With Chavez on the brink it looks like there’s some work behind the scenes to shape Venezuela after his departure
Venezuela to expel US Embassy official for ‘spying’

Venezuela’s vice president, Nicolas Maduro, says the government of President Hugo Chavez plans to expel a U.S. Embassy official for meeting with military officers and planning to destabilize the country.

Maduro identified the American as the Air Force attache and said he had been spying on the military.

He said the official has 24 hours to leave the country.