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Venezuela and Iran Go Into Battle Together against U.S.
// Set up a $2-billion anti-American fund
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began a tour of Latin America this weekend. He has already visited Venezuela and Nicaragua, and today he heads for Ecuador. The key event in the tour has been the establishment of a fund to counteract U.S. policy. The agreement on that fund was signed on Saturday by Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Caracas and Tehran agreed to allot $2 billion to finance the undermining of the U.S.'s position in the world.
The Iranian president's is traveling selectively in the region. He decided to visit only those countries that have a distinct anti-American orientation. Many countries of the region, even ones that do not look on Washington particularly favorably, were still reluctant to receive such an odious political figure as Ahmadinejad, fearing that they would spoil relations with the White House for good. That left Venezuela, Nicaragua and Ecuador. The tour began in Caracas, where Ahmadinejad was met by Chavez with great fanfare. After short talks, the leaders addressed journalists and embraced before their cameras. When he released Ahmadinejad from his grip, Chavez announced sensational news. “We have established a fund, the money from which will go to any country to fight imperialism,” he stated.
The two presidents spoke about establishing a $2-billion fund for joint investment projects in July, when Chavez visited Tehran. Now Caracas and Tehran have agreed to finance any country that will think up a project that contradicts American interests. “This fund, brother, will be a weapon of liberation!” Chavez declared. “Death to American imperialists!”
The Saturday agreement is the first practical step in setting up an anti-American bloc that openly declares its purpose. It may become a real threat to American interests. Energy security is an example. Both Iran and Venezuela are OPEC members and occupy fourth and fifth places in the world, respectively, as oil producers. They favor raising oil prices. Ahmadinejad hinted on Saturday that even bigger players on the world may be behind them. “We are counting on all forces that are interested in Latin America, Asia and Africa,” he said. Analysts see a clear reference to China in his words, since it is very active in the regions mentioned. Of course, Beijing will not openly link itself to the battle against Washington, but Caracas and Tehran can count on its goodwill.
Several other Latin American countries will join the anti-American union. Ahmadinejad traveled to Nicaragua yesterday, where he was warmly greeted by new Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega. Today the Iranian will attend the inauguration of another newly elected leftist, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa. Another well-known opponent of Washington, Bolivian President Evo Morales will also be present, and of course there will be a Cuban delegation. Most likely the issue of how to spend the Iranian and Venezuelan petrodollars will be discussed. Possibly the first use the money will be put to will be propping up leftist regimes in Latin America. In any case, the leaders of those regimes announced plans for large-scale socio-economic restructuring, which will require massive financing.
Chavez himself set an example. At his inauguration a week ago, he announced that Venezuela would be subject to gigantic rebuilding. But the first thing Chavez wants to do is to make it possible for him to be reelected endlessly. “I plan to rule after 2013 too,” he stated. Chavez intends to amend the country's constitution to give his every order the power of law, without confirmation by the parliament. Finally, Chavez unveiled a reform program that includes the nationalization of the media and gas and electric industries and an increase in social spending by many times. The new leaders of Nicaragua and Ecuador followed suit last week with similar plans. Morales was more modest. He stated yesterday that that his dream is to build a tractor plant in Bolivia with Iran and Venezuela's money.
But the affair obviously won't end with tractors. After this buildup on the Latin American front, the allies may choose another region, such as the Middle East. Since battling the U.S. is becoming a matter of life and death for Iran, Tehran will probably spend its money freely.
Alexander Gabuev
All the Article in Russian as of Jan. 15, 2007
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