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Ahmadinejad in Caracas on an anti-US tour
AFP via The Jordan Times ^ | Jan. 15, 2007 | Staff

Posted on 01/15/2007 5:21:19 AM PST by Schnucki

CARACAS (AFP) — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, seeking support among Washington's critics, arrived here Saturday for talks with his ideological "brother" President Hugo Chavez in a decidedly anti-US Latin American tour.

The Iranian president's regional trip will include visits to Ecuador, Bolivia and Nicaragua, all controlled by leftist governments critical of Washington. The visits appear to be a bid to shore up support as Iran faces international pressure from the United States and others over its nuclear programme. Iran contends the programme is for peaceful purposes, but opponents say it masks a weapons programme.

"Welcome to a fighter for just causes, to a revolutionary and a brother," Chavez told local media after Ahmadinejad's jet touched down here. In Caracas, the two leaders were expected to sign a series of new trade and economic cooperation agreements.

Ahmadinejad has heaped praise on Chavez for his outspoken support of Iran's disputed nuclear programme, which US and European governments say is part of a project to build atomic weapons. The Iranian president arrived here at 1330 GMT to military honours and a welcome from Vice President Jorge Rodriguez, while Chavez delivered his state of the nation address before the National Assembly.

Ahmadinejad made no immediate statement on arrival. Facing sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council over its uranium enrichment work and the threat of international isolation, Iran is keen to demonstrate it has backing among a number of leftist leaders in Latin America. Chavez is the most vocal cheerleader in Latin America for Iran and its hardline president, with both men calling each other "brother" and relishing their status as fierce opponents of Washington's influence. "Iran and Venezuela are two important allies on a global level, the two countries have important industrial and oil projects, which we will follow up in this trip," Ahmadinejad said before flying from Tehran, according to the state-run IRNA agency.

"Hugo is my brother," Ahmadinejad said during his last visit to Venezuela in September, when the two leaders inaugurated a joint venture oil well. "Hugo is the champion of the fight against imperialism." In September 2005, Venezuela was alone in opposing a resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that found Iran in violation of nuclear safeguards. Since then, Chavez has backed to the hilt Iran's right to enrich uranium.

Iran and Venezuela are important players in OPEC and have signed numerous cooperation agreements in the energy sector and other fields.

During his visit to Iran last September, Chavez voiced support for Iran's nuclear programme and denounced Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

The two presidents also signed deals covering iron and steel production, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, healthcare equipment and munitions, backed by a two billion-dollar bilateral fund.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: geopolitics; iran; nuclear; venezuela

1 posted on 01/15/2007 5:21:20 AM PST by Schnucki
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To: Schnucki

Send the lat and long to Jack Bauer ASAP!


2 posted on 01/15/2007 5:25:33 AM PST by Made In The USA (Bacon is infidelicious)
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To: Schnucki

President Bush should send our troops into Iran while Ahmadinejad is out of Iran.


3 posted on 01/15/2007 5:25:50 AM PST by Man50D (Fair Tax , you earn it , you keep it!)
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To: Man50D

What good would that do?


4 posted on 01/15/2007 5:29:01 AM PST by Long Island Pete
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To: Schnucki

What a doggone shame it would be if the US Navy gave Ahmadinejad the "Admiral Yamamoto" treatment when his aircraft departs Venezuela...; )


5 posted on 01/15/2007 5:38:37 AM PST by astounded (Islam - a murderous cult masquerading as a religion...)
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To: Long Island Pete
What good would that do?

Where have you been?? Apparently you haven't reading the multiple reports for some time confirming Ahmadinejad has been sending in Iranians to attack U.S. troops. The latest report is from January 14, 2007. U.S. military says Iranians detained in Iraq had ties to group providing weapons to insurgents not to mention Ahmadinejad has repeatedly stated the destruction of America.

Destroying his regime will ensure our safety. He will be unable to communicate with his henchmen if we attack while he is out of the country and consequently would help bring down his regime much quicker and minimze the risk to our troops.
6 posted on 01/15/2007 5:47:53 AM PST by Man50D (Fair Tax , you earn it , you keep it!)
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To: Man50D

I want him dead along with his followers


7 posted on 01/15/2007 5:57:39 AM PST by Long Island Pete
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To: Long Island Pete

Making a strike against Iran, by taking out some of their forward posts, would put the Islamic Republic on notice that we have been observing their bad behavior, and that no advantage will accrue to them by failure to relent.

We are already engaged against Iran, just that nobody has come out and publicly acknowledged that state of affairs just yet.


8 posted on 01/15/2007 5:59:48 AM PST by alloysteel (Character is a private trait. Reputation is the public aspect that is revealed.)
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To: Schnucki

"Drybones" has been Israel's (US born) top cartoonist. He now has a blog I highly recommend at:

http://drybonesblog.blogspot.com

Where he talks about this cartoon, and much more! Don't miss it!

9 posted on 01/15/2007 6:11:48 AM PST by Challenge
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To: Schnucki
Sorry!

Wrong cartoon.....

Here it is!


10 posted on 01/15/2007 6:14:33 AM PST by Challenge
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To: Schnucki

Ahmadinejad's airplane needs to have an accident.


11 posted on 01/15/2007 6:21:06 AM PST by theBuckwheat
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