"...so far Chavez has paid for the companies he has taken control of. He has yet to simply nationalize anyone"

True...but haven't the companies that Hugo has "nationalized" to date had a history of proven revenue\profit streams along with built infrastructure? We have no production at Las Cristinas. No mine has been built. We have not generated any profits. We have a piece of paper. A contract. I understand that legally the contract has a value based on projected profits. My guess is that that nuance may escape Mr. Chavez.