Is the strike almost over? Is Chavez going to prevail? Apparently Chavez has fired 3,000 oil company (PDVSa) executives, but Chavez opponents are meeting with officials from other Latin American countries and the US to see if they can persuade an international coalition to work on their behalf. The resumption of tanker shipments this week has increased the flow of Venezuelan oil into world markets, which had some dampening effects on prices and somewhat offset the war premium effects on prices.