As the U.S.'s attention has been diverted to the hot spots in Bush's "war on terror," namely Iraq and Afghanistan, their neighbors in South America have been forging other friendships with more distant lands -- in particular with China and Iran.
China has been extremely important in securing agricultural and manufacturing deals with countries such levitra bestellen as Brazil and Argentina, but Iran has also been seen as an increasingly important partner to secure relationships with. In the past year, Iran and Venezuela have cozied up to one another, both bound by their mutual loathing of President Bush.
Trade centered on the manufacturing industries has been focal in the Venezuela-Iran get together, but both countries are also seeking to bond beyond trade -- a prospect that has left observers in Washington -- and Jerusalem -- decidedly nervous.
A recent report in the L.A. Times claimed that the relationship between Iran and Venezuela is also being used opportunistically by organisations such as the Lebanese-based Hizbollah, setting up anti- Western terrorist cells in strategic areas of the continent. Already this year, Iran announced that it was setting up TV stations in Venezuela, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Bolivia, which could potentially be an opportunity for Hizbollah to take their operations further in to South America.
Jewish communities in South America have been vocal about their fears, citing the 1992 Israeli Embassy bomb attack, which was claimed by Islamic Jihad, a group that has ties to Hizbollah. There have long been whispered accusations of gun-running and other shady deals in the tripartite border area between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay by Middle Eastern organizations with links to terrorism.
Much to the chagrin of the U.S. government, Hizbollah itself is not regarded as a terrorist organisation by many Latin American governments, allowing Hizbollah to engage in more activities in the region.
The deal making between Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and Iran, is also a conscious kick in the face to U.S. foreign policy. No love is lost between the left-wing governments in many Latin American countries and the U.S., exemplified by the constant anti- U.S. rhetoric of Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chavez.
Bolivia has also had tempestuous relations with Washington recently. This week, the relationship took a decidedly sour turn when, in an increasing volatile political situation, Bolivia's President Evo Morales expelled the U.S. ambassador for allegedly provoking and inciting riots and anti-government protests in the gas-rich region of Santa Cruz, in eastern Bolivia.
Washington responded in kind by ousting Bolivia's envoy to the U.S. And, not one to be outdone when it comes to the politics of histrionics, Chavez also announced that as a sign of solidarity to his left-wing comrade he too would eject the U.S. ambassador from Venezuelan territory.
Chavez's rambunctious speech, peppered with expletives last night, was made before a huge crowd of his supporters. He turned the air blue with his theatrical indignation. "Shi**y Yankees!" he cried, "Go to hell a hundred times!," which got the big-up from his selected audience.
It has all the makings of a Latin American soap opera, were it not for the potentially frightening repercussions.
Venezuela's oil reserves -- 100 billion barrels of the stuff -- have allowed Chavez to play the Big Man in the name of Latin American interests. But how long can he keep this up for? Food is rationed in Venezuela and cialis the country has become dependent upon food imports from Colombia. His anti-American rhetoric may thunder across the Caribbean, but he is still reliant upon the U.S., which remains an especially important client of the Venezuelan state oil company, PDVSA, supplying it with 1.5 million barrels of oil a day. So much for an anti-Yankee rant.
Related posts: Mexico bike race crash, U.S. terrorism watch list tops 1 million
(Reuters)
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Posted by craigorianchant on September 13, 2008
Category: Uncategorized
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