President Strangelove or How I learned to Stop Fearing and Love Ahmadinejad

[Lord Consul]

SÃO PAULO, Brazil -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's coming trip to Brazil is spurring criticism of the country in Washington, souring a budding U.S.-Brazilian relationship that appeared to promise a period of unprecedented cooperation in Latin America.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's planned reception of Mr. Ahmadinejad on Monday undercuts U.S. and European efforts to pressure Iran to curtail its nuclear program, boosting his stature at a critical moment in the talks, experts say.

Mr. Ahmadinejad's denial of the Holocaust, calls for Israel's destruction and repression of post-electoral protests have isolated him from the world's major economies -- with Brazil as a big exception. "Giving Ahmadinejad credibility by welcoming him is a terrible mistake," said Congressman Eliot Engel (D., N.Y.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who follows Brazil closely. "It makes you wonder if Brazil is really ready for the new era of global relations it envisions."

While Mr. Ahmadinejad has visited other Latin American nations, such as Venezuela, his trip to Brazil is more important. The increasingly global reach of Brazil's economy, now the world's eighth largest, has won the nation increasing clout in global affairs. Brazil has taken a leading role in international groups such as the World Trade Organization.

Expectations that Brazil would occupy an important new global role soared in April when U.S. President Barack Obama hailed Mr. da Silva as the "world's most popular politician." U.S. executives held out hopes for closer trade ties. U.S. officials sounded out Brazil as an emerging ally capable of refereeing regional disputes as well as cool off anti-U.S. leaders in the region such as Venezuela's Hugo Chávez. Some of the expectation has started to fizzle.

To the consternation of U.S. diplomats, observers say, Brazil has badgered the U.S. over a deal to use Colombian military bases amid the closure of a U.S. base in Ecuador. Though earlier appearing to accept the plan, Mr. da Silva reversed course and has requested that Mr. Obama travel to the region to provide additional explanations to regional leaders. Such a meeting hasn't happened.

After efforts led by the Organization of American States to mediate talks between ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and the country's de facto government failed, Brazil has said it won't recognize elections set for Nov. 29, which the U.S. sees as a way out of the crisis.

But Brazil's cultivation of Iran may prove the biggest sticking point. Brazil, Iran's biggest Western trade partner, supports what it says is Iran's bid to develop nuclear power for peaceful uses. U.S. and European officials believe that Iran's true intention is to obtain a nuclear weapon, and are seeking to limit its program.

Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim has said that Brazil seeks to maintain good relations with all nations, including international pariahs like Mr. Ahmadinejad. The reasoning is that disputes must be solved through dialogue, and no nation should be isolated. Brazil hosted Israeli leader Shimon Peres last week. The Foreign Ministry didn't respond to requests for comment.

Brazil's economic growth has fueled its diplomatic ambitions. It is pushing for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Messrs. Amorim and da Silva say Brazil can help engineer peace in the Middle East. It's an attitude that some former Brazilian diplomats say reflects a naive view of the world.

"If the U.S., Russia and China can't solve a very serious, very complex issue like the Middle East, Brazil is not going to have an impact," said Rubens Barbosa, a former Brazilian ambassador to the U.S. To be sure, Brazil could win international plaudits by using the Ahmadinejad visit to urge him to comply with uranium enrichment controls sought by the U.S. and Europe. But failing that, some observers say, courting Iran at such a critical moment risks squandering Brazil's newly acquired weight in international circles.

The Iranian president's visit happened some time ago and I can say that it was one of those moments when one has that unavoidable urge to dug his head deep in the sand.

For the past months, Brazil has been celebrated as the next "big country", with analysts musing over how it was the last country to slide into the recession and the first one out - in fact, it's the second fastest growing Top 10 economy behind China, with the added detail that, unlike the Rising Dragon, Brazil is already a heavily industrialised country.

So what the Brazilian government, so aptly led by leftist Workers Party, does to reaffirm its position internationally? It invites the Head of Government of a regime that murders students in the streets and denies the Holocaust. Brazil is a country that enriches lots of uranium yearly and exports nuclear tech. It was stupid to think that inviting a nuclear wannabe tyrant would not raise eyebrows in the White House.

