With all the attention paid to the impending financial bailout and the presidential campaigns, many other stories aren’t getting the appropriate attention in the news. As such, you may not have heard about Russia’s offer of a $1 billion loan to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to purchase arms.
According to the New York Times:
The move is the latest gesture of military friendship between Russia and Venezuela, two counties that have increasingly positioned themselves as mavericks vis-a-vis the West. The Kremlin says its economic and political stability have allowed it to broaden the scope of its military and economic cooperation beyond what it calls its traditional sphere of influence.
In my book, that seems like a big deal. We don’t have a good relationship with Chavez. He has been very outspoken about his disdain for America. And, Russia is clearly trying to solidify an already strong relationship with this dictator. Do our leaders have any response to that?
McCain may say he doesn’t want the debate to occur tonight because he needs to focus on the economy. However, I think the American people have a right to hear from our leaders about the increasingly cozy — and militaristic — relationship between Russia and Venezuela. That’s why it’s important for presidents to multi-task. A president who can only deal with one thing at a time leaves America vulnerable during challenging times. Again, not the kind of leadership we need.