Last week, U.S. and Brazilian officials signed that will significantly enhance bilateral military ties. 聯This agreement will lead to a deepening of U.S.-Brazil defense cooperation at all levels,聰 Defense Secretary Robert Gates declared. While the agreement does not explicitly discuss U.S. access to Brazilian bases, it does mention naval visits. I would not be surprised if it eventually led to some form of U.S. military presence in Brazil.
Why do I bring this up? Well, thus far, Venezuelan strongman Hugo Ch谩vez and his populist allies have been utterly silent about the U.S.-Brazil accord. No angry criticisms of U.S. militarism or imperialism. No fierce condemnations of Brazilian president Lula da Silva. No ominous statements about 聯the winds of war.聰 Last year, however, Ch谩vez and friends flew into a belligerent rage when the U.S. signed . The Venezuelan leader that 聯Colombia runs the risk of being isolated in this continent,聰 that the U.S.-Colombia military arrangement 聯could turn into a tragedy.聰 Even Lula that 聯an American base in Colombia doesn聮t please me,聰 and he to voice his concerns.
Granted, the deal with Bogot谩 gave American military forces direct access to bases in Colombia聴a country that relies heavily on U.S. support in its fight against narco-terrorism聴whereas the deal with Bras铆lia did not go that far. Still, the quiet acceptance of the U.S.-Brazil agreement by Ch谩vez and his leftist pals highlights their hypocrisy about the United States. (A further illustration of that hypocrisy: Even as Ch谩vez continues to denounce American-style capitalism, his oil minister is .)