Why could Brazil contribute to the everlasting crisis in the Middle East? Salacious dancers? Free football friendlies, just like the ones we held in occupied Haiti? Any leader with a vestige of good sense would want to GTFO of the ME issue, not dive into it. Let the Americans and the so-called Big Four take care of it - all they've got for their efforts were a couple of terrorist attacks in their soil.

We're having elections next year, so it's understandable that the governing party wants to boosts its profile. But to invite AHMADINEJAD to an official visit? Is this the way the Brazilian govern thinks it will garner respect around the planet?

[Dr Zoidberg]

Ah, good old Armani-Dinnerjacket. He does get around. On a more serious note, the article does state that Brazil is Iran's biggest Western trading partner. If anything, rule 101 of international trade states that you've got to play nice with the leaders of countries you have major trade with - even if they are nutjobs like MA.

Additionally, having Brazil as a responsible, economically strong, stable South American democracy would be a welcome counterbalance to countries like Venezuela.

[Lord Consul]

As opposition leader José Serra said, "one thing is to have diplomatic relations with dictatorships, to invite them for dinner is entirely another". The invitation was irresponsible and shows the whole political immaturity of the Lula (the guy Obama defined as "the man") government.

[mithradetes]

I'm in awe. I've always had a love affair with brazil (the beaches and jiu jitsu ). I'm still at a slight lack of understanding. This is all essentially saying that brazil think they are the next superhero of the world and can solve problems and lead international politics?

BTW: i love the title of the thread. I just watched that movie the other day lol.

[Dr Zoidberg]

Surely engagement is better than isolation though? If we continue to shut Iran off from the world, the hardliners, the fanatics will have an easier time pushing their agenda of aggression and belligerence.

[Gromovnik]

This thread clearly shows why did Lula do that.

[Lord Consul]

There's a thin line, I think, between engaging and embracing a rogue state.



This is the line.

[antares24]

The Iranian president's visit happened some time ago and I can say that it was one of those moments when one has that unavoidable urge to dug his head deep in the sand.

For the past months, Brazil has been celebrated as the next "big country", with analysts musing over how it was the last country to slide into the recession and the first one out - in fact, it's the second fastest growing Top 10 economy behind China, with the added detail that, unlike the Rising Dragon, Brazil is already a heavily industrialised country.

So what the Brazilian government, so aptly led by leftist Workers Party, does to reaffirm its position internationally? It invites the Head of Government of a regime that murders students in the streets and denies the Holocaust. Brazil is a country that enriches lots of uranium yearly and exports nuclear tech. It was stupid to think that inviting a nuclear wannabe tyrant would not raise eyebrows in the White House.

Why could Brazil contribute to the everlasting crisis in the Middle East? Salacious dancers? Free football friendlies, just like the ones we held in occupied Haiti? Any leader with a vestige of good sense would want to GTFO of the ME issue, not dive into it. Let the Americans and the so-called Big Four take care of it - all they've got for their efforts were a couple of terrorist attacks in their soil.

We're having elections next year, so it's understandable that the governing party wants to boosts its profile. But to invite AHMADINEJAD to an official visit? Is this the way the Brazilian govern thinks it will garner respect around the planet?

well you can add to this that now Brazil can officially be considered a country that protect and harbor terrorists (but fear not you have illustrious companions like France ) thanks to the "little" blunder of the Battisti case.

A wanted Italian extreme left terrorist condemned for 4 murders escaping to and getting political asylum in Brazil, with your Supreme Court saying it should be extradited but Lula taking time and that moron, minister Genro, defending that scumbag assassin and offending another country.
Here in Italy that had a huge media resonance and everyone is angry with Brazil, that until a while ago had excellent diplomatic and economic relations with Italy, where Brazil is also considered a nice country to visit for the holidays. Not anymore for many people.

The Brazilian foreign policy lately, is surely not very smart.

[Saxon wårolord]

A great man really