Chávez hints at nuclear future for Venezuela

Source: The Guardian

President Hugo Chávez yesterday hinted that Venezuela could try to become a nuclear power, during a visit to Russia apparently timed to antagonise the White House.

Mr Chávez defended Iran's right to pursue a nuclear programme and said it might be a good idea if Venezuela eventually did the same thing. Speaking before an audience of communists and other elements hostile to America, Mr Chávez said: "Iran has a right to have a peaceful atomic energy industry, as it is a sovereign country.

The Brazilian president has declared his atomic energy initiatives, and Brazil has a right to do that as well. Who knows, maybe Venezuela will ultimately follow suit." Mr Chávez said he wanted a "multi-polar world in which "real freedom" was possible as opposed to "American freedom", which he characterised as the right to "threaten other nations and destroy cities".

The Venezuelan leader is on a trip that also includes two other US antagonists, Belarus and Iran. His visit to Moscow comes hours before a meeting in the US between Vladimir Putin and George Bush. The two are holding informal talks on Sunday and Monday at the Bush family estate in Kennebunkport, Maine, with deep divisions over the US's proposed missile shield in central Europe, the future of Kosovo and US concerns over Russia's resurgent authoritarianism under Mr Putin.





Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/venezuela/story/0,,2114634,00.html

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Hmmmm! Dualing "freedoms".. During the cold war I was against nuclear bombs but since the Berlin wall fell down, the US has been attacking everybody on Earth. So I've changed my mind. Now I see the need for every country to have at least one bomb to make sure we can't invade. I don't care who they buy them from as long as it's not from us!

you do realize, though, that he was referring to "a peaceful atomic energy industry," don't you?

(I think Venezuela should lead the way in clean energy, and not be talking nuclear right now, but that's just my opinion)

(Just for being gay.)

Politics must be fun down there with all the provocation of Shrubbie Poo.

I'm assuming that nuclear power can be made safe, if they didn't cut corners on construction, and had far more insulating materials, no cracking concrete, etc. to contain the stuff properly instead of this lowest-bidder shoddy construction racket.

The world was not at peace during the MAD (mutually-assured destruction) era. There were innumerable "small" wars raging everywhere. But there was a certain geostrategic balance to speak of that kept large parts of the world in relative peace. I'm afraid that if the US gains an absolute advantage that cannot be neutralized by any other country, that will unleash terrible chaos internationally, not least of which would be a new arms race.

Really, though, this article is merely about atomic energy, and not anything about nuclear weapons. No Latin American country has declared its intention to develop such weapons. Though, in light of US withdrawals from things like the ABM treaty, it seems that the road for NPT withdrawal by others has been opened up.

Don't wanna take any chances on a mushroom cloud here in 'Merkuh!

Oy.

Julie

The Guardian does not identify Chavez's audience. Communists don't hate America, they only hate Bush and his policies. In addition, Putin's government represents the new Russian oligarchs, there are no communists in Putin's government. The Russian Communist Party opposed the destruction of democracy in Russia when Yeltsin sent his tanks to attack the White House (the Russian parliament building in Moscow), and it has opposed Putin's disastrous economic policies at every turn.

The Guardian, is a liberal newspaper but has had a long running animus towards Chavez, perhaps due to land in Venezuela owned by absentee landlords that happen to be British with connections to The Guardian's publisher.

Here is the BBC coverage of Chavez's visit to Russia:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6247724.stm

Oil producing nations know we are at peak oil, so they are switching to nuclear power to provide for their energy needs for that day when the oil wells run dry. There is nothing sinister nor unique about Venezuela's desire to have nuclear energy.

:)

that Chavez said maybe they'd eventually pursue a nuclear energy program? Oh my God the Commies are at the gates, first launch NOW NOW NOW!

Almost as good as the way a report about the Bolivia vs Venezuela Copa America match the other day went out of it's way to mention "some fans booing" Chavez when his name was announced (he was there to watch the game).

It's here: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/national/2007-06-28-us-copa-youth_N.htm

News? Nah - but a good opportunity for the MSM to go out of it's way to do the demonizing work of the * cabal for free.

(on edit: sp.)

""American freedom", which he characterised as the right to "threaten other nations and destroy cities"."