The Iranian Revolutionary Guard are actively
collaborating extensively and secretly in the field of missile technology transfer to Venezuela
The National Council of Resistance of Iran Foreign Affairs Committee explains (emphasis added),
During the past 5 years, the Iranian regime has established extensive military and political relations with Venezuela, with its investments in that country totaling roughly 10 billion dollar [sic). Mullahs’ former president, Mohammad Khatami, and their current president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have each traveled to Venezuela twice, while the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, has also reciprocated with his own trips to Tehran on a number of occasions.
In addition to the political and economic relations, in February 2008, a security pact was signed between the Iranian regime and Venezuela, which has thus far remained unannounced.
The Ministry of Defense’s Air and Space Organization (which oversees the missiles program) is also active in Venezuela. However, its activities are clouded in secrecy and the visits by IRGC commanders linked to this organization are conducted through various guises.
As of mid-2007, the Iranian regime had transferred a series of missiles to Venezuela, and negotiations got underway for the production and assembly of more missiles in Venezuela. The negotiation process was facilitated by the signing of the February 2008 unannounced security pact between the two. In early June 2008, the Venezuelan military conducted a military exercise, at which IRGC commanders from the unit responsible for the development of missile technology as well as from the missile program at the Defense Ministry’s Air and Space Organization had unofficial presence as observers.
Today the BBC reported that “Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said his country will not retreat “one iota” on its nuclear programme.”
Hat tip: A Colombo-Americana’s Perspective
So, Hugo’s blowing his people’s money on new manhood-substitutes while the Iranians are taking him for all he’s worth. (Much as the Chinese are doing.) I have a sneaking suspicion that his new friends are laughing at him behind closed doors.
Of course, if Chavez does ever emplace those missiles, he’ll quickly find out how accurate ours are.
It’s a conumdrum when considering how much Chavez is supposed to admire Fidel Castro and ignores an almost duplicate of his attempts to upgrade his military and ignoring the utter humiliation Castro suffered when a few old missiles were not turned against Florida as Castro probably dreamed about. The Soviets sensed political advantage elsewhere and decided that they weren’t really ready to start World War III over a client state.
Unless the Iranians are truly in the thralls of a death wish it makes no sense for them to supply missiles that, if used, that they would be held reponsible. The Russians after the Cuban Crisis made it a matter of policy that the only people it trusted with its missiles was the Strategic Rocket Forces. And not some true believer half way across the world either in Cuba or Egypt.
And considering that, even though they were and are godless Communists, the USSR and then the Russian Federation are the strategic and tactical role models for the Iranian military. I think that this actually can work against Chavez if the US begins a whole series of provocations or even just say nasty things about hima. It would certainly make him look foolish internationally but it would make him appear weak and incompetent at home if he couldn’t use his missiles as promised.