Citing continued threats from the U.S., Iranian president, Mahmoud ahmadinejad and Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez met Monday before reports to lay the cornerstone of a joint petrochemical plant and an alliance.

There goal, as cited in this story is to affect mutual protection for U.S. hegemony.

"We as two united countries will build a better world. I thank God that Iran and Venezuela are standing together forever", said Chavez. "We are going to unite the Persian Gulf and the Caribbean. We are together and we want to go forward with a multi-polar world"

With Lieberman beating the war drums for a war with Iran, people should be aware that such a war would likely affect the import of oil from many OPEC sources, not just those in the Persian Gulf. Gasoline at $3 a gallon will be a distant, beloved memory should such a war start.