Irán a Irán [*]
Via Paxety, IRAN WILLING TO EXPAND TIES WITH CUBA

Lauding the resistance of the Cuban nation to the hegemonic policies of the US, Rafsanjani said President Fidel Castro is regarded as an impressive character in contemporary history and his presence on the political scene has left a double impacts on the anti-imperialism spirit of the Cuban nation.

(If only the mullahs would hire a better translator. But I digress.) Some of that “anti-imperialism spirit of the Cuban nation” might be looking at Iran’s promising nuclear future,

Iran has made a new breakthrough in its controversial nuclear program, successfully using biotechnology to extract larger and cheaper quantities of uranium concentrate from its mines, state television reported

which involves Venezuela, at least as long as Hugo coughs up the dough for all.

The Iranian president gives a sign: Iran’s President Reappoints Nuclear Chief

Iran’s president reinstated Gholamreza Aghazadeh as head of Iran’s nuclear program on Monday, a clear sign to the Europeans and Washington not to expect a change of course under the country’s new leadership.
. . .
Iran renewed its uranium reprocessing activities at a plant in central city of Isfahan earlier this month after rejecting a European proposal to give up its uranium enrichment program in return for economic incentives. Aghazadeh called the offer a “joke.”

Just the same day as the Cuban ambassador to Tehran was meeting with the Iranian Chairman of the Expediency (what does a Chairman of the Expediency do?) Chirac says Iran must halt nuclear activities, or he’ll taunt them a second time.

Back in our hemisphere, the Boston Globe touts wonders of Cuba’s “free universal healthcare” (via Babalu in an article written by Indira Lakshmanan. Maybe the Globe should send Ms Lakshmanan to South Africa to interview some of the students who came back from Cuba (emphasis mine):

Spokesperson Mpho Gabashane said the programme wasn’t always financially viable and that only 12 of the 23 students sent to Cuba in 1997 and 1998 were working at state hospitals in the province.
. . .
The feast was a real treat for the students, who have lived on mainly vegetarian fare for the past three years.

“In Cuba we always eat rice and beans, no meat,” said Africa Manzini.

He said the students had spent the holiday trying to catch up with all the new developments in South Africa, especially the technological advances like those in the cellphone industry.

South Africa has been spending R35,000/year/student ($5,421.99). A Cuban doctor makes $20/month.

I wonder how much moolah all these mullah meetings are costing.

[*] Indulging in my love of puns, this means “to Iran they’ll go”.