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Chavez: Iran Helping Venezuela Search for Uranium

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Foreign Affairs
Posted on Sat Sep 26, 2009 at 12:58:28 PM EST
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Leave it to Hugo Chavez to insert himself on the side of Iran on nukes:

A senior aide to Venezuela’s president, Hugo Chávez, said Friday that Iran was assisting Venezuela in the detection and testing of uranium deposits found in remote areas of Venezuela. The disclosure points to the importance Mr. Chávez has placed on the development of a nuclear energy program.

“Iran is helping us with geophysical aerial probes and geochemical analyses,” Rodolfo Sanz, Venezuela’s minister of basic industries and mining, told reporters outside a meeting of Latin American and African leaders in Porlamar, Venezuela.

Just what this situation needs. Sheesh.

Speaking for me only

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    Chavez: Iran Helping Venezuela Search for Uranium | 7 comments (7 topical)

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    Waiting for Zelaya to weigh in. (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Sat Sep 26, 2009 at 02:05:06 PM EST
    And Fidel.

    I wish them luck! (none / 0) (#2)
    by Fabian on Sat Sep 26, 2009 at 03:33:45 PM EST
    I wonder how many years and millions/billions of dollars it would take to mine uranium, process the ore and then process the uranium.

    I think Chavez is taking lessons from North Korea.  "Look at me!  I'm a threat!  I might, possibly starting mining uranium!  Pay attention!".

    [snigger]

    with all due respect (none / 0) (#3)
    by Dadler on Sat Sep 26, 2009 at 04:28:22 PM EST
    with as big a nutcase as chavez is in many respects, i have to ask: why is it surprising to you that ANYONE is looking to get nuclear weapons?  Or using the most fringe elements to try and acquire them.  We, along with other "superpowers", have made nukes the SINGLE thing that will keep us away from invading you.  After Iraq, let's face it, it is on US that any halfwit leader seeks out nukes.

    Yeah, just what the situation needs, but, come on, so predictable it hurts.

    Then again, to be fair, you evidenced no real surprise here, just a kind of bemused exasperation.  I suppose my comment is OT in that respect, but in others I don't think it is.
     

    I'm sure Venezuela's neighbors (none / 0) (#5)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Sep 26, 2009 at 07:00:25 PM EST
    will love the nuclear proliferation race sure to follow.

    Some of you are amazing.

    Parent

    Why would Venezuela want nuclear energy? (none / 0) (#4)
    by CMike on Sat Sep 26, 2009 at 06:12:52 PM EST
    Here's a thought. Maybe, like other oil exporters, the Venezuelan leadership believes, by finding an alternative source of energy for electric power in the out years, the country will have more petroleum to sell abroad in the coming post peak oil era when the barrel price of oil skyrockets.

    Here's a simple solution. The United States and its UN allies can offer to make monthly payments in gold to Iran and Venezuela based on the changing monthly spot price of oil in the out years if either or both of those countries agree to fore go developing their own nuclear power industries and instead generate electric power with their own oil minus the French kilowatt cost of nuclear generated electric power. Iran would be entitled to such payments beginning in ten years, Venezuela in fifteen.

    The United States and its allies would then have to keep posted, in some international account, the estimated payment amounts for the coming five years to either or both countries which agree to suspend their nuclear programs and generate domestic electric power with oil. If the US and its allies fail to fund the accounts the existing balances would be forfeit and Iran and Venezuela would then have the right, thereafter, to develop nuclear power for themselves.

    That's one approach I suppose (none / 0) (#6)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Sep 26, 2009 at 07:00:56 PM EST
    Good luck with that.

    Parent
    there's a viable alternative: (none / 0) (#7)
    by cpinva on Sat Sep 26, 2009 at 07:51:12 PM EST
    in return for iran and venezuela not going forward with weapons-grade production, we agree to not wipe them off the face of the planet.

    contrary to popular misconception, we have the capability to do that, without the use of nuclear weapons ourselves; we wouldn't have to deal with a radiation poisoned atmosphere.

    clearly, chavez isn't a nutcase, he's banking on the same kind of paranoia the republicans are, to maintain his grip on power. so far, it's working. however, at some point (in the not too distant future, i suspect) his supporters will begin to realize he's sold them a bill of goods, and he'll be gone.

    no other country will have to do anything, just let him self-destruct.

    Chavez: Iran Helping Venezuela Search for Uranium | 7 comments (7 topical)

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