Chavez: Venezuela to get defense system - "We're going to armor Venezuela."

AP on Yahoo ^ | 8/3/06 | Jorge Rueda - ap

[NormsRevenge]

CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela will install an advanced air-defense system with anti-aircraft missiles capable of shooting down approaching enemy warplanes, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Thursday.

Chavez, who has repeatedly accused the United States of plotting to overthrow him, said the missiles would help defend the oil-rich country against any "aggression."

"We're going to acquire the most modern anti-aircraft defense system," Chavez said during a televised speech in the coastal state of Falcon, where military planes and newly purchased Russian helicopters swooped overhead during a military parade. "We're going to armor Venezuela."

He said the air defense system would protect Venezuela from its Caribbean coast to its Amazon border with Brazil. He suggested he saw components that Venezuela will buy in visits to Russia, Belarus and Iran over the past week.

"The modern systems that we saw in Russia, Belarus and Tehran detect the target at 125 miles. They come with missiles that go direct, guided by the heat of the planes that come," Chavez said. "Venezuela will be armored to defend ourselves against any aggression."

Flush with booming oil profits, Chavez has been spending heavily on Venezuela's military while warning the country must be prepared in case U.S. troops one day attempt an invasion. American officials dismiss the suggestions as preposterous, though President Bush has called Chavez a threat to democracy in the region.

Chavez sealed a deal last week in Russia to buy 24 Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets and 53 helicopters. Venezuelan Defense Minister Gen. Raul Baduel has said those new deals, plus the installation of factories to produce Kalashnikov rifles and ammunition, will cost about $3 billion.

The arms purchases have made Venezuela one of the top spenders on arms in Latin America and have made Russia the main supplier of weaponry to Venezuela.

[NormsRevenge]

In this image released by Venezuela's Miraflores Press, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, second from right, attends a military ceremony as he sits next to his Defense Minister, Gen. Raul Baduel, right, Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel, left, and Falcon state's Governor Jesus Montilla, second from left, in La Vela in Venezuela's Falcon state, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2006. Chavez said he has recalled his country's ambassador to Israel to show his 'indignation' over the military offensive in Lebanon. (AP Photo/ Miraflores Press)

[BoBToMatoE]

I have a gut feeling that Hugo is going to start invading places in South America, or at least providing arms to rebellions against democratic countries to put in place communist dictators like him self.

[MikeA]

Hugo's military will appreciate all the new weapons to use against him when they overthrow him. We should promise his general through back channels full US support for a military junta there if they'll cleanse the earth of President Greasy.

[catpuppy]

"Venezuela will be armored to defend ourselves against any aggression."

Good luck, Hugo. Keep telling yourself that you're not Manuel Noriega.

[dogcaller]

Hugo will be able to fend off an air attack from Columbia or any of his neighbors; they don't have advanced stealth technology.

[usmcobra]

we're coming to get you Hugo, Be Afraid Very Afraid!

[BubbaBobTX]

How stupid could anyone be? Didn't watch how we took apart the Air Defense System the Russians supplied Saddam. If he decides to take the US on we will do the same to his.
What an absolute waste of money. He should be plowing the money into new roads, education and health services for his
countrymen. What a way to squander your country's Natural Resources.

[bassmaner]

What neighboring country could ol' commie Chavez seriously be worried about invading Venezuela? Aruba? Grenada?

Paranoid commie piece of $hit. I wish the God we *did* have the cojones to really be an imperialist power and take this pr!ck down.

[navyblue]

I see a great opportunity here. Cash on the table so to speak. We make a deal with the Russians. They send Hugo 30 fighters, we knock them down. Hugo orders 30 more, we knock down 30 more. Hugo orders 50, (he's getting pissed now) and we knock them down too. And the deal with the Russians is we get ten percent of the net for providing them with a steady customer.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Sounds like a plan. The Mexicans can drive down and pick up the scrap and sell it.

[Phsstpok]

"We're going to armor Venezuela."

They keep acting the way that they're acting and making friends with the monsters they are befriending, they gonna need it... and it won't do ANY good.  Ask Saddam.  He had the best air defense system money could buy.  Lasted about a minute thirty. 

[COEXERJ145]

His entire air defense system would be obliterated within an hour or two by a combination of cruise missiles, JDAMs, long range naval gunfire, and HARM missiles.

[gondramB]

There are apparently several versions of the Su-30 - some with 10 year old technology. We'll see if Russia trusts him enough to sell him the MKI version.

[gondramB]

>>His entire air defense system would be obliterated within an hour or two by a combination of cruise missiles, JDAMs, long range naval gunfire, and HARM missiles.<<

I'm not a military guy but wasn't the lesson of Desert Storm that the important thing isn't the individual pieces but the rather the whole system that decides the battle?

[mad puppy]

"We're going to acquire the most modern anti-aircraft defense system," Chavez said....

Yeah, right. Like the US is going to sell you something.

[Former Proud Canadian]

Re post 8. I thought the same thing. These guys are beyond stupid.

I remember the first gulf war. Bagdad was, supposedly, the best defended airspace in the world. Superior technology, training and tactics won out with few casualties for the good guys.

[COEXERJ145]

If I understand what you're saying, then yes. If you destroy the C&C centers, the effectiveness of the system is greatly reduced. One drawback to Soviet/Russian air defense systems is their very integrated C&C system. We knocked out much of the Iraqi C&C system with CALCM's on the first night of the war.

[gondramB]

It sounds like you understood perfectly.

[Antoninus]

Good for you, Jugo. Of course, we'll turn that stuff into match-sticks with our F-22s, but don't let that stop you from investing your precious petro-bucks.