My interview with him stretches to two-and-a-half hours. Towards the end, an official comes in to point out that pressing matters of state await his attention. Chavez responds with a request that they bring us some ice cream. Shortly, chocolate sundaes, with cherries on top, are brought in. In between mouthfuls, we talk about the invasion of Iraq – and its relevance to Venezuela.

Like Iraq, Venezuela is rich in oil – and it has the added advantage, from Washington’s viewpoint, of being close by, not to mention being short on Islamic fundamentalists. On the other hand, it would be hard for Washington to come up with a justification for intervening in Venezuela, since it isn’t headed by a demonstrable villain like Saddam Hussein. Chavez is certainly no dictator. Indeed, dissent is amply tolerated here, as the fiercely anti-Chavez media illustrates.

Chavez believes the Bush administration invaded Iraq to get control of its oil and that it harbours similar ambitions towards Venezuela’s oil. “It’s the people around Bush, the great oil interests,” Chavez says, then in a sing-song voice, he gently chants: “Cheney, Cheney, Cheney.”