Chavez helped Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah establish a base in the Western hemisphere

Chavez helped Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah establish a base in the Western hemisphere

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has defied the United States unlike any other leader in the Western Hemisphere since Cuba's Fidel Castro. Chavez has strong ties with state sponsors of terror, suppresses democracy at home, and has worked to destabilize his neighbors. Recently, Chavez has also helped the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah establish a base in the Western hemisphere.

Chavez's rhetorical and material support for Hezbollah likely stems from his affinity for the groups benefactor and ideological inspiration, the Islamic Republic of Iran. Chavez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who refer to each other as dear brother, are proud to share revolutionary views. Chavez says the two countries are united like a single fist. Despite their differing faiths, they joined hands and prayed for the peoples of the world to destroy [U.S.] world hegemony.

The U.S. Treasury should be commended for designating Venezuelan individuals and entities that support Hezbollah. Effective sanctions against the Venezuelan government, however, will be impossible to implement until the United States breaks its reliance on Venezuelan oil. Until that day comes, Washington should strengthen its alliances with Venezuelas neighbors in an effort to weaken Chavezs power. Congress can assist by passing a free trade agreement with Colombia, a staunch anti-Chavez ally. Failure to take these and other important steps will only encourage Hezbollah to expand in Americas backyard.
Alan Levine is an intern at the Jewish Policy Center, and a fourth year undergraduate at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

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[v4vendetta2010]

Chavez is a hypocrite! He criticizes the capitalists for exploitation of others whilst he supports the slaughter of innocent Iranian protestors demanding freedom from a bloodthirsty medieval regime...all for the sake of securing Iranian government investment in the crippled Venezuelan economy to save his own ass.........Talk about double standards!