attention away from the high inflation rate running at 27%. that's higher than sim back way's rate of inflation. and from the fact that chavez has passed a series of laws in recent days that amount to a power grab. >> he pushed through measures that allow him to sen creditor censor the internet. that criminalizes free speech. free powers for the next 18 months. in essence going forward for the next 18 months, chavez is the president and the legislature all in one. >> chavez called the u.s. decision to revoke its ambassador's visa imperial. hairs, well, you know, jench, i mentioned in the lead-up to this story that they are our fifth supplier of oil. so we need their oil, don't we? >> that's right. there is no indication that that is going to change any time soon, that the united states has any plans to cut back on that the u.s. still imports nearly 1 million barrels of oil a day from venezuela, about 10% of u.s. oil imports all together.