This is what I don't get about Hugo Chavez.

[Drunken Irishman]

"In President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad we have one of the greatest allies on this earth," Chavez said at an oil summit in the Caribbean.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090613/ap_on_re_eu/iran_election_world_view

He's supposedly this amazing leftist and loved by so many, including a few here on DU. Yet how can he support a reactionist fundamentalist like Ahmadinejad? Outside of their hatred for America, what do these two have in common? Or could it be Chavez is just no better than Ahmadinejad and would compromise his own political ideology just for spite?

I think that's it.

:eyes:

[jefferson_dem]

1. "Or could it be Chavez is just no better than Ahmadinejad..."

Nailed it.

[Forkboy]

2. He's neither a saviour nor a demon.

I know a lot of people on DU like to put everything and everyone in such simple binary terms, but it's pretty silly.

[Drunken Irishman]

3. I don't consider him a demon like Ahmadinejad.

But I think it just shows how easy it is for him to compromise his own politics to befriend a fundamentalist like Ahmadinejad.

So I just don't want to hear how he's the left's hope. He isn't. He'd sell the leftist movement up river for political gain.

[Billy Burnett]

6. As long as the US is the greatest ally of the Saudi royals the US is building on sand.

[billyoc]

4. Victims of American coup attempts and terrorism.

[Hippo_Tron]

5. It's anti-imperialism that is the big issue when forging relationships overseas

Ahmadinejad is anti-US, anti-Israel, and anti-Europe and that makes him anti-imperialist.

[Robeson]

7. Oil...

...OPEC:

Article 2

A. The principal aim of the Organization shall be the coordination
and unification of the petroleum policies of Member Countries
and the determination of the best means for safeguarding their
interests, individually and collectively.

B. The Organization shall devise ways and means of ensuring the
stabilization of prices in international oil markets with a view to
eliminating harmful and unnecessary fluctuations.

C. Due regard shall be given at all times to the interests of the producing
nations and to the necessity of securing a steady income
to the producing countries; an efficient, economic and regular
supply of petroleum to consuming nations; and a fair return on
their capital to those investing in the petroleum industry.

http://www.opec.org/library/OPEC%20Statute/pdf/OS.pdf

Obviously, it makes economic sense for both nations to maintain warm relations.

[pretzel4gore]

8. the 800 pound gorilla in the room

is the US controlled by criminals busy burying their deeds- in that sense Chavez sees the rightwing Muslim world as potential allies. If Ahmadinijad is so bad, then why isn't Mr pig helping him instead of fighting him? Or do you guys think Mr Pig is really a sweet little oinker?

[dansolo]

9. "The enemy of my enemy..."

That's it, nothing more. I don't think it has anything to do with ideology.