U.S. Eases Up on Chavez to Avoid Oil Spike -Analysts.

Hugo Chavez says a referendum on his  presidency on Sunday is a battle between him and U.S.  imperialism, but the Bush administration is ducking a fight  because the Venezuelan leader's weapon of choice is oil. The Bush administration, which has been the populist's most  vocal critic and once appeared to welcome a coup against him,  has gone tellingly quiet to avoid provoking an oil price spike  that could anger U.S. voters, analysts and diplomats said. The restraint also shows Washington is preparing the ground  for some reconciliation should Chavez survive the referendum as  Wall Street hopes, they added. With Democrats blaming Bush for record oil prices as he  runs for re-election, Chavez has threatened to cut off supply  from the world's No. 5 exporter to energy-hungry America if  U.S. "meddling" gets out of hand. [more ]