First three Russian choppers delivered to Venezuela

El Universal Newspaper Caracas ^ | December 22, 2005 | El Universal Daily

[economist-student]

First three Russian choppers delivered to Venezuela

Russian firm OAO Kazan sold three military transportation helicopters to a Venezuelan delegation currently in Russia, as part of an agreement the two nations initialed last March 10, AP reported.

The Mi-17 choppers are the first three out of 10 the Russian company is scheduled to sell to Venezuela under a USD 120 million agreement, Interfax said.

In June, Venezuela signed a USD 81 million sales agreement for other five Mi-17 helicopters.

Last Friday, brigadier general Raúl Isaías Baduel, Venezuelan Army commander, ensured that the first three Russian choppers are to start operations in the first quarter of 2006 in Venezuela. They expect the other seven aircrafts to be delivered before year's end.

Further, in May, Russia and Venezuela signed an agreement for the purchase of 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles

[economist-student]

Why the heck does he need helicopters for? He's surely planning an invasion of Colombia in the near term.

[Mike Darancette]

First 300 stingers delivered to Columbia.

[keithtoo]

Russia makes the most dog-ugly helo's on the planet.

Those choppers are proof that with enough thrust, you can get a brick to fly.

[Brilliant]

Chavez doesn't seem to appreciate the quality of US choppers. I'm hoping he'll learn the hard way.

[Brilliant]

If he invades Columbia, he's dead.

[RicocheT]

Chavez doesn't want to go against Columbia. He needs these attack choppers for crowd control to stay in power as a crooked dictator. Too bad for us this idiot is in control of a state oil company with lots of bucks in the bank.

[ClaireSolt]

As we work hard to stnad up democracy in Iraq, Venezuela just shows how fast it can be destroyed.

[Polybius]

Chavez doesn't want to go against Columbia. He needs these attack choppers for crowd control to stay in power as a crooked dictator.

Well, if he uses the choppers for that purpose, we can always go in with our carrier air power and clean his clock for "humanitarian reasons".

[Mad_as_heck]

Thanks Jimmy Carter. Maybe they will give you another Nobel Peace Prize for your role in suborning Venezuela's democracy.

Whatever newly commissioned Chevez toadies have been promoted from "dishwasher" to "pilot" in order to fly these won't be setting any safety records.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Hmmmnnn, maybe the Russians won't get upset if we sell a couple of Huey's to the Chechen terr perps.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Russia is a snake in the grass.

[Caipirabob]

If he invades Columbia, he's dead.

Ditto that.

[Brilliant]

One loose screw on one of those choppers could be his death knell.