Venezuela to Widen Energy, Military Ties to Russia, Chavez Says

[Purveyor]

Source: Bloomberg

June 6 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he plans to expand energy and military cooperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin to counter U.S. power in Latin America.

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Chavez reiterated a statement from last year that he will ask Russian companies to help construct a gas pipeline from Venezuela to Argentina when he visits Moscow later this year. He also reiterated that Venezuela will build factories to make Russian-designed rifles.

Chavez made his comments amid rising tension between the U.S. and Russia over U.S. plans to put a missile defense system in Europe. Putin warned this week that the move would spark a new arms race and Russia might retaliate by targeting Europe with its arsenal of missiles.

``This is a clear attempt to surround Russia, to go against China, to go against Iran,'' Chavez said. ``In their madness, they could attempt any crazy act.''


Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=agYwz7ksECBI&refer=us

[Straight Shooter]

1. All the leaders are now playing a very dangerous game.

Thanks for nothing, bush, you frickin' idiot.

[Purveyor]

2. IMHO it is much more dangerous than we realize and our media cares to report...

Diana photos, Paris in jail, etc. fill our priorities...

[brentspeak]

3. As awful as Bush is, nobody's forcing Chavez to team up with Stalin-wannabe Putin

[Warren Stupidity]

4. Actually as we will not sell Venezuela weapons

and are encouraging others to also not sell weapons to Venezuela, the rifle factory was more or less forced on Venezuela.

"Stalin-wannabe Putin"

Ah yes, 'cause if we can't use islamophobia then we can always fall back on the trusty fear of commies.

[Cha]

6. Pooty-Poot! bushit says

he looked in his eyes and saw his soul and it's a goodun..so it must be okay for Chavez to buys guns from them since the fascist US ain't sellin' 'em to 'em.

[Psephos]

8. Warren, it's not commie fear, it's that those who gainsay Putin seem to be disappearing a lot

You'd be looking over your shoulder these days in Russia, yourself.

Putin is an unreformed KGB thug who's running Russia according to the old playbook.

[TheLastMohican]

16. Unlike Bush

who is running a mass homicide program in at least two middle east countries and planning to do a third (Somalia)? god knows how many green berets are there now.
Someone has to put a dog lead on all those neocons in the Bush government or they will go for the abyss.

[Warren Stupidity]

17. I'm no fan of Putin but he is no Stalin.

And the stalin remark was deliberate red-baiting. Venezuela building a factory to make rifles is not a threat to anyone and they have every right to defend their nation. These endless attack posts against Venezuela are just rightwing idiocy and I will not let the bullshit pass unremarked on.

[GirlinContempt]

18. Hear hear

[1932]

12. ...and since we keep threatening them...

[IndianaGreen]

7. The only Stalin or Hitler wannabe in here is Bush, not Chavez or Putin

Really, brentspeak, you seem more worried about what a Leftist leader is doing in Latin America than about what our budding tyrant is doing to us in here.

Bush was greeted by Czech students carrying signs saying "Warm climate, Cold War!" Bush is such a dangerous and erratic Messianic complex President that the only rational thing for other countries to do is to get deterrents to Bush's aggression, be it nukes or long range missiles.

[Straight Shooter]

9. The enemy of Chavez's enemy is Chavez's friend.

Perhaps that is what we are seeing. Putin is cunning and will gather unto him any advantage he can.

[TheLastMohican]

15. Haha

Stalin-wannabee is more liberal and capitalist oriented than Bush ever be.

What are you scared of some capitalistic competition? Russia is a competitor and many big guys in the US circles know it. That's why they bring the old trite "evil commies" card and you are happily parroting after them. :)

[UTUSN]

5. Quack quack quack for any crazy act - and it RHYMES!!1 n/t

[David__77]

10. Makes sense.

Russia isn't hellbent on interfering in other countries' affairs all around the globe nearly to the extent that the US does. That said, Russia isn't without imperialist ambitions, and countries shouldn't trade in one overlord for another.

[provis99]

11. next the media will claim Chavez is selling out to "Red China"

I mean, really. They'll show him shaking hands with some low-level Chinese functionary, then next we'll hear about how the Communist Chinese are going to use Venezuela as a base for their army to overrun the US. The media is becoming less like the unofficial arm of the Republican party, and more like the unofficial arm of the John Birch Society every day.

[ProudDad]

13. Otra Vez

Viva Chavez...

[followthemoney]

14. Too bad the American people couldn't restrain their tyrant

It always comes to this. When the people of a nation are not able to restrain their own tyrant it falls upon the people of another nation to do it for them.

Nuclear bombs for everyone, at least until we figure how to start civilization.