The road to Caracas

Some points on South America, from The Economist of 14 Jan.

 The 10 mile journey from Caracas to Venezuela’s international airport now takes 5 hours, due to the Chavez government’s neglect of the infrastructure while they pursue foreign adventures. (‘Slow road ahead’)

Meanwhile in Argentina, ‘through incentives and veiled  threats, President Néstor Kirchner has secured a remarkably favourable press’. Some of this may seem merely reminiscent of Alastair Campbell, such as ‘aggressive phone calls from officials after critical stories’. Nevertheless, ‘Mr Kirchner has taken government influence over the media to a new peak of subtle intensity’. (‘No criticisms please’)