Hugo Chavez gives Barack Obama a book to read

Description: On Friday, the two crossed paths in the Port of Spain hotel where the Summit is being held, and Mr. Obama walked over to be greeted with a handshake and smiles. Mr. Chavez's office said he told the new President: I want to be your friend. At a meeting this morning, Mr. Chavez walked over to Mr. Obama, gave him a friendly pat, and handed him a book -- The Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent by Eduardo Galeano. It is a book that argues the continent has been scarred by US and European exploitation. And a lunch-time photo of all 34 leaders today, Mr. Obama smiled at Mr. Chavez, and reached over for a handshake again. It's far from clear whether the exchanges are the first sign of better relations with the fiery and mercurial Mr. Chavez, however. Mr. Chavez has built his populist support in Venezuela on anti-American rhetoric and has used the country's oil revenues to build alliances in the region. Two of Mr. Chavez's leftist Latin American allies, Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega and Bolivia's Evo Morales, have welcomed the change Mr. Obama represents, but said they are waiting to see the proof. Mr. Morales said he was surprised by the welcome message of equal partnership and non-interference Mr. Obama delivered in his first speech at the summit Friday night, but added that he's yet to see the difference 100 days into his presidency.. In Bolivia, we have yet to feel any change. The policies of conspiracy continue, he said. His views echoed