Venezuela May Replace Saddam in Axis of Evil

Hugo Chavez of Venezuela may be replacing Saddam Hussein in the Axis of Evil. Old Hugo is getting real cozy with Iran and North Korea. RedState has the scoop:
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Filling the vacancy in the Axis of Evil?

I have been mocked by some for my concern that the socialist dictatorships-in-training of Venezuela and Bolivia will follow in the footsteps of Cuba and become state sponsors of terrorism in Latin America. But it seems I am not alone in my worries--Chris Kraul of the Los Angeles Times is reporting that Hugo Chavez' increasing coziness with Iran and possible hosting of Hezbollah activities are raising many eyebrows in Washington. Other related issues are the rumored mining of uranium in Venezuela, and Mr. Chavez' known ties with the Colombian terrorist organization FARC.

And in an added twist, it appears that Mr. Chavez will be traveling to North Korea at an unspecified future date. Mr. Chavez claims that he's exploring venues for sharing technology and science, but a South Korean source was more blunt about the strong potential for a "missiles-for-oil" program, which would benefit both states.

This situation is of particular concern because Venezuela is campaigning against Guatemala to take the Latin American seat on the UN Security Council this October, which would give Mr. Chavez a tremendous opportunity to help Iran (and North Korea?) in any pending Council action regarding its nuclear program.

On Friday, the Wall Street Journal's Mary Anastasia O'Grady [subscription required] argued that a vote for Venezuela to join the Security Council would be tantamount to a vote for Iran--given the two countries shared values of "tyranny and aggression." Should Venezuela be successful in gaining a Council seat, "Latin America will have handed Iran a victory that is likely to threaten world peace."

Let us hope that the current regional trend against Mr. Chavez' increasingly dangerous bullying will continue, and Guatemala will get that seat. But perhaps all is not lost for Mr. Chavez. Even if his Security Council ambitions are thwarted, he may well gain membership in another exclusive international body in the not too distant future. Now Iraq no longer qualifies, I wonder when we should officially fill that vacant spot in the Axis of Evil with Venezuela?