Posted on 11/01/2005 5:11:17 PM PST by kingattax
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - President Hugo Chavez offered to share Venezuela's U.S.-made F-16 fighters with Cuba and China on Tuesday, accusing Washington of breaching a supply contract for jet parts and calling it the sort of U.S. "imperialism" he will challenge at an upcoming Summit of the Americas.
Chavez said he would take the message that Washington's "capitalist, imperialist model" was responsible for exploiting developing economies and ruining the global environment to this week's summit in Argentina, also to be attended by U.S. President George W. Bush.
"We don't need American imperialism to live," Chavez said at a ceremony announcing Venezuela's plan to launch a telecommunications satellite with the help of China.
Chavez accused the U.S. of breaking a contract to supply parts for Venezuela's fleet of 21 F-16 fighters and pressuring other countries from helping to maintain them. Israeli media reported last month that Israel canceled a lucrative deal to upgrade the warplanes under American pressure.
"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. I say with whatever country that can use them," said Chavez, a close ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
Venezuela originally purchased its fleet of F-16s in 1983 for US$615 million. Until Chile acquired a fleet in 2003, Venezuela was the only Latin American country to possess the warplanes made by Lockheed Martin.
Chavez said he would remind leaders from other Latin American and Caribbean countries at the summit in Mar del Plata of other threats posed by the U.S.
"In Mar del Plata, I will say that Venezuela is free," Chavez said. "The capitalist, imperialist model threatens to destroy life on this planet ... it destroys waters, rivers, lakes, seas, contaminates the environment. It's a system that generates misery, poverty, death."
He also criticized U.S.-backed free-trade policies that he said make poor nations poorer while keeping them trapped in cycle of crippling debt payments.
"They make us slaves," said Chavez, pledging to oppose the U.S. plan for a Free Trade Area of the Americas and saying it would be "buried" at the summit.
Chavez, who says he is leading a socialist "revolution," has used Venezuela's oil wealth to push for regional solidarity, offering fuel with preferential financing to various Caribbean and Latin American countries.
Venezuela has also bought US$950 million (euro791.14 million) this year in Argentine bonds in what Chavez has called a step toward creating a so-called Bank of the South to help provide financing to the region. Chavez said he would be pushing that banking initiative again at the two-day summit, which opens Friday.
Chavez warned of U.S. cultural domination through Hollywood films and the news.
"CNN spends 50 percent of its time on spreading ideas about capitalism and the free market," Chavez said, accusing the Atlanta-based broadcaster of "bombarding" Latin American people with false ideas about the benefits of U.S.-trade policies.
He contrasted that to Telesur, the new Latin American TV station which he once proposed and which went live with news broadcasts Monday. Venezuela has provided more than half of the startup capital for the channel, intended as an alternative to corporate media outlets.
HAHAHA, Have fun with your F-16s against our F-22s.
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?
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???
It sounds to me like he gets the DNC fax every morning.
"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.
Hey Hugo hqw does it feel to be a walking DEAD man.
Too bad he paid $615 million for a fleet of Sopwith Camels!
Hey Hugo how does it feel to be a walking DEAD man.
Great idea, Hugo. Betcha your planes get swallowed up by the Bermuda Triangle (wink, wink).
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.
Like Cuba or China will be able to get parts for them.
Ask the Iranians how those F-14s are holding up, LOL.
Look, Yankees fans!!! :D
lol
Wow. Anyone who thinks CNN is too far to the right is really screwed up.
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.
Probably has a direct line to Howard Dean!
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