MORE FRUITS OF OBAMA'S "RESET" WITH RUSSIA - AT 9:09 A.M. ET:  We are amazed, constantly amazed, at the breathtaking success of the Obama foreign policy.  Why, just to watch how nations fall before The One's charm, his power of persuasion.  Chalk up another one today:

Sept. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuela President Hugo Chavez said the South American country plans to develop a nuclear energy program with Russia and doesn’t want to build an atomic bomb.

Chavez said that the country’s oil and gas reserves won’t last forever and the government will seek alternative energy sources. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin agreed to help Venezuela’s nuclear energy program during a meeting in Moscow last week, Chavez said.

“We’re not going to make an atomic bomb, so don’t bother us like with Iran,” he said on state television. “We’re going to develop nuclear energy with peaceful purposes.”

COMMENT:  Yeah, right.  No interest in nuclear weapons.  Could I interest you in a bridge in Brooklyn? 

The key story here is Russia and its recklessness.  Putin is clearly still in charge, no matter what the title on his business card says.  He's former KGB, and acts the part.  Selling nuclear material to Chavez is like selling matches to an arsonist. 

And, of course, the other story is America's weakness.  No American president - well, except possibly the current one - could want to see Venezuela as a nuclear power.  But we have no leverage over Russia, and the Russians do not fear us.  They see Obama's lack of spine, his willingness to negotiate over everything, even with people who announce in advance that they have no intention of negotiating seriously.

And what is our main concern in Latin America today?  Why, it's restoring to the presidency of Honduras a Chavez and Castro ally who was removed by Constitutional means. 

This country may start yearning for the return of George Bush.

September 14,  2009