Venezuela dimisses jitters over nuclear program

[justinsb]

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela will pursue plans to develop nuclear technology for its medical, industrial and oil sectors despite regional jitters over possible cooperation with Iran, the science minister said.

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, a critic of the United States and an ally of communist Cuba, met with wary reactions from South American neighbors last month when he said he could acquire nuclear technology with the possible help of Tehran.

But Science Minister Marlene Yadira Cordova dismissed as "rushed" initial reaction to Venezuela's plan to develop atomic technology with partners such as Iran, which Washington brands as part of an "axis of evil."

"In the scheme of alliances Venezuela has developed, any country where we have the conditions for scientific and technological cooperation in this area could be part of the process," Cordova told Reuters in a recent interview.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=8891163

[getmeouttahere]

1. I've always said....

as long as the U.S. insists on possessing nuclear weapons/technology, we can't expect others not to pursue it or give up what they have. Besides, most of the rest of the world thinks the axis of evil is a hypocritical joke, which it is.

[justinsb]

2. If done properly, with the right precautions

nuclear power can actually be fairly safe, clean and effecient. It seems to me that a sane government would be interested in making sure they did it right, rather than trying to prevent them from doing it at all.

[getmeouttahere]

3. But justinsb, that actually makes sense....

and they say the grown-ups are in charge now! If they are, then the grown-ups are fu**ed!!!!