Watch what's going on to our South: Chavez is at it again.

I know we are focused on Iraq, but please do not lose sight of what is going on in our neighborhood. Hugo Chavez, the controversial president of Venezuela is setting in motion a plan to amend the country's constitution so he can be elected indefinitely, the New York Times reports today. He is already serving a term that will not come to an end until 2012. The national legislature is completely under his control, as is the country's Supreme Court. In addition, he is attempting to usurp the local and state governments' powers by setting up presidential committees around the nation, which would control infrastructure and social services spending.

We need to pay attention. This guy has major regional influence. Besides his 'bosom buddy' Fidel Castro, he has ties to Evo Morales in Bolivia and just signed a trade bill with Argentina. He uses the country's oil wealth to project his power. An executive in the country's oil company recently tried to enter Argentina with a suitcase of cash, causing a huge scandal in that country, which is nearing presidential elections of its own. And we know that Chavez received a much publicized and propagandized visit from Iran's president not too long ago.

Since the 1980s, a decade that saw the end of many of the region's military dictatorships, democracy has been taking hold in most of Latin America, and the United States has grown complacent. But these democracies are young and many may be more fragile that we think. We need to pay attention. Especially since the all-mighty oil money gives Chavez the leverage and the cash to manipulate many of the cash-strapped countries in his neighborhood. It also makes him an easy ally of America's foe, Iran.

Watch out.