As Muammar Qaddafi continued to launch attacks against Libyan cities today, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez rushed to Brother Leader's defense, telling a crowd of recent college graduates in Caracas:

"I am not going to condemn him. That would make me a coward, and he has been a friend for a long time."

According to the AP, Chavez acknowledged that many countries have come out against Qaddafi but added, "Maybe they have information that we don't have." He went on to say that the U.S. wants to invade Libya for its oil. Keep fighting the good fight, Hugo.

[Image via AP]