(2003-12-02) -- Democrat presidential candidate Howard Dean today picked up another big labor endorsement. The former Vermont governor's candidacy is already backed by the largest American unions for both service workers (SEIU) and government employees (AFSCME). This time the pledge of support came from what was formerly one of the world's most powerful unions -- the Soviet Union.

In hindsight, it was no coincidence that Mr. Dean mentioned the union four times during an interview yesterday on the MSNBC show 'Hardball.' When asked what he would do about Iran, Mr. Dean said,"The key, I believe, to Iran, is pressure through the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union is supplying much of the equipment that Iran I believe mostly likely is using to set itself along the path of developing nuclear weapons. We need to use that leverage with the Soviet Union, and it may require us buying the equipment the Soviet Union was ultimately going to sell to Iran, to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons."

A spokesman for the Soviet Union said that Mr. Dean's suggestion that the government buy union-made goods was influential in the group's decision to back his White House bid.

"We know Howard was trolling for an endorsement," said the unnamed source, "but that's the way the game is played. Frankly, we're flattered that he mentioned us on national TV. These days, even when we do get attention, people call us 'the former Soviet Union' as if we're a relic of a bygone era. Comrade Dean has demonstrated his solidarity with the Soviet Union, and we plan to return the favor in 2004."