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Franklin Reyes / AP
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, holds up his Honoris Causa distinction conferred by Gustavo Cobreiro, rector of the University Havana, right, Wednesday in Havana, Cuba, his third stop of a Latin American tour.
HAVANA -- No surprise to anyone that we're hearing tough words during the Latin American tour of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Swinging through Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba and Ecuador, the Iranian leader seems to be at home among America’s united enemies — and the left leaders equally comfortable with him.
First and foremost, Ahmadinejad seems to be on his tour to defend his country’s nuclear program. While Iran claims that the nation’s nuclear program is solely for energy and other peaceful purposes, the United States and Western allies accuse Tehran of secretly building nuclear weapons.
During Monday’s stop in Caracas, Ahmadinejad addressed the issue head on and charged the Obama administration with making unjust threats.
"They say we're making a bomb. ... Everyone knows that those words ... are a joke, something to laugh at." Ahmadinejad claims Washington is just "afraid" of Iran’s development.
For his part, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accused Washington of demonizing Iran and trumping up false claims about the nuclear issue "like they used the excuse of weapons of mass destruction to do what they did in Iraq."
Chavez even joked how Ahmadinejad’s tour was making America nervous: "When we devils get together ... it's like they go crazy," Chavez said.
From Caracas, Ahmadinejad headed to Managua for the inauguration of Daniel Ortega to another term. He called Ortega his "brother president" while Ortega praised Ahmadinejad for his "peace" efforts. Once again, Ahmadinejad dismissed the accusations about Iran's nuclear program.
Wednesday morning, Ahmadinejad landed in Havana.
In each country so far, Ahmadinejad secured the backing for his controversial nuclear program. Don’t expect less from the Cubans.
Fidel Castro is on the record defending Iran's right to develop nuclear energy and ridiculing the Obama administration for claiming that Iran is secretly developing nuclear weapons.
Receiving an honorary doctorate in political science from Havana University, Ahmadinejad spent almost his entire acceptance speech accusing the West of being the world's "bully." The wars in the Middle East, he charged, have been all about winning elections in the West and about controlling oil reserves.
Ahmadinejad was also expected to meet with the Castro brothers during his one-day visit. Again, we should expect to hear more of the same given that the two countries see eye to eye, especially when it comes to the United States. Since the start of Iran’s nuclear program, Havana has unflaggingly defended Tehran's right to develop nuclear technology while openly ridiculing the Obama administration for its claim that Iran is secretly developing nuclear weapons.
And for Iran's part, the Islamic nation has repeatedly condemned the U.S. economic embargo against the island nation.
But, for as much as this trip is about criticizing U.S. policies, it also seems to have a practical edge to it. Ahmadinejad is talking up the importance of trade in Latin America.
In Venezuela, Iran has already invested in the construction industry along with factories producing farm machinery, trucks and food products.
Cuban-Iran economic ties are fairly strong too.
Back in 2003, the two countries agreed to support mutual foreign investment and expand bilateral trade. Since then, Iran has extended 200 million in euro credit to the island, which the island has used primarily to upgrade its rail system. There is discussion to increase that line of credit to 500 million euros. Cuba is helping to build a plant in Iran that produces vaccines and medicines. The bilateral trade is said to be as much as 30 million euros a year.
From here, the Iranian leader heads to Ecuador as the last stop on his whirlwind tour.
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- 'Tortured' Gitmo prisoner seeks release of secret videos
- Three million parade in Philippines despite terror threat
- US expels diplomat after cyber-attack allegations
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- Divided opposition bolsters defiant Assad
Leave a Comment:
Maybe this whirlwind tour can blow in a sniper...
So they would rather have a nuke than be part of the real world. We said we will not let Iran build a nuke, but if they do its not like we are going to lift the sanctions, just look at N. Korea they built a few Abombs and they are in the same @!$%# hole as before, with more sanctions.
Iran may have nothing to lose
Its little kids teasing the 150lb German shepard behind the 8 ft fence.
Lets cross are fingers!
Why don't we avoid the Christmas rush this year and just nuke these bozos.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad = Spineless Tool
What efforts?
Can SOMEONE buy this idiot a tie? He looks like a deli clerk. One that you wouldn't trust to cut your cold cuts.
This clown is like the Don Rickles of international politics. No, the Rodney Dangerfield. Ok, maybe a mix. He is the ultimate big mouth, with no actual intention of doing a damn thing, but he really enjoys watching everyone run for the hills every time he opens his mouth.
He is the consummate middle east business man - constant demonstrative blather, all part of his shtick. We need to either plug the dude once and for all, or ignore him.
First, the guy is not a clown. He is the leader of a nation that is actively developing nuclear capabilities. Whether these nuclear capabilities will be weaponized or not is a matter for international inspectors from the Atomic Energy Commission to determine. Never underestimate someone that has the potential to develop a nuclear arsenal. As much as I loathe the man and his policies, he is not a clown. One of the first rules in both politics and negotiating is to never underestimate your opponent.
Second, my fellow Newsviners that always want to chest thump and say "let's nuke 'em all" - realize that this track of diplomacy always fails. I'm thankful that cooler heads will prevail.
