Planned Russian Arms Sale to Venezuela Troubles U.S.

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7599640

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Thursday it was troubled by Russian plans to sell Venezuela arms that U.S. officials suggest could be used to aid leftist guerrillas in Latin America.

The arms pact announced last year by Venezuela's firebrand President Hugo Chavez would give the South American OPEC member 100,000 automatic rifles and a number of helicopters. Venezuela is also evaluating Russian MiG-29 fighters as possible replacements for its F-16s.

Bush administration officials have voiced increasing disquiet about the agreement in recent days, suggesting the new rifles could allow Chavez to export small arms to rebel movements, including guerrilla groups in neighboring Colombia.

"Venezuela's plans to purchase various types and large quantities of weapons are extremely troubling," said State Department spokesman Lou Fintor.

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[CoffeeCat]

1. Those weapons are for us, I'm guessing!

With the United States' recent inflammatory rhetoric regarding Venezuela--I'm not surprised that the country is seeking additional weapons.

If the U.S. doesn't want other countries to stockpile weapons, then it might consider dropping the "I'm a big-bad bully" routine.

Leaders around the world are sick and tired of being identified as part of an "axis of evil" or an "outpost of tyranny" or other creative name calling.

We've shown that we're out of control--and other countries are preparing to defend themselves against our imperialistic bullpucky.

How many countries have we threatened or shaken our finger at this week...five...ten? How many will it be next week?

I'm tired of it. The world is tired of it. The world's leaders are tired of it, too.

We've gone from the strongest nation in the world, to a country that is being led by a bunch of weak, pansy-assed cowards who love pretending that they're the playground bully.

[Swede]

2. Extremely troubling that they didn't buy from us.

Large quantaties bought from our competitors with petrodollars. Noooooooooo.

[Supersedeas]

7. Exactly

[queeg]

3. Venezuela war more likely than Iran or N. Korea

[Ernesto]

4. Gee Don, a hundred thousand AK 47's..............

What about the WMD's. The axis of evil is growing right here in our own gaw durned hemisphere!

[pdurod1]

5. Watch the neo-cons evoke General LeMay:

"The Big Red Dog is digging in our back yard, and we're justified in shooting him."

[DS1]

6. Ahh Global Politics vs the Boy King. Russia, China, Austria etc spread

enough arms around the world, where U.S. interests were under the Pentagon's hit watch-list, they are now better armed U.S. interests.

Seems obvious to me anyway.

[Gloria]

8. Right...and China is doing big economic deals in South America, too...

eom

[makhno]

9. US Arms Sales to Colombia Trouble Venezuela

Methinks the moral leadership credibility gap is growing.

[Massacure]

10. AK-47s and Mig-29s? Aren't M-16 and F-16s better?

Edit: Actually now that I look at it, MiGs are supposed to be able to take a missile shots that F-16s could never dream of becuase of its helmet mounted aimer. Plus R-27s can seek passively and thus without warning. MiGs also handle better at low speeds and since F-16 radar filters out objects below 200kmh which can benefit the MiG if its pilot is skilled enough.

I never knew that the MiGs had such an advantage. The F-16 is supposed to handle better at high speeds and has the benefit of using AWACS though. AWACS give the F-16 the ability to target more than one plane at a time unlike the MiG-29.

[Skink]

11. Wow, South Americas being armed to the teeth....

[Massacure]

12. Well MiG-29s and F-16s both look awesome in the hands of skilled pilots.

Pilot skill is a big factor. It would be interesting to see how much the U.S. and Russia dumb down their exported aircraft though.

People with AK-47s are SOL against people with a M16 though. AK is accurate to 100 yards, while the M16 is accurate to 500 yards. The only thing the AK has going for it is that it is nearly indestructable.

[TexasLawyer]

13. The Washington Times/Moonie version of this story

is really pretty funny. I posted it on this thread. Chavez is a commie-lovin', Al Jazeera readin', civil rights hatin', Iraq-insurgent supportin' menace to mankind. Even though Chavez was democratically elected, he has somehow morphed into a military dictator. I predict we will soon be spreading "freedom" to our southern neighbors.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1585270&mesg_id=1585270

[LeaderlessResistance]

14. The Bush Administration Is Clueless

Fidel Castro has his man in Venezuela, and the Europeans have theirs in Bolivia. George Bush has failed in both countries do to stupidity and greed. Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, the former president of Bolivia and George Bush's man in La Paz. Was forced to leave the country because the U.S. was trying to steal Natural Gas faster than Iraqi Oil. The scheme might of worked, except Bolivians hate Chile and George Bush gave them a cut of the profits as well.

[HuckleB]

16. Indeed. Thanks for the laugh.

:toast:

For those who need to know more about the real Chavez...

Hugo Chavez Is Crazy! --
http://www.alternet.org/story/16255

The Revolutionary --
http://www.newyorker.com/archive/content/?020422fr_archive03

The New Bolivar --
http://antiwar.com/justin/j010501.html

Venezuela Gets The Florida Treatment --
http://www.countercurrents.org/ven-palast120804.htm

Dick Cheney, Hugo Chavez and Bill Clinton's Band --
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0816-03.htm

Speakout: Picture of Venezuela's Chavez twisted --
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1207

Chavez calls for world ‘anti-globalisation' network --
http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2004/610/610p21b.htm

Don King praises Venezuela's Chavez --
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/02/01/king.chavez.ap/

Venezuela's Chavez Triumphant: History Making Democracy in Latin America --
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1250

Don't believe everything you read in the papers about Venezuela --
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4396083,00.html

Venezuela: Chavez Dumps Monsanto --
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/tncs/2004/0505venezuela.htm

Venezuela's Chavez nationalizes Venepal under workers' control --
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=24360

[VegasWolf]

15. Guess what bush a**holes, we lose money when the world hates

and distrusts us.