Connie Mack: Hugo Chavez Violated Iran Sanctions and Obama Let Him

U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, the ranking Republican of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, ripped into the White Houses policy regarding Venezuela in a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday morning.

Theres no question that Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez is in violation of the Iran Sanctions Act, insisted Mack who has his eyes on the U.S. Senate in 2012. So why hasnt the Obama administration sanctioned Chavez under this act yet?

From serious allegations of Chavez shipping gasoline in excess of $1 million to Iran, to the Venezuelan-Iranian International Development Banks (Banco Internacional de Desarrollo C.A.) connection to Iranian military entities and nuclear ambitions (as alleged by the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control in 2008), the time to take action is now, continued Mack. The clock is running out and we must hold Chavez accountable. If this administration wants to be serious about upholding the Iran Sanctions Act and preserving freedom, security and prosperity around the world, then they should start with Venezuela and Hugo Chavezs dangerous ties to Iran.And the first action the administration can take is to sanction Chavez under the Iran Sanctions Act and designate Venezuela as a state sponsor of terrorism.