It seems that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez “El Shiz Nic” has become enamored with North Korea, though, judging from his activities regarding Iran and Libya, Chavez would be friends with anyone that did not like America. Apparently Chavez is due to meet with Kim Jong Il (poor Kim DJ!) and there is some concern about the export of missile technology to Venezuela as well. Even before now, it appears that Venezuela and North Korea have increased ties, per one article in the KCNA:
Pyongyang, September 22 (2005) (KCNA) — The Venezuela-Korea Friendship Parliamentary Group was inaugurated on Sept. 7 in Caracas. Freddy Jose Roque Carreno was elected chairman of the group, Hernan Pinango its vice-chairman, Berkis Claret its administrative coordinator and Felix Velasquez its executive secretary.
The recent history of Chavez seems to lead others to believe that there is trouble brewing in the future as well:
Even more troubling than Russian intervention, recent reports indicate that a North Korean military sales delegation has visited Caracas with the intention of selling Chavez intermediate range ballistic missiles. With an economy solidly in the tank, the North Koreans have few items of interest in the export market. The Kim Jong Il regime has focused on counterfeit US $100 bills, manufacture and sale of illegal narcotics (heroin and crystal meth), slave labor, trafficking in human beings, research into nuclear and chemical weapons, and manufacture and sale of missiles. North Korea is so cash poor that Kim would agree to strap his grandmother to one of the rockets and ship her over if that meant more spending money in his ‘extra big in the butt’ jeans.
Furthermore, the above quote author, Lt. Col. Gordon Cucullu, seems to feel that the Venezuelan/North Korea alliance could have an negative impact on drug trade in the region:
. . . With oil prices spiking Chavez has the petrodollars to purchase just about anything he wants from North Korea and would likely be interested in acting as a broker for wholesale heroin to distribute into North American markets. He can take advantage of the distribution lines that his friends in FARC have established to implement such a strategy. . .
Though Cucullu’s comments are sweeping and generalizing in nature, could a Venezualan/North Korea alliance be yet another straw heaped upon the camel’s back that is North Korea? Instead of the “evil axis” might this make a “quartet of churls”?
Maybe it is time for a little Mercenaries action.
4 Comments
Isolationist Americans really have to think this through. Is it a good idea to pull out of Korea? The pullout may be a good idea right now, but it is so for coming decades?
Something to think about.
“El Shiz Nic”?
Chavez called for a constitutional amendment to extend his presidency until 2031, so he does have a bit of KJI’s megalomania in him.
These guys just make the Bush administration look better and better, well done El Shiznit.
Chavez is a blowhard and makes less sense every day. He dosen’t stand ‘for’ anything except ‘against the US’ (whatever that means) and is cozying up to more human rights violating governments (eg. China) than you can shake a stick at. ‘Socialist’, my ass.
And yes Baduk, The US should pull out of Korea, it’s not wanted by the upcoming generation. Fair weather friends, lesson learned.
This is the right path for Venezuela to head down if they want their country to experience a nuclear winter for the next 10,000 years.
–Remort
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[...] Marmot is concerned about the “Quartet of Churls” seemingly forming, now that Venezuela’s Chavez is casting loving glances at Pyongyang. …could a Venezualan/North Korea alliance be yet another straw heaped upon the camel’s back that is North Korea? Instead of the “evil axis” might this make a “quartet of churls”? [...]
[...] Marmot is concerned about the “Quartet of Churls” seemingly forming, now that Venezuela’s Chavez is casting loving glances at Pyongyang. …could a Venezualan/North Korea alliance be yet another straw heaped upon the camel’s back that is North Korea? Instead of the “evil axis” might this make a “quartet of churls”? [...]
[...] Of course Marmot has more as well. [...]