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By James Morrison

CHAVEZ IN DECLINE

Venezuela's anti-American president, Hugo Chavez, is losing influence throughout Latin America, even in countries headed by center-left leaders who rejected his radical socialism, according to a former ambassador who also criticized congressional Democrats for opposing a free-trade deal with the pro-American government of Colombia.

Jaime Daremblum, Costa Rica's ambassador to the United States from 1998 to 2004, said Mr. Chavez is becoming increasingly autocratic in his own country and threatening to other nations because of a huge military buildup fueled by high oil prices.

"With his 'Bolivarian' revolution discredited both at home and abroad, Chavez's desperate hope is that militaristic nationalism will strike a chord," Mr. Daremblum wrote in an analysis of Mr. Chavez's latest acquisition of Russian weapons and of his attempts to hide the damage to the economy from his socialist policies.

Mr. Chavez last month purchased about $2 billion in Russian arms on a trip to Moscow, Mr. Daremblum said, referring to Russia press accounts. The Venezuelan strongman previously bought $4.5 billion in arms from Russia.

"He claims, absurdly, that he is preparing for a U.S. invasion. In fact, his military buildup is intended to consolidate his power and intimidate his neighbors," said Mr. Daremblum, now director of the Center for Latin American Studies at the Washington-based Hudson Institute.

Mr. Daremblum said Mr. Chavez's influence is shrinking to some of the poorest countries in Latin America, including Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador and Nicaragua.

"Although the full extent of [Mr. Chavez's] mismanagement has been camouflaged by high energy prices ... , he is wrecking the Venezuelan economy," Mr. Daremblum said. "The health care system has deteriorated alarmingly, and food shortages remain a persistent problem.

"Corruption is widespread, and rampant crime has earned [the capital] Caracas its reputation as the most dangerous city in the Western Hemisphere."

Meanwhile, other Latin American leaders have pursued free-market policies instead of Mr. Chavez's "radical anti-capitalist" programs, Mr. Daremblum said.