Oct
28
2010
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Washington Must Take a Stronger Stand on Russia-Venezuela Nuclear Deal

This article was originally posted by The Huffington Post

When Russia recently signed a deal to supply Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez with nuclear reactors, the silence from Washington was deafening. The Obama administration was probably concerned that strong U.S. opposition to the deal could undermine cooperation with Moscow on several important fronts, and that it could give the adversarial President Chavez a propaganda windfall. These concerns are not without merit, but they are also not an excuse for inaction.

Over the past few years, Russia has shown that it may be more interested in making money than in controlling weapons proliferation.

Moscow delivered the fuel for Iran’s Bushehr reactor last August, two months after the United Nations Security Council passed a fourth round of sanctions against Tehran for its nuclear noncompliance and suspicions of possible nuclear military activities. Indeed, despite its increasing cooperation with the United States on tightening UN Security Council sanctions against Iran, Russia ultimately proved unwilling to use Bushehr as leverage for bringing Iran into line with Security Council demands.

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Oct
28
2010
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VenEconomy: A Path of Nuclear Thorns

Chavez - Nuclear Reactor - 1This article was originally posted by The Latin American Herald Tribune

Little is known about most of the 69 agreements that Chávez signed in Russia, Belarus, the Ukraine, Iran, Syria, Libya, Algeria, and Portugal; and from what is know it can be concluded that they have at least three things in common: they were not debated or subject to consultation in the country and they were poorly advised; they were not authorized by the National Assembly and, therefore, are legally invalid; and they will have a mammoth cost without offering significant solutions to the serious problems facing Venezuelans.

One of these bizarre agreements is for the construction of a nuclear reactor with Russian technology and advisory services. While Chávez has made much of this agreement, it is the one about which he has given fewest details, and the information that has been released has been contradictory.

For example, different spokespersons have given different versions of the reactor’s generation capacity. Some say it will be 500 MW, others that it will be 2,400 MW, and yet others that it will be expanded eventually to 4,000 MW.

Information as to its cost is equally confusing, anywhere between $3.25 billion and $10 billion, depending on who does the calculation.

On the location of the reactor no mention has been made nor has a word been said on the technical studies conducted for setting off down this nuclear path.

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Oct
27
2010
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Debunking the Chavez Tour: What Chavez’s Trip to Russia Really Means for the U.S.

This article was originally published by Political News

Congressman Connie Mack, the Ranking Republican of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, will issue fact checks every day this week on Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez’s recent tour through Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Iran, Syria, Libya, and Portugal. While news agencies reported on Chavez’s numerous stops, the true impact to U.S. security and the failure of U.S. engagement with Venezuela has been negligently overlooked.

Mack said:

“Last week, Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez visited Russia, where he signed an agreement to develop two nuclear reactors in Venezuela with Russia’s help. In addition to developing nuclear energy, Chavez declared new efforts to establish a Russian-Venezuelan bank, similar to the one that currently exists between Venezuela and Iran.

“Russia also offered Venezuela $1 billion in credit to buy Russian weapons, according to Russian news agency Interfax. Chavez agreed to buy S-3000 air defense systems that Moscow refused to deliver to Iran due to U.N.-imposed sanctions. However, Chavez has stated he will not uphold the sanctions against the country, providing an avenue for sanctionable items to arrive in Iran. Over the past five years, Venezuela has bought approximately $4 billion worth of Russian weapons and has emerged as the main Latin American client of the Russian military industry.

“In response, the State Department has said they will closely watch Venezuela’s relationship with Iran. Meanwhile, Chavez continues to deepen relationships with stated enemies of the United States, expanding his ability to turn rhetoric into action with nuclear energy and other weapons that are fueling insecurity, crime, and illegal armed groups along our borders.

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