well one wonders how far a leader can last without appeasing the west in one degree or another ... perhaps chavez gets away with it because of location? not to mention there seems to be some nations in south and central america who are at least willing to contemplate an alternative system to the IMF dominated one and there is some cooperation at least on a few levels for it to make a difference(leverage so that the sway is not completely directed by washington.)

the secession of south sudan under the watchful eye of africom has in some ways sealed concessions to the west. managed "liberation." and i don't know know if anyone else finds it's odd that the pet project of western interests(the secession of southern sudan) has happened as the events in northern africa have unfolded.