Venezuela gives gas-guzzling US a huge headache

The United States, the top consumer of Venezuelan oil even as the barrel price soars, has no coherent policy toward Caracas, analysts say.

“These conflicting messages reflect a lack of clarity and coherence,” said Michael Shifter, of the Interamerican Dialogue. “When (Venezuelan President Hugo) Chavez speaks, they react. There is no strategy of thinking longer-term and in more strategic terms.”