Just over a month ago, I published an extensive interview with Brazilian journalist and intellectual Olavo de Carvalho regarding the Sao Paulo Forum and Lula’s interference in the affairs of other countries, among other topics. Lula’s latest blunder—what supporters call Brazil’s coming of age on the international stage—was embracing the questionable Iranian leader Ahmadinejad. But Lula went further, taking Brazil along with him into the notorious group of rogue nations that have supported Iran’s nuclear ambitions, defying global consensus: Syria, Cuba, and Venezuela.
With this move, Lula has validated Olavo’s opinions. Furthermore, by supporting a delusional fundamentalist and Holocaust denier, as he did with Chávez and Zelaya, Lula is simply confirming his utter disregard for democracy, human rights, and peace. Whether it’s Venezuela, Honduras, or Iran, the victims of state terrorism have little to expect from the Brazilian president, whose actions speak louder than words. It’s fine to maintain a business-friendly facade and fool the media with Obama-style jargon like “change we can believe in.” However, chatting with liberals is one thing, and supporting a regime intent on annihilating Israel is something completely different, as noted by the leftist yet sensible governor of São Paulo, José Serra.