Chavez Sucking Up To America

I wonder what could have triggered this:

CARACAS (AFP) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez offered to send food and fuel to the United States after the powerful Hurricane Katrina pummeled the US south, ravaging US crude production.
The leftist leader, a frequent critic of the United States and a target himself of US disapproval, said Venezuela could send aid workers with drinking water, food and fuel to US communities hit by the hurricane.
“We place at the disposition of the people of the United States in the event of shortages — we have drinking water, food, we can provide fuel,” Chavez told reporters.

Ha. Leftist. I’ll say so, given the fact that he’s an outright communist and disciple of Fidel Castro. But that aside, he’s sure been vocal in his good will towards American in recent days. Oil, food and water haven’t been all that he’s offering.

Last week, Chavez offered discount gasoline to poor Americans suffering from high oil prices and on Sunday offered free eye surgery for Americans without access to health care.

Gasoline for the poor and free eye surgery. Thanks Hugo!
Anyway, sarcasm aside, why has Chavez suddenly decided to be so nice to America? As much as it seems unlikely, I think the assassination call from Pat Robertson was a wake up call to Chavez and he’s sucking up now because a) America is a big customer for Venezuelan oil and he realizes that decaying relations will hurt that and b) the “nice guy” routine will look good to the international community when focus comes to bear on his totalitarian regime.
And it will, eventually. Because Chavez is a communist, and communism doesn’t work with totalitarianism and oppression (if it can even be said to work then) and America is no longer accepting stability at the expense of democracy.