Hugo Chavez likes the U.S. government's suggestion that it may nominate a new ambassador to Venezuela instead of former nominee Larry Palmer, whom Chavez trashed because of some comments Palmer made.
    He even joked that Washington might name an American he knows and likes, maybe Noam Chomsky or Bill Clinton.
   "I hope they name Oliver Stone ... Sean Penn," said Chavez on TV. "We have many friends there."

  ALSO, today's WSJ has an excellent but somewhat technical analysis by David Luhnow of Venezuela's new soon to be seated but powerless legislature, clipped by Chavez's recent moves.
He labels it as "no longer a full democracy."
   "After September elections gave the opposition big gains in congress, Chávez and his allies in the lame duck legislature passed a series of laws that, among other things, gave the president the power to rule by decree for the next 18 months, bypassing the congress."
 Unfortunately, a FREE LINK is NOT AVAILABLE!


BUT FOR AP UPDATE : Special By Phil Gunson/

  A new parliament had an acrimonious session with bitter opposition complaints about unconstitutional behavior, shouts of ``murderers'' and chants of ``Uh, ah, Chávez isn't leaving!''

      Also, hundreds of Chavez opponents demonstrated in support of their lawmakers.

"I hope they fight for all of us Venezuelans who voted for democracy," said Maria Eugenia Escalona, a 53-year-old housewife.
  Chavez believes that "democracy is impossible under capitalism.''
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/05/2002747/protests-insults-as-parliament.html

MEXICO: 2ND UPDATE: 2 Bombs Explode In C. Victoria Where Slain Migrants Are Guarded.

LINK CHANGE /WSJ / DAVID LUHNOW/ 27 AUG/  
   Two car bombs exploded outside a TV station and a police offices in Ciudad Victoria where officials are investigating the brutal murders of 72 migrants from Central and South America. The bodies of 58 men and 14 women were found after a gun battle in Tamaulipas with suspected drug terrorists that left one marine and three suspects dead. Migrants are increasingly targeted by drug gangs for ransom. Officials say the area is controlled by Los Zetas, which has branched into kidnapping migrants. Photos show bodies lying along the walls of an abandoned warehouse, some blindfolded with their hands tied behind their back. Marines are protecting the funeral home where the bodies were taken after being discovered bound, blindfolded and slumped against a wall.

MEXICO: Saving It By Taking Profits Out Of The Drug Trade.

WSJ ONLINE/ Analysis & Opinion/ David Luhnow/
"To weaken the cartels, some argue the U.S. should legalize marijuana, let cocaine pass through the Caribbean and take the profit motive out of the drug trade. In the 40 years since U.S. President Richard Nixon declared a "war on drugs," the supply and use of drugs has not changed in any fundamental way. The only difference: a taxpayer bill of more than $1 trillion."

Honduran Coup Backlash, WSJ Interview and Backgrounder.

Honduran protesters clashed with police and the military in the country's capital.

The provisional government, installed after the coup, has been rejected by world leaders from Hugo Chavez to Barack Obama.

The acting president defends the golpe... in an interview with the Wall Street Journal."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124628267418867961.html?mod=rss_com_mostcommentart

The WSJ on backgrounds of both presidents by Jose De Cordoba:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124632227606871269.html

The NYTimes summarizes the US position about the coup...and describes Hillary Clinton's recent interaction with now deposed President Zelaya.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/world/americas/30honduras.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

Wall Street Journal Profiles Mexico's notorious "El Chapo."

Few newspaper reports are considered "must reads."

But if you are interested in Mexico's drug wars...today's weekend edition of the " Wall Street Journal" has a must read.

It's a long but easily digestible profile of "El Chapo," Joaquin Guzman Loera, Mexico's most notorious drug trafficer ...by David Luhnow and Jose de Cordoba.

Guzman has been sought for eight years...with a $5 million USD reward for his capture.

In the print edition...this two and one quarter-pager with photos and a map/chart ...profiles the growth of Mexico's drug violence...thru the life story of the fugitive narco folk hero known as "El Chapo"... from his birth in Badiraguato, Sinaloa... to his escape from a luxurious Mexican prison cell in 2001.

It reports that Guzman pioneered the building of underground tunnels to transport drugs under the US/Mexican border...and details the now common gruesome drogista practice of decapitation.

Amazingly... it's now online... and worth the time.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124484177023110993.html