Chavez with World Leaders

The corporate media has developed a habit of showing pictures of Chavez with Castro to press home the point that Venezuela is "Cubanizing." Right-wing magazines have pursued this further, playing up the partnership between Venezuela and Cuba as a budding "axis of evil" in the US's very own backyard. Needless to say, the US administration has been behind this strategy of implanting the Chavez-Castro meme so as to isolate Venezuela as they have Cuba.

For much needed perspective, V for Venezuela has compiled the following pictures of Chavez meeting world leaders over the past five years. In each one, you can perceive Hugo's particularly bright smile and friendly embrace of one and all. This goes for allies and adversaries alike!

w/ former US President Bush Sr. w/ Colombian President Uribe w/ Uruguayan President Tabarez w/ Jamaican Prime Minister Patterson w/ Russian President Putin w/ French President Chirac w/ Nigerian President Obasanjo w/ Indian Prime Minister Singh and President Kalam w/ Chinese President Jintao w/ Libyan Leader Khadafi

w/ former US President Clinton w/ Mexican President Fox w/ former Spanish President Aznar w/ Spanish President Zapatero w/ Soccer Legend Maradona, Spanish President Zapatero and Brazilian President Lula w/ Kirchner of Argentina and Lula Da Silva of Brazil w/ British Prime Minister Blair w/ former Iranian President Khatami w/ US President Bush