This guy isn't crazy. A populist and a bit of an asshole maybe, but far from a lunatic. The biggest reason he isn't popular up north is his history of actually standing up to the US. Sure, some of his rhetoric is downright silly, but he might still be bearing a grudge over the CIA-backed coup that tried to oust him a few years ago. =P

Any particular reason you think Chavez wants his country blown up, rather say... getting nuclear power for the reasons stated? It's not like he needs nukes anyway.

Since Venezuela is a signatory of the NPT and has ratified the CTBT, they are within their rights to procure nuclear material for civilian uses. I am not sure the US can oppose this without appearing hypocritical. After we advocated the transfer of nuclear technology to India, which is not a signatory of the NPT and the CTBT, we cannot oppose this even if the IAEA and the NSG approved the India-US deal.

I'm Venezuelan, I live in Venezuela and I hate Chavez, he doesn't care for us and is always giving away money to other countries, even though that money isn't his.

Now he wants to use nuclear power for civil purposes? I say that's bullshit, we don't have any need for it, he just wants to piss the US off!

If you live in Venezuela and visit a gaming forum, then I doubt your the demographic that Chavez's populist movement is targeting.

You're right, I'm actually rich to Venezuelan standards, but I get mad when poor people are happy just becaus Chavez gives them spare change when what he actually should give them is proper eduaction, healthcare and security. Venezuelan's public education is pretty bad, public hospitals are in bad condition and crime is everywhere. Our streets are full of holes even though we produce a lot of asphalt and concrete, now we're even getting electric outages! Foreign investors are leaving because it's just too risky to invest here, so unemployment is rising and the government is absorbing a lot of companies, that way most of the population will end up working for the government and depend from it, so we'll have to agree to every government decision in order to keep our jobs and live well. I don't want that for my country even though I happen to live very well in it...

I remember the anticipation I felt when you Venezuelans had to vote on the referendum last year. That he attempted to constitutionally establish himself as a de facto dictator must have been a frightening prospect for you.

A lot of people were frightened of Chavez winning that election, I was very scared too because if he did that would mean a big change for us, we would be an entirely socialist country and everything would belong to the government. I would have to emigrate to another country because Venezuela wouldn't offer me the oportunities a young guy lioke me want for his life. I marched, protestet and voted against that attempt of constitutional dictatorship. Luckily it didn't pass but we do't know when or how he'll try to find a way to remain on charge. A lot of people still love him because their lives have improved in his government, but they don't undertant that what he gives them is just spare change and this is all because high oil prices, I'f prices of oil were like ten years ago I'm pretty sure he would not be president anymore.

luinil said: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7641168.stm Chavez eyes Russia nuclear help Mr Chavez said he wanted nuclear power for energy and medical uses 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. 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. "Brazil has various nuclear reactors, as does Argentina. We will have ours and Vladimir told the media: Russia is ready to help Venezuela develop nuclear energy for peaceful ends," he said, adding that a commission was already working on the issue. Naval exercise President Chavez was speaking after a global tour last week that included a stop in Russia. During his visit, Mr Chavez signed accords on energy co-operation with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev. Mr Putin also indicated that Russia "was ready to consider the possibility" of working with Venezuela to build nuclear power facilities. Russia and Venezuela have been increasing their ties in recent months. Russian warships are currently en route to the Caribbean Sea for joint exercises with the Venezuelan navy. Venezuela is one of the best customers of the Russian defence industry, signing weapons contracts worth some $4.4bn (£2.39bn). A staunch critic of the US, Mr Chavez backed Russian intervention in Georgia and has accused Washington of being scared of Moscow's "new world potential". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is scary. This is in our backyard. This is a crazy guy getting his hands on nuclear technology. This is Cuba Missle Crisis again. This could be worse than North Korea with Nuclear Weapons. This is being overlooked.

This is being overreacted... who the hell are you to tell a country that what he can or cant do? Nuclear power is an extremly important element for creating a civilized country, and it could become the most important enery source in the world.

Are people in the US so afraid for their lives, that every time a smaller nation manages to build a nuclear reactor, they have to go crazy? Common, every country has the rights for nuclear power, and just because Russia is trying to make more allies in the west, it doesnt mean that they try to take over the world... The US is moving to the east, Russai to the west... thats that, deal with it. And you dont have to be Stalin to export nuclear technology...

I dont get it, every time Russia makes a move, to widen their influence teritory every single person on this site starts yelling that " OMG, Putin iz starting teh cold warz 2.... oh noes!!11!!!1!". Why? Why is that the US has all the rights to violently get inot the middle east, but Russia cant even make a friendly treaty with a South-American country?

Hunter, you are getting worked up here. This has no play in the news media that I have heard or seen. I have not seen this talked about here on these forums. I was trying to inform people about a situation that could escalate to some serious tensions.

I am not worried about the Russia part of the story so much, but I am very concerned by this little thug Chavez. He comes into our country calls it evil, calls our President "Satan" and I am supposed to feel good about this man? He is a threat to the USA because he has a supply of oil he, like Iran, could leverage to make our economic situation even worse. If he gets nuclear weapons, like I would expect him to try, then he will be a communist-esque "dictator" in what used to be a free country. This is also happening within the range of missles capable of hitting anywhere in the US.

IF Chavez gets the nuke, there will be many escalating tensions world wide because of him.

But he is not getting a nuke... he is getting nuclear technology that is necesary to build reactors...

Do you really believe that we wouldent know already if nuclear warheads would be shipped there? This is strictly watched by the US believe me, and IMO they are happy that this new doesnt gets front page hype, an escalades into a mass hysteria ;)