The United States Geological Survey describes the area as the "largest single hydrocarbon accumulation in the world," making it highly coveted despite Mr. Chávez's erratic policies.

It criticizes Franklin D. Roosevelt for erratic policies that froze investment and for the steps needed to stop the Depression.

Instead, Treasury engaged in an erratic policy of picking winners and losers among companies connected directly, or even indirectly, to our financial markets, such as automakers.

In addition, the overall Ottoman war effort was severely hampered by increased domestic instability caused by Sultan Ibrahim's erratic policies and his summary execution of leading state officials.

He was followed by a succession of military rulers who continued his erratic policies.

Germany saw this balance of power as encirclement but her erratic foreign policy under Wilhelm II did little to help her cause.

But given the Russian leader's erratic policies and fragile health, there can be no assurance of things going smoothly.

They had expressed concern for Mutharika's attacks on democracy domestically and his increasingly erratic policies.

But they and other critics of American policy say the suspicions are justified by Washington's erratic policies on Haiti since the President's overthrow nearly three years ago.

But perhaps that has more to do with erratic Turkish policy, which sometimes makes more and sometimes makes less progress.