Keeping Venezuela off the Security Council

One of Latin America's two, veto-less (and thus, largely symbolic) seats on the United Nations Security Council will be vacant as of January 1. Given that one of the two countries in the running is Venezuela, Washington is throwing its weight around in support of the candidacy of the other - Guatemala.

"Throwing its weight around," of course, is a euphemism for applying "great pressure on South American governments" to ensure that Venezuela's nomination fails.

Not like the US would listen to the UN even if Venezuela were able to accomplish anything as a Security Council member.