[spikeytx86]

Thees weapons and deals are definitely the sign of aggression most likely aimed at Colombia. He is not looking for a head on war with the U.S. he knows he would lose. But if he were to "Liberate" Colombia and install the FARC regime that would put him within 100 miles of the panama canal and definitely in fighter and Short Range Missile Range. He could also use special op's raids to sabotage the canal or provoke revolution in panama from Colombia and installing a pro-chavez regime. China would back such an act because it would provide the Chinese with strategic leverage against us, and the Russians would support it because part of resurrecting there status as super power would entail client states especially those in strategic zones. Brazil also is a wild card, they have a communist president and anti-american population and the hopes of becoming the super power of the south equator. If Chavez were to act incrementally and if we continue to be preoccupied with the middle east, Chavez could carry out alot of the above described operations with little to no u.s. military engagement (especially since we have a phobia of jungle wars).

[Thunder90]

Russia is planning large scale weapons sales and refits/upgrades to Brazil, Cuba, Venezuela, and if D.Ortega wins in Nicaragua, there too.

[GarySpFc]

If Chavez were to act incrementally and if we continue to be preoccupied with the middle east, Chavez could carry out alot of the above described operations with little to no u.s. military engagement (especially since we have a phobia of jungle wars).

Nonsense! This area of the world is not on the other side of the world like Nam. Maybe you have forgotten Nicaragua. Our jungle warfare school was in Panama for many years, where they have the thickest jungles in the world. I know, I am a graduate of the school.