(Give Peace A Chance….Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega with Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian)
It makes sense. Two countries with so much in common, culturally and geographically speaking (insert sarcasm)….It makes perfect sense, as this is the ‘other shoe dropping’, so to speak, after then president-elect Daniel Ortega announced in January the “hope that his country would benefit from Iran’s invaluable experiences in cultural issues, environment protection and combat against air pollution”.
Alas, they’re here, a high level delegation (including Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian) from Tehran is currently in town, as we speak, providing cultural guidance, establishing environmental norms that would make the Europeans proud, all the while, fighting global yankee hegemony. This much we do know. Our Persian buddies are negotiating the construction of a thermal power plant right here in good ole Nicaragua, as well as building an Atlantic seaport. You see, it’s a wonder I can even post my little blog as often as I do, as the power grid in Managua is so woefully inadequate, you are up the creek without a backup generator.
For the record, it is unclear what Iran will receive in return for the $100+ million dollar power plant, financial support for a $350 million dollar deep-water Carribean seaport, tractors, milk processing plants, and 10,000 new homes? Bananas, coffee, and meat? Wow, who’s getting the screw job on this deal?! Perhaps they should throw in a couple cases of Flor de Caña Centenario!….Oh, that’s right…Silly me, I forgot, they don’t drink. You see, I was so wrapped up with the idea of how culturally similar Iranians and Nicas are. It didn’t dawn on me that the Persians didn’t imbibe with the occasional Rum and coke!?
So….we have an energy crisis in Nicaragua. This is nothing new. In fact, Daniel and his Sandinista buddies promised that the blackouts would cease once he took power. Actually, the opposite has happened. The situation has worsened considerably. We’ll have to wait and see if Iran can provide answers. If history is our guide, I wouldn’t hold your breath. This perverted little ‘axis of idiocy’ (Managua-Caracas-Tehran) has an unproven track record.
Consider…..last year, Chavez promised a petrol subsidy of sorts to his Sandinista friends, as a sort of political way of saying ‘thanks for your support’. There was a buzz on the streets about cheaper gas at the pumps. Indeed, it was part of the Sandinistan platform. Vote for us, and you will have cheaper gas. So….8 months on, what has happened? Gas is much more expensive, even at the government-owned Petronic stations. So, what gives? …..well, I don’t want to speculate, so I’ll let you figure that one out, but suffice it to say, somewhere along the way, the savings didn’t make it to the consumer.
Perhaps the other link in the ‘axis of idiocy’ can make good. Who knows? Maybe it was ‘opposite day’ when the Daniel promised to end blackouts and lower the price at the pump?
Technorati Tags: Managua, Nicaragua, Iran, Tehran, Axis of Idiocy, Sandinista, Flor De Caña
