Is Venezuela the next Cuba?

Below is a link to an article about Hugo Chavez, the leftist president of Venezuela, and U.S. policy makers' fear that Venezuela is becoming the next Cuba. Chavez has never been on the good side of the U.S. government because of his anti-american rhetoric and support of Fidel Castro (he calls himself a Fidelista). However, recent actions have been particularly alarming. Venezuela is purchaching new weapons and doubling the size of their military, implementing "Cuban-style" strategy to protect against a U.S. invasion. Many U.S. and Colombian analyst believe Venzuela's old weapons will be sold to Chavez's ideological counterparts, the FARC rebels. Also, Chavez has been interested in selling Citgo (the state-owned company that refines and sells oil in the U.S.) while brokering new trade (oil) deals with Brazil, Russia and Iran at the expense of the U.S. In response, the U.S. has increased pressure on Venzuela, but the rest of Latin America has remained complacent. Even Colombia has remained pacific, because most Latin American nations do not see the leftist policies of Chavez spreading and think engagement, rather than isolation, is the best way to deal with Chavez. Any attempt by the U.S. to isolate Venezuela would be seen as U.S. interventionism and a strong back lash from Latin America would ensue. Does anyone think Venezuela a real threat to Latin American stability and U.S. interests? If so, what actions can the U.S. take to protect its interests without infuriating the Latin American region?

Economist article here.