Venezuela to Buy 30 More Russian Helicopters, Eyes Combat Fighters

[Gloria]

From the new World Media Watch up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com

5 more article summaries from the WMW in my DU Journal....


5//MosNews, Russia Created: 04.04.2006 11:36 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 12:18 MSK

http://www.mosnews.com/money/2006/04/04/venezuelacopters.shtml



VENEZUELA TO BUY 30 MORE RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS, EYES COMBAT FIGHTERS

MosNews



Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Monday, April 3, that Venezuela plans to buy 30 more Russian helicopters for its military. Chavez also said that Venezuela was forced to scrap a deal to buy military planes from Brazilia’s Embraer, and would therefore look to Russia to buy combat fighters as well.

Chavez was speaking at the aerial demonstration of three newly bought Russian helicopters. He suggested that new helicopters would help Venezuela if the United States were one day to mount an attack. “The helicopters that have begun flying in Venezuelan skies are like true steel tigers,” Chavez said, quoted by Associated Press. He added that Mi-17 helicopters, mounted with rocket-launchers, will help Venezuelan troops as they train with a new emphasis on “wars of resistance, anti-imperialist war.”

Army commander Gen. Raul Baduel said the military plans to buy a total of 20 Mi-17s, 10 Mi-35s and three Mi-26T helicopters from Russia to be used in defense as well as counter-drug patrols along the border with Colombia. “This year, we should have 15 helicopters of the 33 that are expected in our country,” Baduel told state television. Baduel’s announcement was the first of plans to buy 33 Russian helicopters. Russia agreed to sell 15 to Chavez’s government last year for $201 million.

(SNIP)


“We wanted to buy some Brazilian training aircraft for our pilots ... the U.S. has stopped that operation,” Chavez, who was quoted by Reuters, told an audience at the helicopter event. “It’s a pity for Brazil because it was a good deal ... we are ready to buy Russian fighters to have them here defending the skies.”

[Ammonium]

1. I'm not surprised

Who can blaim them? They're certainly on Bush's list of countries in need of liberation. They happen to have some large oil deposits but don't mind that, it's the freedom we're after.

PNAC for teh lose!