Posted on 05/21/2006 6:49:50 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
PRESIDENT Hugo Chavez confirmed today that Venezuela will buy Russian fighter jets during a planned visit to Moscow, and warned that Caracas could sell its US-made F-16s to Iran.
"We will soon be in Moscow because we will buy Russian fighter jets to defend these skies and land," Mr Chavez said in a speech on state-owned television.
Mr Chavez hailed the Russian Sukhoi fighters as "the best in the world, 100 times better than the F-16s".
The leftist leader did not say when he planned to travel to Russia, but Venezuela's ambassador to Moscow has said the trip could take place in August or September.
Mr Chavez also said he supports Venezuelan General Alberto Muller Rojas's recommendation to sell the F-16s. Caracas says Washington refuses to supply replacement parts for the warplanes.
The United States has ordered an arms sales ban against Venezuela, accusing Caracas of failing to provide assistance in the "war on terror".
"General Muller made an interesting statement - he said that if they do not want to sell us the F-16 parts, we would sell the planes," Mr Chavez said. "Why lose the money? It's millions of dollars, so Muller said we would sell them to Iran, and that is possible."
But the United States has indicated that it would not allow Venezuela to sell the F-16s to Iran.
"Any time you have the sale of US military equipment to a foreign government, there are clauses and there are agreements that are signed," US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said last week.
"And part of those agreements are that, without the written consent of the United States, you can't transfer these defence articles, and in this case F16s, to a third country," he said.
"And I would expect that, even if such a request were made, that it would not be forthcoming from the US government," Mr McCormack said.
Cool.
Anyone the swindles Chavez can't be all bad. :)
Thanks for the reference. I wouldn't call them junk, just not what was ordered.
But relations with another ally, Russia, have soured over a deal in which Moscow is selling 100,000 AK-47s to Venezuela. The South American country was counting on receiving new rifles, but Russia has shipped a number of refurbished models, prompting Caracas to halt the deal, the U.S. sources said.
http://journals.aol.com/republicanlady2/WinningtheWaronTerrorism/entries/1444
http://www.ocnus.net/cgi-bin/exec/view.cgi?archive=91&num=23692
Chavez is not too bright, eh? Does he have a clue about how childish such a statement makes him appear to be? Do they understand the phrase "sour grapes" in Venezuela?
That's not the story that was posted here. The one I saw said that a great many of the rifles were inoperable due to the remanufactured parts.
Bull. The Iranians have had experience with U.S. fighters without having the support for them. A fleet of F-14's left over from the Shah. They didn't last long at all. After that, who would do it on purpose?
Chavez if blowing political smoke, and he knows it.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1616231/posts
http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11498494
A bunch of what was to happen vs what is going to happen or did happen.
What makes Chavez think that Iran would buy a bunch of ragged out F-16's that they cant get parts for either?
How long will it take for Venezuela pilots and ground maintenace people to get up to speed on the new Russian planes?
Or is Russia planning to send over "advisors".
Like they did with the Cuban missiles.
Chavez is about as dumb as they come. India is having fits maintaining its Russian made aircraft. No parts are available, the fleet is grounded more than flying. What an idiot!!! Oh well, it will be all the easier to take him out down the road!!! His days are numbered!!!
Wont make it across the atlantic...
Oh yeah, those Russian "state of the art" fighters, absolutely 100 times better than F16s, will deter likely threats like the Bolivian Air Force.
Well I'm curious how the Sukhoi measure up to the F16's. Are they better? Is Chavez downgrading his airforce by this move?
The interesting, and disconcerting, thing is that he is now talking Sukhoi vice Mig. Mig-29s due to their short range would hardly be a threat to his neighbors. Sukhoi-27 variants are a different matter entirely. I could really see this nut trying all sorts of wacky stuff with long range fighters.
Parts supply from the Russians still seems to be an issue, especially with engines. Not as bad as it used to be, but still a problem.
How well do they keep buried in a sand dune?
The Russians ( and the Chinese) are testing the Monroe Doctrine, because they think the USA is weakened by an over committed military and by a population consisting of 50% liberal socialist wing nuts. They may be right.
Watch for Cuba to announce that it is seeking a nuclear program, supplied by either the Russians or the Chinese.
They will probably not gie them the Adders , most likely Alamos and some tasty little R-73 Archers . At least our pilots would get some worthy target practice if any of the Venezualan pilots have any cajones . They get much training down there , anybody out there know ?
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