Obama is likely receptive to that message, said Michael Shifter, a vice president at the Inter-American Dialogue.

CNN: Latin America to hold summit to fight crime

"The big thing U.S. could do is change its Cuba policy, " said Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington, D.

WSJ: With Ch��vez's Death Comes Grief for His Socialist Allies

"My sense is that Hondurans are finding themselves in a desperate situation and they really want U.S. cooperation, and that gives the U.S. some margin to make mistakes, " said Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue.

CNN: Honduran, US relations overcome deadly drug raid

"The most positive legacy that Chavez has is that he put his finger on a legitimate grievance that many Venezuelans have: social injustice, " said Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue, a research and policy center in Washington.

CNN: Chavez leaves a revolutionary legacy