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Chavez Threatens to Send Venezuela's F-16s to Cuba, China, Challenges U.S. 'imperialism'
Associated Press ^ | Nov 1, 2005 | Natalie Obiko Pearson

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.


TOPICS: Cuba; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: askingforit; basta; chavez; clown; dictator; noriegasbunkmate; takehimout; thug; venezuela
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To: Whitewasher

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


41 posted on 11/01/2005 5:51:08 PM PST by cdawg20
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To: kingattax

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?


42 posted on 11/01/2005 5:51:23 PM PST by RatRipper
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To: kingattax
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.
43 posted on 11/01/2005 5:53:06 PM PST by jec1ny (Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domine Qui fecit caelum et terram.)
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To: kingattax

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???


44 posted on 11/01/2005 5:53:47 PM PST by chilepepper (The map is not the territory -- Alfred Korzybski)
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To: willstayfree
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.

45 posted on 11/01/2005 5:57:06 PM PST by Moonman62 (Federal creed: If it moves tax it. If it keeps moving regulate it. If it stops moving subsidize it)
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To: kingattax
""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?
46 posted on 11/01/2005 6:00:56 PM PST by fallujah-nuker (Open Borders: The RINOcracy waging class warfare against America wage earners)
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To: JustDoItAlways

"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.


47 posted on 11/01/2005 6:07:37 PM PST by Kenny500c
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To: SandRat
"...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.
48 posted on 11/01/2005 6:31:02 PM PST by goarmy ("Get ready, little lady. Hell's coming to breakfast.")
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To: All

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


49 posted on 11/01/2005 6:47:08 PM PST by Nalu
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To: tanknetter
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!

50 posted on 11/01/2005 6:49:12 PM PST by SnuffaBolshevik
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To: All

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


51 posted on 11/01/2005 6:49:52 PM PST by Nalu
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To: kingattax

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


52 posted on 11/01/2005 6:49:58 PM PST by demkicker (I BELIEVE CONGRESSMAN WELDON!)
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To: RatRipper

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.


53 posted on 11/01/2005 6:57:52 PM PST by Whitewasher (Would u like America to be a goat nation in the millennium to come? Keep pushing the "Roadmap" bull!)
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To: kingattax

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

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


54 posted on 11/01/2005 7:03:52 PM PST by Constantine XIII
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To: kingattax

Look, Yankees fans!!! :D


55 posted on 11/01/2005 7:04:35 PM PST by Constantine XIII
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To: Constantine XIII

lol


56 posted on 11/01/2005 7:09:20 PM PST by kingattax
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To: kingattax

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


57 posted on 11/01/2005 7:18:27 PM PST by ArcadeQuarters
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To: SnuffaBolshevik

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.


58 posted on 11/01/2005 7:28:40 PM PST by church16 (“People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence...")
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To: Moonman62
It sounds to me like he gets the DNC fax every morning.

Probably has a direct line to Howard Dean!

59 posted on 11/01/2005 7:32:45 PM PST by penowa
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To: SnuffaBolshevik
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).
60 posted on 11/01/2005 7:37:54 PM PST by tanknetter
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