The United States revokes the visa of the Venezuelan Ambassador to Washington

• The United States has revoked the visa of the Venezuelan Ambassador to Washington, Bernardo Alvarez, in retaliation for Carcas' refusal to accept the credentials of U.S. diplomat Larry Palmer as Ambassador to the Latin American nation.
• Marking one of the sharpest exchanges of diplomatic barbs between the two countries since the U.S. President Barack Obama came into office.
• The trouble began when Mr. Palmer, to the chagrin of the Chavez administration, made comments to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about low morale in the Venezuelan military and concerns regarding Colombian FARC rebels finding refuge on Venezuelan soil. In August Mr. Chavez announced that he would not be willing accept Mr. Palmer's appointment.
• While tensions have existed between the U.S. and Venezuela for over a decade, the U.S. still heavily depends on Venezuelan oil, purchasing close to a million barrels of crude from Venezuela every day, according to some estimates.