Chavez says Israel's action in Lebanon "worse" than Hitler

Visiting Venezuela President Hugo Chavez has denounced Israel's recent attacks on Lebanon as "genocide," likening its action to war crimes committed by Germany's Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

"Israel often criticizes Hitler ... but they have done the same thing, perhaps even worse," Chavez told reporters Friday in a briefing during his six-day visit to China.

Sometimes I think Chavez is just mad that he missed out on the Cold War. Last month he was in Belarus, stirring up the tired old Soviet Lukashenko. At the moment, no one really takes him seriously, which is a good thing. He's kind of the Howard Dean of international politics: most people know he's just venting to hear the lovely sound of his own voice. That makes him a useful idiot for the world socialists.