"Our countries must keep their hands at the ready on the sword," Chavez, in ex-Soviet Belarus as part of a world tour, said on a visit to a military academy. Posted on 07/25/2006 9:18:24 PM PDT by M. Espinola
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said on Tuesday he had forged a strategic alliance to stand up to U.S. imperialism with fellow maverick Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko.
"Our countries must keep their hands at the ready on the sword," Chavez, in ex-Soviet Belarus as part of a world tour, said on a visit to a military academy.
"After a day of intensive work, we have created a strategic alliance between our countries," he said, speaking through an interpreter. "It is absolutely vital to protect our homeland, to guard against internal and external threats."
"The jaws of imperialism and hegemonism have both us and Belarus in their grip."
Chavez did not give details about what the alliance would involve. He is a bitter critic of the United States and proclaims socialist ideals to unite South America against Washington's influence.
Lukashenko runs a Soviet-style command economy. Washington says he runs the last dictatorship in Europe. Belarus is subject to European Union and U.S. sanctions after Western observers accused him of rigging his own re-election in March.
Like Chavez in Venezuela, Lukashenko has strong support with poor voters.
"The number of countries in the world which resist the forces of dictatorship is growing," said Lukashenko, standing alongside him at the military academy.
Chavez leaves Belarus on Tuesday for Russia where he is to sign a deal to buy Russian fighter jets and helicopters. His tour will also take in Qatar, Iran, Vietnam and Mali.
The tour is in part to lobby for Venezuela's bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council.
And in other news:
We can only hope for the best for Hugo the Red while en route to members of the greater Axis of Evil.
If they get Mauritius on board, we're doomed. ;)
That's right, we would be forced into a swift capitulation due to Mauritius massive military power :) (two frog men and a rowboat)
Eeeeeeeuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By the way, a little known fun fact about Lukashenko is that he was a former collective farm director. He wants to go back to those golden days.
"The jaws of imperialism and hegemonism have both us and Belarus in their grip"
I guess he means Russia!!
"except when it comes to the oil & natural gas rich Transcaucasia's.)"
Hah!
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