Hugo goes nuclear?
Forbes: Venezuela interested in developing nuclear energy for civil use - Chavez

Chavez said Venezuela would cooperate with other Latin American countries and seek support from countries such as Iran.

Venezuela is an OPEC member and is currently the world's fifth largest exporter of crude oil.

The Scotsman: Chavez: Venezuela May Hold Nuclear Power Talks with Iran

Chavez and Khatami – both critics of Washington’s foreign policy – have argued that wealthy nations like the United States cannot keep today’s energy-related technologies for themselves while developing countries struggle to produce enough energy to satisfy domestic needs.

The Venezuelan government official news website says it's all wind, though: Chavez Frias wants new solar and wing [sic] energy agreements with Iran. Hans is concerned. Venezuela News And Views puts it all in perspective:

to develop nuclear weapons, even less to develop nuclear energy. Buying a nuclear weapon is always a possibility, but even that I wonder if chavismo is able to manage without it exploding in their own hands. Yes, that Chavez mentions "nuclear" is to be of concern, but for us Venezuelans first. Can anyone imagine Chavez having a secret nuclear weapon? He could not resist bragging about it! All would know where to look for it and place a quick missile to neuter it!!!!!!!

By now, there's one undeniable fact: Cae producción de Pdvsa por falta de mantenimiento PDVSA's oil production drop due to lack of maintenance (article in Spanish).

Investor's Daily's rather harsh with Hugo: Hugo Chavez: Pirate Of The Caribbean

He's so afraid of potential rebellions that some observers believe his real game is to set up a safe place in Havana for Venezuela's biggest money centers — oil and banking. That in turn would keep cash within his access. No people-power revolution can reach this money in Havana.

So, if there's a revolt in the restive oil fields of western Venezuela or in Caracas, money will still be accessible to Chavez's political machine, far from the hands of his democratic opponents.

Venezuelan cash in Havana also props up Castro. Ironically, this oil alliance will likely serve to entrench both leaders. That in turn will free them to take up more predatory practices around the region. A long shadow of tyranny over the Americas looks to be lengthening.

All the same, Chávez continues to be his usual tactful self, with Chavez threatens formal ties to U.S, and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called former Spanish Premier "fascist, so Venezuelan comedians target Chavez, and Mariano Rahoy, leader of Spain's largest opposition political, party went right ahead and said that Hugo's nuts (article in Spanish), and asked

``Where is it written that the Spanish prime minister must make himself popular with a tyrant as he yet again proved yesterday, like Fidel Castro, or with someone who's unbalanced, like the president of Venezuela?''

Publius Pundit ponders the Europeans.

And then, there's Ecuador Gets Chavez'd ... Bush has someone new to hate. Argentinean president Kirchner, grateful for that $150 Million of Argentine Bonds that Hugo paid for, praises Hugo (my translation),

"Estoy muy agradecido a Chávez. Nos ha ayudado mucho en la crisis energética, ha comprado bonos de la Argentina, ha mandado barcos a arreglar a astilleros argentinos, le hemos vendido productos argentinos", dijo Kirchner.
"I’m very grateful to Chávez. He's helped us a lot in the energy crisis, has purchased Argentinean bonds, has sent ships to repair the Argentinean shipyards, we've sold him Argentinean products"

Well, you win some, you lose some, (via VCrisis),Maverick Antillean minister removed

MPs in the Netherlands Antilles parliament have passed a vote of no confidence vote in deputy prime minister Errol Cova and another of member of his PLKP party, after a bitter feud with Prime minister Ettiene Ys. It means the two have been expelled from the government.
The problems in the government stem from controversial comments made by Mr Cova during a visit to Venezuela two weeks ago.

He is reported to have heaped praise on president Hugo Chavez. This did not go down well with prime minister Ys and the government of the Netherlands, which is responsible for the international relations of the Antilles.

In Eastern Venezuela, a government helicopter was stolen, and another helicopter had been stolen in the past twelve months.

Let's hope Hugo's better at keeping track of nuclear materials than he is at keeping track of helicopters, or at maintaining oil wells.

Via Hispalibertas, Is Venezuela going nuclear?

Also posted at Blogger News Network.

Here's a list of prior posts on Venezuela's oil:
The collapsing Venezuelan oil industry
Chávez says oil production's not down by 800,000 barrels per day
Connecting the dots
Hugo Chávez, at the Latin-Arab Summit, annoying many, but with many more to annoy
Associated Press, public relations organ for Hugo Chávez
The Bolivarian revolution will be televised
Earlier posts are listed here.