Third, when it comes to Cuba - why in the world do we still have trade sanctions in place? They haven't done any good over the last 50 years so why do we continue them? I live in South Florida where there is a significant Cuban exile community. They all seem hell-bent on wanting to punish the Cuban government. Although I don't necessarily disagree with this philosophy, I actively challenge the method we have chosen to do so. We are not punishing the Cuban government, we are punishing the Cuban people. As an alternative, why not open the doors of the free market to Cuba and let them have a long drink of water from the trough of capitalism. Eventually they just might experience their very own version of an Arab Spring. After all, the current plan is a failure so why not try something new and bold?
Why do we even give this guy airtime. Obviously he has screw loose; I would however, keep a very watchful eye on him so we don't end up with another Hitler type pulling in the beleaguered masses.
Yea, I'm with you! Why don't we (and I mean the MEDIA) just ignore this fool? Then the only people that have to deal with this goofball, are his countrymen.
G Force..-He´s already a Hitler and has been for years Hitler yelled long live the Aryans and death to Jews,gyysies mentally and physically ill The Ayartoolahs who are this prez´s boss yell "kill Jerws.Christians Hindus and Buddhists and Muslim who don´t believe in our perverted pyscho Grand Iran.And that´s prettyu much everyone in the world.These phony clerics hiding behind their skirts are as dangerous and murderous as the nazis.He is a mass murderer both in his country and by committing terroist attacks on 6 continents!!
personally i think its rather funny that Iran a muslim nation is seeking friendship with predominantly catholic nations.
Erock17. Hitler was in bed with Stalin at first but then they didn't love each other anymore....
Afraid of Iran's development? Of course, we are! That country takes normal everyday people (mostly American, Canadian, etc.), arrest them, charge them with spying or some other bogus charge, and then want money to let them go. They even trump up charges on their own people and just kill them off. No country with any integrity would even think of the things they do to their own people and foreigners.
If they had the bomb, every nation within reach of their missiles would be targets, even Muslim countries. I am for freedom of religion, but when people use religion as an excuse to do the things that they do, they are to be watched very closely.
@ save the environment
and....
@ martin bart
the only modern hitler is nittyahoo under whose evil policy, the Palestinians suffer the same fate as the jews in WWII.
@ henrich
do you just spew stuff off the cuff or do you actually believe that garbage?
i haven't read anything about the Palestinians wearing stars on there clothing or being rounded up by the masses to be exterminated.
troll
Can someone provide the latest war the crazy Iranians have started?
@ERPCL17
Do yourself a favour, read independent reports on the plight of Palestinians in Gaza living under seige and occupation, with human dignity trampled by animal idf.
hum!! I wonder what language they use to communicate.. Just think it would be funny to find out that the hate for western countries won't apply to the communication language of choice in these cases.
It's an offshoot of Latin called Assholitis
Ahmadinejad is a puppet. He follows orders. Talk talk talk. As the U.S., British and Isreal take them out one by one... LOL :-)
I don't know if it is true, but I hear there are people in Central America that own magnets too.
Right now two carrier groups are going toward the Persian Gulf.
Two very big sticks.
If that is true, It will be time for Iran to put up or shut up. Lets see what happens when Irans Navy is staring down the barrels of some very BIG navy guns, and feeling the heat of fighter jet engines overhead. I for one do not want another war, but Iran has already made their threats to attack American ships if they enter the Persian Gulf. Time to put the cards on the table. I just wish all of our allies would send at least one of their military war ships in with us, so that Iran would know that it isn't just us that is taking this seriously, but a whole bunch of our friends too.
The carrier groups will be the iron coffins. They are no match to Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles provided by the Russian/Chinese.
last thing we need is anoter war,i mean wtf,you all listen to fox and @!$%# and let them tell you all these countys have crazy weapons of mass destruction,i bet they dont have @!$%#,you peopel would listen to anything on fox,or our busted ass gov,china and iran and russia would kick our ass side ways,if we even think of touching iran,we would lose,i mean the people hate our gov,last thing we would do is fight for them.
I didn't get my info off of fox.
I don't really believe that Iran has anything serious yet. They talk big, simulate something sinister, then threaten. Oh add in a third world tour.
Just propaganda in the long run. It may take awhile but eventually they will fold.
Anthony, IF it came down to a fight with Russia, China, and Iran involved, hate our government or not, we wouldn't have any choice but to fight and fight like hell to keep our way of life. Yea things are not good here at home and could be better, but if we lost a war to these countries, Me, you, and everyone we care about would face drastic changes in our lives of the likes of which we have never seen before. They wouldn't stop at kicking us out of the middle east. A loss would also likely mean that they would collectively take the opportunity to invade our borders and finaly take control of the ( in thier minds evil and out of control) American Empire. America has it's problems, but it is still the best country on the planet to live in, and be able to build any life that you choose to live. I would fight and die to maintain this country's freedoms for myself and others.
