With Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez undergoing surgery this week in Cuba to remove a cancerous tumor, a 39-year-old challenger is gathering support and building a movement. His defeat of Chavez in the October presidential election would be the best thing that could happen to Venezuela, says former U.S. Ambassador Otto Reich.
Click HERE to read the full story and watch the interview with Reich at LIGNET.com.
Could Iran Gain a Foothold in Bahrain?
Relations between the ruling Sunnis and majority Shiites in Bahrain are once again tense following the one-year anniversary of last year’s Arab Spring protests. Iran, some fear, will take advantage of the discontent and attempt to expand its presence and influence across the Persian Gulf.
Click HERE to read the full analysis from intelligence experts at LIGNET.com.
Portugal: A Test Case For Germany’s Plan for the EU
The announcement last week that Portugal’s exports were up by 12 percent in the fourth quarter of last year was welcome news, but it cannot disguise the ongoing problems of the Portuguese economy, which has contracted for the last five years and is operating under austerity measures as part of its bailout deal with the EU. The stakes are high as Portugal has now become a test case that could determine whether Germany’s austerity plan for the EU can work.
Click HERE to read the full analysis from experts at LIGNET.com, a global intelligence and forecasting site.
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| Venezuelan opposition leaders join Henrique Capriles Radonski (in green) on the stage in Caracas after Capriles won the primary elections on Feb. 12. Capriles will challenge President Hugo Chavez for the presidency in the general election in October. (AFP/Getty Images)
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