Is Chavez Just a Pawn?

This is my question for the month. Is Chavez being used by Iran and Russia? What is behind Putin’s decision to help Iran receive nuclear power and Venezuela military arms? I think there is a simple explanation, but I am sure their are some interesting theories out there as well.

Something to think about further.

A joke about Putin I read on Concord Monitor Online,

“Putin is sitting in his office with his head in his hands, when Stalin’s ghost appears. Putin tells the ghost his problems, bemoaning the incompetence of his Kremlin underlings.“That’s easy to fix,” Stalin says. “Shoot all the bad officials, and paint the Kremlin walls blue.”

“Why blue?” Putin asks.

“Hah! I knew you’d only ask about the second part!”

I

President Alexander Lukashenko

He has been described as “the last dictator of Europe” and has been criticized by the Bush administration. In 1996, he disbanded government. Secret police spies on opposition groups. He is one of the closest allies with Russia. (from BBC news.com )

From THERECORD.COM “Pressure for democratic reform erupts in autocratic Belarus. As protesters mass outside the parliament in Minsk, president Alexander Lukashenko requests Russian support. After protesters are beaten and killed, they appeal for help, and neighbouring Poland — a NATO member with bitter memories of Soviet repression — launches a humanitarian mission to shelter the regime’s opponents. Polish and Russian troops clash, and a confrontation with NATO looms.”

Recently, he has been meeting with Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. In Minsk today they signed an “anti-imperialist” treaty. Hugo Chavez received a hero’s welcome and a new friend in Lukashenko.

Investor’s Business Daily.com writes an article “Chavez, Ex-USSR: A New Axis?”.

The article states, “Hugo Chavez’s malice toward the U.S. is growing. He’s now loudly broadcasting it as he tours the world to drum up support for a seat on the U.N. Security Council, wooing potential allies by promising to counter the U.S.

His latest recruit was Belarus, where he signed an “anti-U.S. pact” Monday with this Russian satellite, praising Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, who admits to having a soft spot for Stalin. “Our countries must keep their hands at the ready on the sword,” Chavez said.”

This meeting came before the Russian/Venezuelan arms deal.