I see very different views in non traditional English language media from the one put forth here and in most of the US media. Here are some links:

http://therealnews.com/web/index.php?thisdataswitch=0&thisid=648&thisview=item#

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18792.htm

When oil and a different idea of democracy are at issue, I am not so willing to trust either the MSM point of view or that of entities that might be affliated with the oligarchy, which can be subtle in seeming to represent "fairness."

The US has a long history of intervening in the affairs of Central and South American countries which are none of our business and of aligning itself with the oligarchy that Chavez has displaced in a democratic election (unlike the ones that put the Bush regime in power in the US, I might add.)

I am taking all information about that country with a large grain of salt.

Dear Nancy:
the situation in Venezuela is hard to graps, at least for me, in spite of the fact that I am here in Caracas...seeing it all live.
The story of CIA memo is difficult to confirm and was leaked by the Venezuelano government days before the referendum and alluded to a bellicose speech by President Hugo Chavez here last night, when he threatened to send the army to the oil fields, hold all petrol transports to "the north american Empire" including being open to a 100-year war. The state channels hav only given 1% of their time to the NO-side of the referendum and that is a problem.
That the news stories about Venezuela are tinted depending on where they come from, that may be right - but this would ring true for all news stories, no? I hope to continue this conversation with all WIP readers because it is a very important one for us all. I would also like everyone interested in the issue of democracy to share their views on different kinds of democracy, as Nancy Van Ness brought up: how does one voice criticism towards different countries and on different versions of democracy? Big question.

We are all very eager for Louise's report on this referendum. Two things that I feel are certain from the commentary above: Freedom of expression is absolutely necessary for a healthy democracy and the US has an atrocious history of intervening in the affairs of Latin America for its own political and economic gain. While it is difficult to confirm the authenticity of this particular document, history tells us that the CIA has most likely been working since 1998 to overthrow Chavez. What I look forward to learning from Louise, is more about the tens of thousands of students that reportedly galvanized the opposition toward victory, a bloc it seems doubtful was influenced by the CIA.