Chavez's discount oil plan to expand

What I find interesting about Chavez is the role he plays on the foreign policy stage. The reactions he's able to provoke are endlessly entertaining -- he plays the neocons like a fiddle:

That program set off sharp criticism from some Republicans who said Delahunt was playing into the hands of Chavez and undermining US foreign policy by dealing with an anti-American populist with a questionable human rights record.

Yeah. We never deal with anti-Americans with questionable human rights records when it suits us.

''We want to get more [discounted Venezuelan oil], particularly when we're looking at $3 a gallon at the pump and $70 a barrel" for oil, Delahunt said. ''We want to extend the deal because we don't have confidence in the administration and the Republican Congress to deliver adequate dollars for the LIHEAP program." Congress has repeatedly failed to come through with the full amount of money it has promised for LIHEAP.

Let's face it: we should be embarrassed to have what Republicans would call a third-world dictator showing us up when it comes to caring for the needy.

The striking thing is how neocons let themselves get played in foreign policy situations like this. A smalltime figure sets up a little trap for them to walk into, and they walk right in. Isn't the answer to say "Well, if Mr. Chavez wants to short-change his own people by giving away all of his oil, that's quite unfortunate"?

The angry harrumphing and fist-shaking while little old ladies gladly take the free oil makes us look like fools.

Peggy Longueil of Brattleboro, Vt., said the discounted oil is critical to covering her household budget. ''It gives us a chance to not have to worry about whether we're going to pay for food or oil, or medicine or oil," said the 64-year-old, who was at a dinner Sunday night for the heating oil beneficiaries.

Criticizing Chavez for this or playing up the ridiculous uranium thing just legitimizes his attacks and fans the flames.