U.S. accuses Chavez of nuke ambitions

U.S. accuses Chavez of nuke ambitions
http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20051103-095630-4755r
By Bill Sammon
The Washington Times
Published November 3, 2005


WASHINGTON -- President Bush begins several weeks of almost constant
foreign travel today, heading to South America as the White House
tries to discourage Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's nuclear
ambitions.

"It would be problematic for Chavez to be in the nuclear
business," National Security Adviser Stephen J. Hadley said
yesterday. "We want to make sure that nuclear power is handled in a
responsible way and does not contribute to concerns about
proliferation and, ultimately, nuclear weapons."


On Tuesday, Mr. Bush expressed skepticism about Mr. Chavez's
request for the Argentine government to build a nuclear power plant
in Venezuela. He questioned why Venezuela, which is awash in oil,
would need nuclear power.

"If I were a taxpayer in Venezuela, I would wonder about the
energy supply that Venezuela has," the president told foreign
reporters in advance of today's trip to Argentina.

Mr. Bush suggested that spent fuel rods from any plant that is
built be collected by an international agency to prevent Venezuela
from using the material to develop nuclear weapons. He has called
for the same arrangement in Iran, where Russia would deliver nuclear
fuel and then collect the spent rods.

"There must be total transparency," the president said. "I have
proposed that we think of an international concept of sharing highly
enriched uranium necessary for the running of a nuclear power plant -
- for power -- with countries, and collecting that material and
disposing of it in a reasonable and a sound way."

Mr. Hadley expressed doubt that Mr. Chavez would succeed.

"He's raised the issue of the nuclear reactor in a number of
different forums and with a number of different countries," he
said. "So far, he hasn't done very well in terms of getting any
takers."

Mr. Chavez opposes Mr. Bush's plan for a free-trade zone
encompassing the entire Western Hemisphere, except for Cuba, and has
vowed to give the plan its "final burial" when Mr. Bush arrives in
Argentina today for the Summit of the Americas.

Mr. Bush acknowledged his plan has stalled, but insisted it
would help lift millions out of poverty.

"Grants and loans pale in comparison to the amount of good that
can be done as commerce develops at all levels of government, at all
levels of society, as a result of trade," he said.

After the summit, the president and first lady Laura Bush will
travel to Brazil and Panama.

"The president and Mrs. Bush will tour the Miraflores Locks, the
first set of locks on the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal," Mr.
Hadley said. "Prior to departure, the president will join Panamanian
youths to talk a little baseball."

The president will return to the White House Monday, but will
spend less than a week in Washington before departing on a lengthy
tour of Asia, including China, Korea, Japan and Mongolia.


http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20051103-095630-4755r