We are still on friendly terms with China and Russia. Neither seem willing to get involved in a conflict. I believe it will take talks between China and Iran before this blows over. I could see China turning on Iran if they refuse to co-operate. I believe this is the main purpose for the current tour throughout Latin America. None of these countries are strong enough to give them adequate support and it seems as though they are desperately searching for allies. As I mentioned earlier, propaganda. Any promise of sharing tech with these countries to receive aid will be futile as we would simply block shipping at sea.
Can the Israeli's take their gloves off yet? Go Israel, love your country and people...
...But do it without American blood and treasure.
Dont worry Toasted, We know YOU wont be there.
That's pretty much the whole point of what I said, CM. No more Americans should die for the failed experiment that is the State of Israel.
how has it failed?
It's a police state with something close to two thirds of its territory transformed into segregated ghettos and bantustans that is constantly at war with its neighbors. More importantly, Americans have died because of this mistake.
It had a use back during the Cold War, but its dangers now outweigh that. Israel is an asset, nothing more. And the time has come to let them sleep in the blood-drenched bed they've made for themselves through their ethnic cleansing. If they still thrive, good for them. But if they fall, it'll be their own damned fault, and it's not America's problem. They're a liability.
Americans should not shed blood for the zionist war mongering. Let them fight their own dirty war.
israel is no friend of US, remember USS Liberty.
Meanwhile the US Navy is out there saving his people from pirates. Where's the Big, bad Iranian Navy when it's own people need them?
Yoshi
They are busy Photoshopping successful missile launches.
Yoshi, Their fishing boats and home made subs could not get there quick enough.
They're refitting with larger paper mache' cannons and cardboard missiles.
A piss ant in a suit is still a piss ant!!!!
Looks like he got the suit from a clothing drop bin.
Well it's a good thing the backing of South american countries means dick huh.
Actually both leaders of Iran and Venezuela are insignificant. One is going to die from cancer and the other at the hands of his own people.
The hype these two place on their own personal significance in the history of mankind is dumbfounding.
Neither will be remembered by the people of their own country and the world as nothing but a despot that seeked to take power and wealth from the very country it seeks approval of as being a humanitarian.
Jerry D. Williamson have Medicare so he doesn't care.
Say what?
Doc, Alexis is still mad that McDonalds rejected him. His Degree in Liberal Arts didn't help him. Also his mom did not want him to burn himself cooking those fries. Don't worry Alexis your mom might let you work at subway, But only if you promise not to touch the knives.
This country was anti communist until the capitalists started making money in China.
This country now bows down to the Communist regime in China, so talk tough you anti Iran people.
Really Antone? Do you know what your talking about?
He knows more than you Alan..Every time China Barks the US Government backs down..
IMAHANDJOB...King of The Midgets...only thing missing is a harmonica and a monkey....
So which is shorter, this puppet or the one in North Korea?
The Iranian people were some of the most progressive people in the middle east 30 yrs ago.Before I,I mean on our behalf,our government ffffd aroung and pissed 'em all off.Ignore these people. "Hey Iranians!Want to show the world you're serious about becoming part of the peaceful 21st century?Frag that little twerp.Then our leaders will stop being militaristic douches"
he should visit fukishima without a radioactive protective suit . every year for the next 40 years
suit not sweet
The CIA should assassinate this height-challenged megalomaniac SOB during his Latin American tour.
RIght now this insane individual needs to just simple "Shut UP!" It is ignorant fools like this that have started wars, which leads to death on both sides. The Iranian Government had better stop thier "Crazy Campaign" of War Mongering. This individual is extremely dangerous, dumb, and not productive to solving issues peacefully.
What do you bet iran is attacked and not the other way around?
Lets hope he doesn't reproduce.
Short @!$%# Iranian don't have a clue what he is messing with. I am not a real fan of the Jews, they cause as many problems as they fix, but without a doubt they are the Honey Badgers of the Middle East. Seems as if he has their attention, witness all the strange stuff going on, not an envious position, one he will rue.
Emil
"When we devils get together". Yes, very appropriate Mr. Chavez, that is exactly what you are. The US has it's problems no doubt, but how many people want to immigrate to your countries? How many people would leave your countries if they could? In particular with Venezuela and Iran, if it were not for oil, what would you be able to offer your people and greater humanity (other empanadas, pastacchios and rugs which is no different than what you were offering 100 years ago)? Theocracy, despotism, suppression (of women, free speech and media) financing militant extremist proxies who unapologetically promote the killing and sequestering innocents to meet political ends....is Evil and so are are you, the shoe bottoms of humanity!
"When we devils get together". Yes, very appropriate Mr. Chavez, that is exactly what you are. The US has it's problems no doubt, but how many people want to immigrate to your countries? How many people would leave your countries if they could? In particular with Venezuela and Iran, if it were not for oil, what would you be able to offer your people and the greater world (other empanadas, pastacchios and rugs which is no different than what you were offering 100 years ago)? Theocracy, despotism, suppression (of women, free speech and media) financing militant extremist proxies who unapologetically promote the killing and sequestering innocents to meet political ends....is Evil and so are are you, the shoe bottoms of humanity!
Me thinks Amahammerhead does deny too much.
I guess the Ayatollahs think it is good to have non God fearing people on their side.