Report: Chávez pushing regional leadership with Cuba
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. intelligence community sees Cuban leader Raúl Castro pursuing a cautious economic reform agenda as Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez continues his push to challenge U.S. interests in Central and South America.
The conclusions were part of Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell's annual threat assessment report presented Tuesday before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
In his written statement, McConnell, speaking on behalf of 16 U.S. government intelligence agencies, painted a picture of Chávez stung by a domestic electoral defeat and a worsening economy at home but determined to ``unite Latin America, under his leadership, behind an anti-U.S., radical leftist agenda and to look to Cuba as a key ideological ally.''
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Chávez pushing regional leadership with Cuba
