On Monday, Venezuela's president Hugo Chávez announced halting a programme that provided free heating oil to low-income US citizens.
The leftist leader had reportedly heralded the initiative as a clear sign of his generosity toward America's poor. However, the recent steep drop in the price of oil, Venezuela's chief export, forced the nation's government to cut spending and the programme was scrapped in the process.
But yesterday, Chávez backtracked and announced that the programme was reinstated. And of course, such a quick reversal did not come without criticism.
According to McClatchy newspapers, Dennis Jett, former US ambassador to Peru, believes Chavez is trying to "save face" and mask his nation's financial problems. Maybe, maybe not.
