Fans of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez were disappointed yesterday when his Sunday morning TV show, "Alo Presidente" was not broadcast (instead viewers were treated to the Venezuelan national volleyball team being defeated by Brazil's national team.) But the day before Chavez failed to attend a rally for the extradition from the U.S. of Luis Posada Carriles.

(Posada Carriles is naturalized Venezuelan citizen who is wanted there for his part in a 1976 bombing of a Caracas-Havana flight that killed 73 people. He also used to work for the CIA - both Posada Carriles and U.S. denies any involvement in the bombing. He recently entered the U.S. illegally and is claiming asylum. He faces charges of entering the U.S. illegally in immigration court in a few weeks. The U.S. denied the initial extradition request claiming that Venezuela had not provided sufficient information.)

For a populist like Chavez the Posada Carilles affair is the sort of distraction necessary to rule - and for the voluble Chavez these rallies are like candy. Naturally rumors are rife - but top officials insist that Chavez is human and simply cannot be everywhere at once.

I am inclined to believe them. Chavez did have a busy week. On "Alo Presidente" he announced his ambitions to start a nuclear program with Iran - and possibly with Argentina and Brazil. He was quickly rebuffed by Brazil - collaborating on nukes with Chavez is no way to get a Security Council seat. He also raised rates on companies pumping Venezuelan oil - to make up for production shortfalls.

He must be spent. His people assure us "Alo Presidente" will be back next week. Hugo watchers can't wait!