Posted on 09/02/2008 12:48:47 PM PDT by BGHater
Iran and Bolivia will "stick by each other" said hardline Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Tuesday, in comments sure to provoke concern in Washington.
Ahmadinejad's statements came at a joint press conference with leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales in Tehran. He said the two government weren't interested in U.S. concerns about their close ties.
"We will stick by each other's side and will be supportive of each other. (I) had extensive talks with Mr. Morales on this," he said. "The geographical distance between the two countries is long but our hearts, thoughts and wills are very close."
Ahmadinejad also praised Morales for "standing up to foreigners," a reference to the United States.
Like Iran in the Middle East, Bolivia and its ally Venezuela in South American have been vocal critics of U.S. policy.
"It is not important what bad-tempered governments say about our relationship. For us, it is significant that we move with wisdom in the path of interests of our people," the Iranian president added.
For his part, Morales said Iranians and Bolivians "would like to see how their leaders fight imperialism and defend the interests of their countries."
"In the past, Bolivia was not allowed to change its ministers or ambassadors. It had to be done through the U.S. ambassador. But today, freedom-seeking in Latin American nations is spreading," he told reporters.
Bolivia, which has large natural gas reserves, wants help from oil and gas powerhouse Iran to further develop its energy sector. Morales also visited oil-rich Libya before arriving in Tehran.
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told Morales late Monday that resistance by Bolivia and other South American countries against the United States will pay off.
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
Threaten them if you dare!
< /sarc >
I just knew it was over...now that superpower Bolivia will come to Iran’s defense if we attack Iran. This must be in retaliation for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid robbing their banks in the 1800’s.
Bolivia will be converting to Islam?
Bolivia is land locked. They will have to invade a country just to get to the ocean.
I guess flying in terrorist from Iran to Bolivia and then they sneak across the Southern Border is out of the question then.
Better wake up people...
From CBS News.com:
July 29, 2006
"Chavez pledged that his country would 'stay by Iran at any time and under any condition,' state television reported. Ahmadinejad said he saw in Chavez a kindred spirit." "'We do not have any limitation in cooperation,' Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying. 'Iran and Venezuela are next to each other and supporters of each other. Chavez is a source of a progressive and revolutionary current in South America and his stance in restricting imperialism is tangible.'":
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/29/world/main1847331.shtml
From National Public Radio (NPR):
August 29, 2006
"Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been visiting countries such as China, Iran and Russia as part of an effort to build a 'strategic alliance' of interests not beholden to the United States. He considers the United States his arch enemy.":
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5729764
From the Russian News and Information Agency:
July 27, 2006
"'I am determined to expand relations with Russia,' Chavez, known as an outspoken critic of what he calls the United States' unilateralism, told the Russian leader, adding that his determination stemmed from their shared vision of the global order.":
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20060727/51913498.html
From the Sino-Russian Joint Statement of April 23, 1997:
"The two sides [China and Russia] shall, in the spirit of partnership, strive to promote the multipolarization of the world and the establishment of a new international order."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/HI29Ag01.html
Russia, China flex muscles in joint war games
Reuters: Aug 17, 2007
CHEBARKUL, Russia (Reuters) - Russia and China staged their biggest joint exercises on Friday but denied this show of military prowess could lead to the formation of a counterweight to NATO.
"Today's exercises are another step towards strengthening the relations between our countries, a step towards strengthening international peace and security, and first and foremost, the security of our peoples," Putin said.
Fighter jets swooped overhead, commandos jumped from helicopters on to rooftops and the boom of artillery shells shook the firing range in Russia's Ural mountains as two of the largest armies in the world were put through their paces.
The exercises take place against a backdrop of mounting rivalry between the West, and Russia and China for influence over Central Asia, a strategic region that has huge oil, gas and mineral resources.
Russia's growing assertiveness is also causing jitters in the West. Putin announced at the firing range that Russia was resuming Soviet-era sorties by its strategic bomber aircraft near NATO airspace.
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-29030120070817?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0
War Games: Russia, China Grow Alliance [ 2005 Joint War Games]
September 23, 2005
In foreign policy its critical to know thine enemy. So American policymakers should be aware that Russia and China are inching closer to identifying a common enemy the United States.
The two would-be superpowers held unprecedented joint military exercises Aug. 18-25. Soothingly named Peace Mission 2005, the drills took place on the Shandong peninsula on the Yellow Sea, and included nearly 10,000 troops. Russian long-range bombers, the army, navy, air force, marine, airborne and logistics units from both countries were also involved.
Moscow and Beijing claim the maneuvers were aimed at combating terrorism, extremism and separatism (the last a veiled reference to Taiwan), but its clear they were an attempt to counter-balance American military might.
Joint war games are a logical outcome of the Sino-Russian Friendship and Cooperation Treaty signed in 2001, and reflect the shared worldview and growing economic ties between the two Eastern Hemisphere giants. As the Pravda.ru Web site announced, the reconciliation between China and Russia has been driven in part by mutual unease at U.S. power and a fear of Islamic extremism in Central Asia.
http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed092605a.cfm
I was just down there last week. The country is a mess thanks to the Coya Marxists running the country. The lines for diesel are incredible. BTW, I saw one of a few of their 1950’s Korean War era aircraft that composes their “air force”
One other item, their president (Evo) also happens to be the president of the Cocoa Growers Association. You can imagine how the transport of dope has unfettered access to the country’s borders for export.
The sensible few are holding their breath for Hugo Chavez’s removal from power as he is pumping boatloads of money into Bolivia.
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