OxBlog

Thursday, August 19, 2004

# Posted 10:50 PM by Ariel David Adesnik  

COUNTING THE VOTES: I haven't followed the Venezuelan situation closely enough to say whether or not there was any fraud at the ballot-box, but this op-ed (Hat tip: DH & EJB) makes a persuasive case that a more thorough investigation would be well worth it.

Still, I have a good amount of faith in the Carter Center's work. Say what you want about Jimmy Carter, but his record as an election monitor is impeccable. I think that's why both the WaPo and NYT have played down the opposition's insistence that the vote was rigged.

The US government's position on the vote isn't exactly clear. On the one hand, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli described the results as "preliminary". On the other, Ereli said that "The people of Venezuela have spoken."

My gut says that even if an investigation goes forward, there has already been enough time for Chavez to cover-up any evidence of the alleged fraud. If the opposition has a chance, it won't be until 2006.
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