Hugo Chavez, AP
Posted on 02/10/2005 2:47:42 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
The Bush administration has lodged a formal protest with Russia for agreeing to provide the government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez more than 100,000 AK-47 rifles that U.S. officials believe could be used to aid left-wing uprisings in Latin America.
The administration in December sent a secret letter of protest (formally called a demarche) to the Russian Embassy in Washington, according to senior U.S. officials. The officials say the warning was followed up by concerns expressed directly to the Russian defense and foreign ministers.
............ Bernardo Alvarez, Venezuela's ambassador to the U.S., denied yesterday his country plans to ship weapons for rebel uprisings.
"This is outrageous," Mr. Alvarez said. "How do you think we can do that? Venezuela is a respectable country. We have never participated in arms traffic at all." He said Venezuela is buying the rifles "because of defensive purposes for the country."
"We support a peaceful and democratic revolution," Mr. Alvarez said. "We cannot be encouraging any other situation that is not democratic and peaceful."
Washington, however, is wary of Mr. Chavez, who calls the United States an imperialistic power that has to be confronted. ...........
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
More from the Washington Times article:
***.... Mr. Chavez has talked of establishing an Al Jazeera-style news network in Venezuela that would reach all of Latin American. Some Pentagon officials considers the Qatar-based Arab-language channel a propaganda arm of al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.
But Mr. Chavez appeared on Al Jazeera in December and called the station "a symbol of courage, principles and dignity." He added, according to the British Broadcasting Corp.: "It always tells the truth." He expressed support for the Iraqi insurgents attacking American forces. ...***
Hugo is definitely arming himself. He recently ordered a military vessel and 20 patrol boats from Spain, through the good agencies of his bud, Zapatero.
We are in Iraq halfway around the world and this clown is right at our back door. We may have to go in someday to straighten up this mess at least we wont have to far to travel. If Kennedy hadnt chickened out at the Bay of pigs this guy wouldnt be in this position.
The AK-47s & patrol boats aren't the most serious things on American & Colombian minds.He has ordered around 50 Mig-29SMT multi-role fighters,along with the latest Russian AAMs & ASMs(some of which have only been sold to China & India)-it will be the biggest sale order for the Mig-29 after India purchased about 80 in the late 1980s.He has also reportedly booked a large number of Mi-35 attack choppers,which could be deadly against any regional army,like the Colombian army.
I don't think so. The ruskies haven't used the AK-47 since 1974 when the 47 was replaced with the aptly named.. AK-74. The 'obsolete' AK-47 is chambered in 7.62x39 mm and the AK-74 shoots a smaller 5.45x39 mm round (stoo-pid change IMO, I like the 7.62x39).
That being said, 'if' Chavez did buy AK-47's he's getting screwed as they've been sitting in crates for 30 years and I sure wouldn't want to clean all that old and gooey cosmoline off :-)
Colombia has always been seen by Chavez as our stand-in down there, and it wouldn't surprise me if he was planning an attack on them at some point. Obviously, it's something Uribe is worried about, and rightly so.
"That being said, 'if' Chavez did buy AK-47's he's getting screwed as they've been sitting in crates for 30 years and I sure wouldn't want to clean all that old and gooey cosmoline off :-)"
Damn right. What would he want those for.
I'll take 'em.
;)
Plus I don't trust any 'journalist' when it comes to firearms as they can't tell an AK-47 from an SKS.
BTW, I've cleaned a rifle that had 50 years of cosmoline on it, took me alllllll morning. It was 'brand new' 48A Mauser. Thank God for "Goo Gone" :-)
Ping.....
Russia supplies another enemy of America with weapons.
Again, you can thank Jimmy Carter.
First North Korea's nukes, now this.
That's what would happen against the US military-it won't be the same against Colombia .
US interdiction is a necessity here. When the ships with the cargo try to make Venezuela, they have to be turned away. That will signal the seriousness with which the US takes this issue. Nothing else will work, although I would enjoy, well, no, I won't say it. ;')
"He has ordered around 50 Mig-29SMT multi-role fighters,along with the latest Russian AAMs & ASMs(some of which have only been sold to China & India...He has also reportedly booked a large number of Mi-35 attack choppers,which could be deadly against any regional army,like the Colombian army."
All this courtesy of our "ally" in the War on Terror.
7.62 x 39 is a superior round, much more knock down power than the ak-74 round.
That said, I hope they are getting the '74. :)
" BTW, I've cleaned a rifle that had 50 years of cosmoline on it, took me alllllll morning. It was 'brand new' 48A Mauser. Thank God for "Goo Gone" :-)"
OH POOR YOU!
Well never interrupt an enemy when they are making a mistake. Agree on the 7.62 x 39. AKs and Patrol Boats are no worry at least for us should we have to facce him. What would be a concern would be missiles like the Iksander (ballistic) or Sunburn (anti-ship).
The Commi did get the popular vote though, as much as I despise the guy.
Russia supplies about 90% of our enemies with weapons. Syria and Iran for example.
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