Posted on 06/26/2007 5:39:45 AM PDT by cll
Yes. Since 1898.
To answer the broader question, this is getting out of hand, this Chavez deal. We cannot continue to write him off as a buffoon.
When you buy Citgo fuel or some of his “reduced price” Citgo home heating oil - THIS IS WHAT YOU SUPPORT!!
TAKE THAT BLACK SLUDGE AND SELL IT SOMEWHERE ELSE! WE DON’T WANT IT!
sort of is more correct.
since July 25 1950 Puerto Rico is what is known as a "free associated state" which means that the door is open for them to be independent anytime they wish - Puerto Ricans pay no Federal Income Tax (they fill out the same forms but the bucks stay in PR). They cannot vote in US elections, but they are US citizens and have honorably and ably served in the US Armed Forces since 1898.
Somehow I find it difficult to see the Venezuelan Navy as a great threat.
What are they going to do, shell San Juan?
If they do, the US Navy will destroy them in about an hour.
DU members buy CITGO. But we all know that they’re traitors and sell-outs.
Yet another example of the old saying “a fool and his money are soon parted”.
There are two vital sea lanes straddling Puerto Rico - the Mona and Virgin Passages. These are important approaches to the Panama Canal. He could slow worldwide trade to a crawl if he were to blockade shipping there alone.
My bet would be ships...I would also bet that our ASW guys would have a BIG surprise ready for them.
I agree. This is just silly.
The Mouse that Roared....
They could give us a problem. Very quiet if equipped with fuel cell drive. If top end they also carry missiles.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/row/rus/677.htm
Chavez loves the Jackal - he often refers to him in his speeches, he visited the Jackal in prison soon after his first "election" and he believes the Jackal is a political prisoner and a true revolutionary.
That being said, if he thinks he can seize Martinique, the French will had him his head like the UK treated the Argentine junta in the Falklands.
Martinique is considered by the French and the French government not to be a colony or an overseas possession, but a part of France proper, like Lyons or Strasbourg.
“This is just silly.”
More propaganda than anything,IMO.
The American left will praise him for preparing to stand up to “the oppressers.”
Many in Venezuela will see it as a boost to national power and assurance that “They Count!”
Since most of the third worlders in that area subscribe to the “ bigger gun” philosophy, Hugo comes out as top jeffe.
Only an unknowing moron would think that.
These guys have been up against the absolute BEST for more than 60 yrs. They have my faith and trust.
How about sinking an oil tanker at the entrance to the Panama Canal? Anonymously, of course. We're not talking about a mentally stable guy here. He could do enough mischief with one or two anti-social acts to throw the economy of the western hemisphere into quite a tizzy.
Of course, he'd pay for it in spades. But never depend on a lunatic to pay much attention to the things that might deter a sane person.
Leftists that hang out at DU and vote Democrat have been in a funk ever since Reagan defeated the USSR in the cold war.
All they had left was Coooobah & their Che T-Shirts.
Now, they have Chavez and Venezuela as their new hope. It’s like Star Wars Episode IV for them.
“Chavez is heading to Russia in the next few days, to discuss the purchase of five kilo-class submarines, and possibly four more advanced amur-class subs. There are questions as to how he would be able to finance them as well as how obtain the advanced training to bring them online...”
The Russians will sell military hardware to any old slag these days...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.