The Wall Street Journal online has a disturbing article about Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (or Ahmadinezhad) and his cozy relationship with Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. What they have in common is, of course, the desire to embarrass and weaken the United States through whatever saber-rattling, blustering, or buffoonery (as with Mr. Chavez) is necessary. Ahmadinejad is outspoken in his desire to pursue nuclear technology, and even the EU nations are getting nervous. Mr. Ahmadinejad has denied the historical occurence of the holocaust in typical anti-Semitic fashion, and would like to see Israel wiped off the map, with its residents exported to the U.S., Canada, and other Israel-friendly nations. In a show of solidarity with Tehran, Hugo the ventriloquist's puppet has recently taken up the anti-Semitic rhetoric, much as a new gang inductee will show allegiance by shoplifting or vandalizing.

Don't look to the emasculated Khofi Annan for help with these guys. My theory is that Pat Robertson is actually part of their axis of evil. The madmen of Tehran and Caracas can't come close to embarrassing the U.S. quite as much as Mr. Robertson has shown himself capable of doing.