Easing Tensions Between Ch·vez, U.S. Ambassador of Venezuela Bernardo Alvarez Herrera by Larry Luxner One year after Venezuelan President Hugo Ch·vez was nearly overthrown in a coup attempt that many suspect had the Bush administrationís tacit support, the countryís ambassador to the United States, Bernardo Alvarez Herrera, says he wants to repair Venezuelaís damaged relations with the United States. ìWe are at a moment where, because of the complexity of the Venezuelan process and the influence of many people who donít want the United States and Venezuela to have a good relationship, there might be some differences,î Alvarez told The Washington Diplomat. ìProbably there is a perception problem.î...more... Yale Professor Amy Chua Globalization Expert Urges Caution In Pushing Democracy, Free Markets in Iraq by John Shaw As ambitious plans are conceived to rebuild Iraq after the devastation caused by Saddam Husseinís long reign and the U.S.-led war to oust his regime, Amy Chua said that global policymakers should carefully study their history books. Chua, a professor at Yale Law School and an expert on globalization, argues that in the last two decades, disasters have occurred when democracies and free markets have been foisted onto nations that have little experience with such principles, especially when those nations are driven by sharp ethnic divisions...more.... For Foreign Diplomats in Area, There Are Few Pri vileges in Housing by Heather Nalbone Talk about a shock. When Mireya Magana, the press attachÈ at the Mexican Embassy, and her husband moved to Washington two years ago, their housing costs increased sevenfold. Instead of paying somewhere in the neighborhood of $300 a month for a three-bedroom apartment in Mexico City, the couple is now shelling out $2,000 in monthly payments to maintain their suburban Virginia rental home. But itís worth it. ìD.C. is a beautiful city,î said Magana...more.... See Also: Relocation Consulting Firms Can Ease Transition Problems

Culture Section Check out the arts section for the latest in museum exhibits, dance, theater and much more. U.N. Security Council Seeks New Role in Aftermath of Iraq War by Larry Luxner In the aftermath of the latest Gulf War, the U.N. Security Council is struggling to make itself relevantóespecially in the face of criticism that countries such as France, Germany and even Mexico shirked their responsibilities by opposing U.S. and British plans to invade Iraq and overthrow Saddam by force...more... Too Much Tech? Mercedes, BMW Super-Luxury Heavyweights Go Gadget to Gadget by Karl Ferguson Increasingly sophisticated technology is a way of life, and more and more it is making its presence felt in the everyday cars we drive. But when it comes to luxury cars, does technology mean more luxury or less? We took a look at how BMW and Mercedes interpret this phenomenon on their super-luxury heavyweights, the BMW 745Li sedan and the Mercedes-Benz S500...more... SARS Continues Global Spread As Scientists Race for Answers by Gina Shaw Some have compared it to the first known outbreak of Legionnairesí disease (legionellosis) in Philadelphia in 1976. Others recall the early, baffling days of AIDS when the disease was dubbed gay-related immune deficiency (GRID). The latest infectious disease to terrify the public and challenge the medical community is known as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome)...more... Receiving Line: Teaching Middle East Awareness A Classical Evening