CHAVEZ WANTS RUSSIA'S HELP TO BUILD NUKE CAPABILITY - (YES: RUSSIAN HELP - JUST LIKE IRAN!)

BBC:

Chavez eyes Russia nuclear help

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he wants to develop a civilian nuclear power programme with Russia's help.

Mr Chavez emphasised that he wanted nuclear power only for peaceful ends, citing energy and medical purposes. [JUST LIKE IRAN! EDITOR]

His remarks follow last week's comments by Russian PM Vladimir Putin that Moscow was ready to consider nuclear co-operation with Venezuela.

Such a move would be likely to increase US concerns at the growing ties between the two nations, correspondents say.

"We certainly are interested in developing nuclear energy, for peaceful ends of course, for medical purposes and to generate electricity," Mr Chavez told a political rally in Caracas.

MORE HERE:

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez said the South American country plans to develop a nuclear energy program with Russia and doesn’t want to build an atomic bomb.

Chavez said that the country’s oil and gas reserves won’t last forever and the government will seek alternative energy sources. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin agreed to help Venezuela’s nuclear energy program during a meeting in Moscow last week, Chavez said.

“We’re not going to make an atomic bomb, so don’t bother us like with Iran,” he said on state television. “We’re going to develop nuclear energy with peaceful purposes.”

YEAH - SURE...

THIS IS THE RESULT OF OBAMA'S APPEASMENT POLCIES. THE DOS IS "CONCERNED":

A U.S. official said Monday that Venezuelan arms acquisitions could spark an arms race in Latin America and he also expressed misgivings about the country's possible nuclear ambitions.

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said U.S. officials were worried about Venezuela's arms buildup, "which we think poses a serious challenge to stability in the Western Hemisphere."

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Sunday that Russia has opened a $2.2 billion line of credit with which his country could buy weapons. He said Venezuela needed more arms because it felt threatened by Colombia's decision to give U.S. troops greater access to its military bases.

Kelly urged Venezuela to be "very clear about the purposes of these purchases."

Responding to a reporter's question about whether the United States would be worried about nuclear transfers between Iran and Venezuela, Kelly said: "The short answer is, to that, yes, we do have concerns."

THIS WAS A PITIFULLY WEAK AND UNCLEAR ANSWER - ONE WHICH INVITES RUSSIA AND IRAN AND CHAVEZ TO DO MORE.

OBAMA IS MAKING US LESS SAFE.

ALSO CHAVEZ SUPPLIES WEAPONS TO FARC - A TERRORIST GROUP ATTACKING OUR ALLY COLOMBIA.

AND FARC ALSO WANTS A NUKE WEAPON.