Chavez Threatens to Send Venezuela's F-16s to Cuba, China, Challenges U.S. 'imperialism'

Associated Press ^ | Nov 1, 2005 | Natalie Obiko Pearson

[cdawg20]

HAHAHA, Have fun with your F-16s against our F-22s.

[RatRipper]

I am not a fan of Pat Robertson, but he was probably right about Chavez. Is it morally upright to spare one man, even though he is a head of state, if his death means that thousands live? Though I understand the fear of encouraging the assassination of our own President, would it really have been morally wrong to assassinate Hitler? Stalin? Castro?

[jec1ny]

It may be snowing up north... but the real flake is clearly in Caracas. This nut job should just be ignored. He doesn't deserve more attention than that.

[chilepepper]

what a jerk. the worse pollution on the planet was the socialist motherland, the USSR - chernobyl, remember that? or how about the ecological disaster of the Aral Sea where the USSR destroyed it by pumping out water in trying to grow cotton???

[Moonman62]

Sounds like the dictator Chavez is not happy with the realities of the world in which we live.

It sounds to me like he gets the DNC fax every morning.

[fallujah-nuker]

""We can do whatever we want with the planes. Maybe we'll send 10 to Cuba, or maybe to China so that they can see the technology..."

Clinton may have beaten him to it?

[Kenny500c]

"If he thinks CNN spends 50% of its time spreading capitalism, then he really is totally insane."

That 50% is the commercials.

The regular programming is solidly bolshevik.

[goarmy]

"...you know they're not the top of the line stuff..."

Roger that. I think it was Sebastian Junger who traveled to Afghanistan to do a story on Ahmed Shah Massoud ("The Lion of Panjshir"). He noticed that the Taliban cruised around in Toyota pickups, their vehicle of choice in the rugged landscape, but the quality was third-rate. Hell, if Toyota sold crappy trucks to the Taliban, Lockheed-Martin surely would've removed the slick options from the F-16s destined for Venezuela.

[Nalu]

Hey Hugo hqw does it feel to be a walking DEAD man.

[SnuffaBolshevik]

There's almost a quantum difference between what we fly and what Chavez's Air Farce flys. Ours have AMRAAM and BVR capability, his don't. Ours have PGM capability, his don't. Ours have SEAD/HARM capability, his don't. I could go on and on and on. Him or Castro trying to take us on with those planes would make the clubbing of baby seals look like a fair fight.

Too bad he paid $615 million for a fleet of Sopwith Camels!

[Nalu]

Hey Hugo how does it feel to be a walking DEAD man.

[demkicker]

Great idea, Hugo. Betcha your planes get swallowed up by the Bermuda Triangle (wink, wink).

[Whitewasher]

I doubt our enemies would have any 2nd thoughts about assassinating Americans if they thought it would be necessary and they could get away with it.

I would suggest simply making darn sure it can't be traced, ie. take Chavez down at several arms' length.

No matter HOW Chavez gets it, America will be blamed anyway.

[Constantine XIII]

Like Cuba or China will be able to get parts for them.

Ask the Iranians how those F-14s are holding up, LOL.

[Constantine XIII]

Look, Yankees fans!!! :D

[kingattax]

lol

[ArcadeQuarters]

Wow. Anyone who thinks CNN is too far to the right is really screwed up.

[church16]

Wow, if he wanted to start a small military dust-up, this is one way to do it. Yes, they're old. But its bad form to have your equipment sent over to Cuba/China for them to pick apart. The engine and metallurgy technology alone would make the Chicoms salivate, although they probably already have some pieces and parts.

If GW was looking for a reason to stick the boot just a little ways up Chavez's kiester, as opposed to the knee, this would be it.

[penowa]

It sounds to me like he gets the DNC fax every morning.

Probably has a direct line to Howard Dean!

[tanknetter]

Too bad he paid $615 million for a fleet of Sopwith Camels!

Well, it wasn't him ... it was the pro-US government that was in place in the early 1980s that bought the aircraft. At the time they were more than a match for what was being fielded by the "major" threats in the region (Cuba and Nicaragua).

I wouldn't rule out the Camel, though, as a more-desirable alternative. Good stealth characteristics due to being made largely of of wood and canvass. Pretty low IR signature (small radial engine driving a propeller). Stall speed and turning radius that are fractions of an F-16s. Great ability to operate off of unimproved fields, dirt roads, cow pastures, the back of moving flatbed trucks, etc.

(and I'm only half-kidding in saying that).