Venezuela and Iran

Two days ago I wrote about the ways in which Iran is portrayed as a hemispheric threat even while everyone admits there is no evidence.  Setty's Notebook has a detailed post focusing on Iran and Venezuela, questioning the jumps from circumstantial evidence (a tractor factory that has produced nothing) to accusations (the tractor factory is making weapons).  At this point, it is like religion--you make the leap of faith or you don't.

A link at the end of the post is also a reminder of the think tanks in DC pumping out all sorts of bizarre messages on the topic.  Check out the summary of this meeting, all about how Hugo Chávez is planning to blow up the Panama Canal (no, I am not making that up).

Some of the accusations are insane.  Others, like a potential Iranian threat, are not outlandish but as yet have no basis in fact.  It is important to keep that in mind.