The week at a glance ... Americas

Sarnia, Ontario

Blizzard traps drivers: With strong winds and heavy snow creating 5-foot drifts and near-zero visibility, Canada sent in the military this week to rescue hundreds of drivers stranded by a fierce blizzard on Highway 402 in Ontario. Snowplows were unable to reach the area, just 65 miles from Detroit, so rescuers used military helicopters and snowmobiles to evacuate freezing motorists. “You couldn’t see out your windshield at all,” said Dana Peart. “Your lights were completely darkened from the snow sticking to the car. We weren’t sure at any time if we were on the road.” Highway 402 is a major transport link to Michigan.

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

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Palin tours cholera camp: Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin urged Americans to give generously to Haiti this week as she toured the cholera-stricken country on a two-day trip arranged by a charity group. The trip was closed to the press, except for Fox News, where Palin works as a television commentator. Aid workers said she asked many questions about Haiti’s endemic poverty and lack of infrastructure. “I have a better understanding of the problems facing the country now, being here,” Palin said. She proposed increasing U.S. supplies to Haiti through “a military airlift.” The cholera epidemic has killed 2,000 people and sickened 100,000.

Caracas, Venezuela

Chávez to rule by decree: President Hugo Chávez asked the Venezuelan Congress this week to give him special powers to rule by decree for the next year. He said he needed the near-dictatorial authority to quickly rebuild highways, bridges, and entire towns that were destroyed in devastating floods over the past month, leaving 130,000 homeless. Congress, overwhelmingly controlled by Chávez’s party, is expected to comply. Meanwhile, an investigation by Mexican newspaper La Razón revealed that the Chávez family has some $137 million in bank accounts in the U.S. “The Venezuelan president’s family has a lifestyle that includes jewelry, cars, travels, and even weapons, in contrast to Chávez’s anti-capitalist discourse,” the paper said.

Lima, Peru

Army chief implicated: The new head of Peru’s military is furious over a leaked U.S. cable that conveys speculation that he was once involved with drug traffickers. The cable, written by former U.S. Ambassador Michael McKinley, quoted a source alleging that Gen. Paul da Silva three years ago coordinated cocaine shipments with a known trafficker. The cable does not say whether McKinley believes the allegation is credible. Da Silva, who was named head of Peru’s armed forces this month, said the cable was “infamous” and “irresponsible,” and he threatened to sue McKinley for slander. McKinley is now U.S. ambassador to Colombia. The U.S. said it would not comment on any of the WikiLeaked cables; the Peruvian government said it stood by da Silva.