Chávez, Venezuela, and Russia: A New Cuban Missile Crisis?

On Sunday, September 7, Hugo Chávez announced that Russianand Venezuelan warships would hold joint maneuvers in late 2008. On Wednesday, September 10, he welcomed the arrival of two RussianTupolev-160 strategic bombers to a Venezuelan airfield, evokingmemories of earlier U.S.-Russian showdowns. On Thursday, asAmericans observed the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks,Chávez expelled the U.S. ambassador, Patrick Duddy, claimingthe U.S. was backing a coup attempt against him. Together, theseactions are a clear and ominous reflection of a rapidlydeteriorating U.S. relationship with Chávez and his ally inBolivia. Sadly, Russia-once a partner in the fight against radicalterrorism-appears ready to seek advantage in the U.S.-Venezuelarift.

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