Venezuela Wants Sub Fleet for Conflict with U.S.

Newsmax ^ | 2-19-07 | NewsMax Staff

[Alia]

Venezuela is spending $3 billion to build nine submarines, a fleet of undersea craft that would be the largest in the region -- and ready to be used against the U.S. in event of a conflict between the two countries.

The navy is considering bids from Germany, France, and Russia, which is said to be the odds-on favorite, according to the Washington Times.

Venezuela says it is beefing up its military capabilities -- including plans to develop an enlarged submarine fleet -- in preparation for what it called any "asymmetrical conflict" with the U.S.

[Alia]

From article: The navy is considering bids from Germany, France, and Russia, which is said to be the odds-on favorite, according to the Washington Times

Interesting. Three Oil For Food countries.

[Alia]

Ping.

[mainepatsfan]

More target practice for our attack subs.

[RightWhale]

"asymmetrical conflict" with the U.S.

This is somewhat to the left of lunacy. Any war between the USA and any other country would be asymmetric, which is to say, overwhelming in the first day or so.

[nascarnation]

Whoever gets the contract better get as much money up front as possible - and in hard currency - Hugo's economy is sinking like a rock, LOL.

[VeniVidiVici]

I hear the Canadians may have a few they'd be willing to part with.

[Lokibob]

Mexico was not considered to build them when they told Chavez they would build them out of adobe.

[Young Werther]

Smart Move! Those pesky cruise missiles and airborne troops will be held at bay by those subterranean machines!!!

Operations Balboa, Chavez. You can hide in Havanna with that Stupid_endouser, (pee brain!) Castro!

[Anti-Bubba182]

Bwhahahaha! Does Porky Chavez think the US Navy will laugh itself to death?

[P-Marlowe]

Any war between the USA and any other country would be asymmetric, which is to say, overwhelming in the first day or so.

I'm sure our beloved and loyal congress would vote to surrender before we could return fire.

[Brilliant]

I suppose we could sell him a few.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Yes. A couple of used Limeys should work.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Venezuela says it is beefing up its military capabilities -- including plans to develop an enlarged submarine fleet -- in preparation for what it called any "asymmetrical conflict" with the U.S.

It's hard to conceive a military scenario pitting the US against Venezuela no matter how crazy Chavez gets, but if it ever does happen, nine submarines will not do Venezuela the slightest bit of good.

[cspackler]

Perfect spot for a submarine and bean reference joke, but I ain't gonna do it. Nope...

[LZ_Bayonet]

Maybe CITGO will buy the naming rights. "All hands man your gas stations!!!!!!"

[lilylangtree]

What would be interesting is if the US got the plans and incorporated a device that would make the subs either fall apart or at the very least, let the US know where these buggers are at any given moment.

[marron]

Not for conflict with the US. For smuggling.

[AU72]

Future coral reef foundations.

[Little Ray]

Ya know, if'n I were dictator - I'd beef up my loyal guards, disarm everyone else, and what didn't go into my bank account would go into building infrastructure and industry, and subsidizing my country's exports. The US ain't attackin' anybody unless they're attacked first; and if they do, I can't do a bloody thing with conventional forces, anyway.

Then, again, there was that story about Chavez's folks teaching Arabs (read "terrorist") how to masquerade as Hispanic illegal aliens. Might be a bunch of justifiable cause there...

[kinghorse]

I wonder how much of our stuff has been making it's way to Colomubia? Another Ethiopia ready to spring? We certainly won't give monkeyboy the time of day. We'll sub it out, don't you think?