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GUEST: Gregory Wilpert, editor at VenezuelaAnalysis.com, and author of the forthcoming, “Changing Venezuela: The History and Policies of the Chavez Government”

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has made an arms deal with Russia for more than 100,000 rifles. Last Saturday, about 30,000 Kalashnikov AK-103s arrived in the first shipment. In his weekly television and radio address, Chavez said, “Venezuela is not going to attack anyone, but I repeat that no one should make any mistakes. We are going to defend this country with everything we have.” The US recently announced an arms embargo on Chavez’s government, accusing it of failing to cooperate in counter-terrorism efforts. Meanwhile Chavez renewed friendly ties with the Iranian government and stressed Iran’s right to pursue nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Such actions have continued to provoke the ire of the US government. Today we spend the first half of the program with Gregory Wilpert, an analyst based in Caracas, Venezuela, who is currently visiting the United States. Wilpert is the editor at VenezuelaAnalysis.com, and author of the forthcoming, “Changing Venezuela: The History and Policies of the Chavez Government.”