VENEZUELA DESCENDS – AT 10:15 A.M. ET:  We haven't been covering this closely, but Venezuela's economy is collapsing, and the country is descending into chaos.   From panampost.com:

According to the Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict, markets throughout the country have been looted over 50 times in the first half of the year. (Entorno Inteligente)

EspañolIt’s the law of the jungle in Venezuela, as shopping for groceries becomes an increasingly dangerous activity. As the shortage crisis worsens, more and more angry mobs are raiding the nation’s supermarkets, looting whatever basic goods they can find.

During the first half of 2015, the Venezuelan Observatory for Social Conflict (OVCS) registered no fewer than 132 incidents of looting or attempted looting at various stores throughout the country. In addition, Venezuelan consumers staged over 500 protests that condemned the lack of available products at state-run grocery stores, markets, and pharmacies.

COMMENT:  Notice that Hollywood stars, like Sean Penn, no longer rush to Venezuela to express solidarity with the revolution.  The revolution is going south. 

What happens in Venezuela is important.  Instability can affect the countries next door.  And Venezuela has been a kind of informal Iranian base in the Western Hemisphere. 

There does not seem to be much of an American policy to address the instability and violence.  But remember, it's Cheney's fault.

August 7, 2015