Heh.

HAVANA (Reuters) – The leaders of Cuba and Venezuela relished their roles as Washington’s bad boys in Latin American on Friday and vowed to build a socialist alternative to U.S. policies in the hemisphere.

President Fidel Castro and the younger and equally loquacious Hugo Chavez mocked Bush administration charges that their burgeoning partnership threatens to undermine democracy in Latin America.

“I’m realizing that your friendship is hurting my image,” Castro joked to Chavez during a meeting with hundreds of free trade opponents from across the Americas.

Perhaps I should not laugh at Chavez’s plight towards a more socialistic country since Venezuela has considerable wealth in oil reserves which constitute 20 percent of U.S. imports, but I can’t help it. Chavez indicates he wants to move Venezuela to a more socialistic government using Cuba as a representative of how to do it. Chavez and the Venezuelan people should look at Cuba in a different light. It’s not all roses for Castro.

Hat tip: Wes Roth