[drt1]

Well. No matter how bad Chavez is, and he's plenty bad, he has the right idea re: Protecting his borders. His alleged purpose for these helicopters and guns is to improve Border Defenses - A laudable objective by an un-laudable dictator. Why does he need to do this? Doesn't he want armies of Illegals to enter the country to 'Do work that Venezuelans will not do"? /sarc

[marron]

he has the right idea re: Protecting his borders.

Uh, no. The FARC has half a dozen bases on the Venezuelan side of the border, the so-called "high-value" hostages held by FARC are held on the Venezuelan side.

Chavez has been issuing Venezuelan identity cards to FARC members, and allows their leadership to hold Vz citizenship and live openly there.

There have been reports of FARC receiving Venezuelan Air Force air support, and they are rather openly supplying FARC with rifles. The important thing about this purchase of 100,000 Russian rifles is that, when captured, at least these won't have Vz Army markings on them, as past captures have had.

Chavez's only complaint about violations of his territory is that Colombians have begun seizing FARC members in Venezuela and delivering them across the border.

[dr_who_2]

Yeah, and Iran needs those reactors for research purposes. I think those countries in South America have a long history of pointless border wars as well. Chavez is up to no good, and everyone knows it.