Posted on 05/22/2005 2:32:13 PM PDT by Alex Marko
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday his government was interested in nuclear energy and could start talks with Iranian partners to study possible atomic and solar power projects.
Chavez, a fierce critic of the United States and a leftist ally of Communist Cuba, said Venezuela and other Latin American countries could develop nuclear energy as an alternative power source for civilian purposes.
"We are interested too, we must start working on that area... the nuclear area. We could, along with Brazil, with Argentina and others, start investigations into the nuclear sector and ask for help from countries like Iran," Chavez said on his regular Sunday TV program.
"It is for development, for life, for peace and energy," the president said during the program broadcast at an event in Caracas for Iranian companies.
Venezuela, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, is a key energy supplier to the United States, but its relations with Washington have soured since Chavez came to office six years ago promising to fight poverty with a raft of social reforms.
Chavez has backed Iran, branded by Washington part of an "axis of evil," in Tehran's dispute with the United States and Europe over its nuclear program. U.S. officials accuse Iran of secretly working to produce nuclear arms, but Tehran says its atomic program is only for civilian energy uses.
"I am sure the Iranian government is not making any atomic bomb," Chavez said, repeating support he gave during a visit by Iranian President Mohammad Khatami to Venezuela in March.
Venezuela is rich in heavy crude oil and natural gas. About 75 percent of its electric power is generated by state-run hydroelectric plants.
A self-proclaimed socialist revolutionary, Chavez says he is offering an alternative to U.S. "imperialism" and accuses Washington of trying to oust or kill him. Supporters applaud his education and health programs to help the poor.
He has strengthened political, energy and economic ties with China, India and Russia as an alternative to Venezuela's traditional alliance with the United States.
There is absolutely NO WAY we can allow Chavez to have nuclear capabilities this close to US soil.
I don't see why we should respect a person who:
1) Coddles dictators.
2) Tries to increase relationships with Communist China.
3) Steals from the producers in his country to give to his socialist revolutionaries.
AND NOW HE WANTS TO CREATE NUCLEAR POWER???
Chavez is a psychopath only interested in power. He should be taken out as quickly as possible.
He isn't getting any nuclear anything. He's been deliberately trying to provoke a reaction from the administration, but hasn't gotten one. He will eventually I'd guess. But, he won't like it.
Right, if we aren't going to let Iran have it what makes
Chaves think we'll let him.
Want to bet he gets it from .....China!
The proxy war continues.
The Europeans must be gloating over having another tyrant they can appease.
Oh, of course, and if his friends in Russia, China, Iran and N. Korea will only help him out why his country will be celebrated worldwide as a veritable people's paradise of nuclear generated electrical power used only for peaceful purposes of course.
And his "friends" seeking only to jerk the US around by helping him will (as in NKorea and Iran) have empowered yet another madman.
"2) Tries to increase relationships with Communist China. "
LOL who you talking about here?
By scareing the people of his own country, he can keep them in line. How long are we going to let a banana-republic leader thumb his nose at us? When countries don't respect the US, Americans die. Look at what happened on 9/11.
When the US does business with dictators it's to open markets and make them more democratric. (Plus, it lowers prices and that is like giving the poor a raise.)
When Chaves suports dictators it's to spread global Socialism.
I wish I knew how long. I believe this is all part of the war on terror. The part the President said we wouldn't see.
I was thinking the same thing!
Socailism = Communism = Terrorism.
I would not be surprised if soon we hear that Chavez is supporting Narco-terrorists.
There's been considerable reporting here stating just that. Hence, his troubles with Columbia.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/search?s=chavez%2C+venezuela%2C+narco+terrorists&ok=Search&q=quick&m=any&o=score&SX=42911f82a6309b5e7214119d2ebe8768549a45f7 Go here. It's a search on this site for older articles. Toward the middle you'll see headlines like 'chavez will control farc from venezuela', ' US talks about taming chavez', etc.
I'm more surprised that you haven't heard that already.
The narco-terrorists there are leftist marxists and strong chavez supporters.
Its been talked about more then once.
I'm sure Chavez' good friend Vladimir Putin will do everything he can to help, just like with the Iranians.
I'm new here. That's my only excuse.
Chavez has been making deals with the mullahs, as well as the russians and chicom. The commies are all in it together. (Mexico has deals (MOU's) with the mullahs and chicoms, too.)
It's a red jihad directed by the Kremlin.
"Want to bet he gets it from .....China!
The proxy war continues."
This is the work of China... threatening U.S. interests by proxy:
Supporting Iran, Pakistan and N. Korea in their nuclear efforts. (a leaf doesn't fall in N. Korea without Chinese authorization)
China has moved into Panama, and now it will be Venezuela.
Expect the same in Brazil. They will have the economic capacity to pursue a nuclear option.
China has the cash to infuse into venezuela, russia doesn't. china thinks it has more to gain. china is signing agreements right and left with venezuela and the other thugs to our south. The chicoms are the leaders of the gang.
Putin just sold Chavez 100,000 machineguns to supply his communist guerillas.
Yes, but how many deals have they signed? How much butting into SA affairs have they been engaged in? How else is russia sticking it's nose in? They have a part to play. But the chicoms are the main act. They have their noses in everything down there. They have very detailed long term plans.
Russia delivering copters to Venezuela-(50 Migs,10 choppers,100k ak's,probably armor..)
Putin heads to Brazil to boost military, nuclear cooperation
Thanks. The chicoms are doing the same thing. The whole world is uniting against us. We'll prevail.
Well, lets just say that my grandfather maybe right. He said someday this country will experience the destruction and horror of war that struck Europe. He predicted an attack from many nations. (He didn't name them and I was too young at the time to understand.)(This was at the end of WW II.) I feel he was right, we aren't going to remain untouched forever. Little dictators with big ideas have to be restrained and contained.
Thank you!
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