Chavez visiting Russia, Belarus, and Iran

Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez travels this week to Iran, Russia and Belaru. Chavez departs Tuesday for his week-long tour, from June 26 to July 3, defiantly insisting that he will purchase Russian submarines and possibly an air defense system from Belarus, despite vocal objections from Washington. "The war of resistance is the weapon with which we are defeating and will defeat the threat of imperial war," Chavez said Sunday presiding over a military parade. He also views himself as Bush's arch enemy.

He hopes to put the "finishing touches" on an agreement to purchase from Belarus an integrated air defense system with a 200-300-kilometer range (125-200 miles). In 2006 Venezuela signed more than three billion dollars in contracts with Russia to buy 53 Mi-24 armored helicopter gunships, Sukhoi 30 fighter planes and 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles.

During Sunday's military parade, Chavez brandished a Russian-designed AK-47 assault rifle proclaiming: "If it weren't for Russia we'd be almost weaponless today. (article)